h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Well, this is going to be a new experience, or at least one that I have forgotten about as it was so long since my last trip. I think the last time I went the Dentist, was when I was 12, and that was through the State School Dental Service. I am now 24, so that makes 12 years.

I think why I left it for such a long time was both the fear of pain, and that our family never had money to pay for the bills. But there comes a time in your life that your health needs to come first, and so I made an appointment to see the dentist.

I could imagine what he says, but the rest of my health is fine, though I always feel sick and run down, especially when I know my gums are playing up. Well I guess that you get when you put off looking after you health.

Stay tuned. 

I'm sorry I hate the dentist too. I most recently avoided my trip to the dentist by conveniently having my dad kick me out without me actually doing anything wrong, so then I could move in with my mom, which I did. Now to get out of the doctors appointment next Thursday...

Yeah but when you start waking up in the morning, feeling sick especially in the mouth, brush your teeth, and still don't feel any better, you soon decide to get a move on.

As for doctors, I will go see one anytime

Aww I'm sorry you're not feeling good. Well, good luck then.

Well, the verdict is in.

The dentist nearly killed me for waiting so long between visits to one. (How typical of them). However all I needed was to have some heavy duty cleaning of my teeth. It feels strange to have gaps behind my front teeth again.

Also there is one tooth that has a hole, but he is not worried about that. The last thing is that one of my wisdom teeth has been pushing my other teeth around, so I have some pain due to that. I guess that is going to come out next time.

Well, I am just glad I was brought up in a place where fluoride was put into the water.

Yay! I'm happy for you....sorry about the wisdom tooth though... Mine grew in way too early and I had to have 2 pulled...owwie.

About this dentist thing -- what is the best way to get a kid to agree to go to a dentist? Dentists try things like giving away sweets to little kids in order to get their minds off the horrible machines and tools that are soon going to be in their mouths. I think this is a bit hypocritical of them. Is there a better way to get your cousin johnny or your daughter or whoever to agree to go into that scary room and sit in that terrifying chair? Or is it just a horrible experience that all kids (and adults) must learn to live through?

Well, my dentist gave (okay, well I still make him give them to me) me toys, like the little party favors that you'd get at the 99 cents store, but they were still something. My orthodontist would give us sugarless gum, which was kind of ironic because WE ALL HAD BRACES... but I have quite a collection to chew once I had them off.

As for kids, I don't know. I think that if you make a fuss, they won't go. I used to hate going to the school dental van in primary school, though I thank the government now for supplying such wonderful dental care for free.

Now that my teeth have a clean bill of health, I am not worried about going to the dentist again.

I guess it takes a scare in some other way for a person to actually go. So I guess the same will be with kids too.