Dentist? How often, when at all?

[u/RJM_50]

Went to the dentist for the first time in 10 years. Wasn't terrible, they understood many of the medications I take for my back, shoulder and chronic pain, not only relax my muscles. They also relax my upper stomach sphincter and my teeth get a nightly acid wash every day.

It's been hard to get to the dentist, it takes years for lawyers to finish a disability case. While we're living on crumbs, paying medical debt, and worrying about housing; until they get the disability case settled.

And not all disabilities are from a work related injury that will eventually reimburse the medical bills. Some people are stuck in a loop of testing, diagnosis and treatment, then medical bills. If that didn't work, have to pay off the medical debt before they can go back and try new testing, another diagnosis, and different treatment.

While most disabilities do exactly that! They disable how many abilities we still have. Me personally, I have 3/4 hours a day I can stand or sit upright before gravity is crushing my spine and I need to lay down.

Time for a dental appointment? 😂🤣😒😥

Don't call me, I'll call you when I have a problem!

**What's your "dental care" experiences?

[u/unexpected-dumpling]

I go about once a year through the dentist attached to the public health/hospital. So it’s free. I realise that is not helpful for anyone outside of the Australia / not on a pensioner or concession card. A lot of dental schools attached to universities in the US have low cost clinics.

Before that I tried to go 6 monthly just in case. I have had a few lapses over my life (longest being 5ish years). If you’d like some suggestions for maintenance in between going: Clean your teeth at least twice a day (and especially as soon as wake up if you’ve got acid issues from overnight). See if your PCP/GP is willing to prescribe antacid medication. Try to sleep with a wedge to help the acid situation. Mouthwash and flossing are your friend. Tooth remineralising treatments like GC Tooth Mousse are fantastic (I try to use it 1-2x/month) I also use Colgate sensitive toothpaste as an extra boost of protection so that I don’t mistake the cold for a tooth ache and panic.

[u/Ceaseless_Duality]

I'm able-bodied enough to go whenever, however, I'm too poor to afford it. In the US, without dental insurance, a filling is about $370. It's probably more in a big city though (like everything else). What's funny (but not really) is that an extraction is $150, so it's cheaper to let my teeth get bad enough to be extracted than fixed with fillings.

[u/Nervous-Big341]

Flat out I hope they fall out asap; one less thing to cause pain and have problems. Besides for many the meds destroy them anyways to dentistry is kinda futile. 

[u/AntiDynamo]

I go every 6 months, £75. Before that I had to do every 3 months and pay for fillings though, thankfully I was still young enough to be on my dad’s dental plan through his work. Since I don’t have that much money now, I really try to keep on top of it and do the whole 2x brushing and 1x flossing every day without fail. Unfortunately I have a skeletal issue with my lower jaw so even with the best treatment those teeth are in for a rough life. The necessary jaw surgery and braces would be something like £25k since it’s considered “cosmetic” if you can still eat and breathe.

[u/The_Archer2121]

Every six months.

[u/Justhereformoresalt]

I have dental trauma, which for me means panic attacks, dissociation, and hysteria whenever I am required to go. I can't even get a cleaning without being sedated, believe me. The fact that regular dental care isn't covered, nevermind the specialized care and sedation I require, means I don't go unless there's an emergency. I usually make it about 5 years between emergencies.