• rosymind
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      1 year ago

      When I went back to the dentist after skipping 2 years I had 9 cavities. As embarrassing as that is… I’m also trained as a dental assistant.

      My unsolicited advice: Go now, it can only get worse

    • xpinchx@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Don’t be like me, I didn’t go for 20 years…

      I went in for a broken tooth and they were gonna crown it but ended up as just a filling. Went back a few weeks later for full exam and X-rays… no cavities. Could’ve been worse but at least my anxiety about my teeth is gone.

      You might be fine, but you also might not be. Best to go soon.

      • PM_ME_FEET_PICS@sh.itjust.works
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        1 year ago

        I was super afraid of the dentist so I didn’t go for about the same length of time. I also picked up a habit of drinking sodie pops.

        I cracked a tooth 2 years ago and had to get a root canal. They did a checkup and found 8 cavities so over the course of a year I got them all filled.

        I am not sure if the technologies have gotten better or it was just my fear as a child but the dentist visits were very painless and stress free. The root canal hurt for a second when the roots were drilled out and that was it.

        It feels fantastic to not have any tooth pain or agitation of something getting stuck in a cavity.

        • xpinchx@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          Yeah, my filling was uncomfy and nerve racking but not really painful in any way. They even do topical anesthetic before the shots so I didn’t even really feel those.

          Certainly wasn’t the case when I was a kid lol.

    • enki@lemm.ee
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      1 year ago

      The sooner you do it the easier it’s gonna be. Just bite the bullet and get it done, and schedule your 6 month follow up visit before you leave. I went more than a decade and getting back to normal - multiple deep cleanings - was rough. But once you get back to normal, just take it easy on the sugary sodas, brush twice a day, and floss or water pik more often than never and those visits are quick. I go every 6 months and it’s still just as uncomfortable, but they’re done in a couple minutes instead of 10-15.

    • Imgonnatrythis@sh.itjust.works
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      1 year ago

      Meh, IANAD but for adults without complex dental history and good hygiene I’d argue once every three years is pretty reasonable.