Yippee:my broken tooth is fixed!
After all my moaning (and suicidal depression) just thought I'd share something nice. It suddenly broke a while ago (I'm useless on time and dates) and jagged sharp bit of silver filling rubbed my tongue and made it sore, hurt to talk, eat and even drink water.
Was terrified of going to dentist (in real panic before) but resigned myself, trust, no choice and WOW: he kind, gentle, careful and fixed it. Such a massive relief. And it looked really horrid too - at front.
Such a shame everybody can't get good protective dentistry and fixes when needed for free. Health systems and what's covered are way too complicated and if you're poor you just can't afford crowns, white fillings and hygienist.
Maybe they should all say dental health is important and catching problems early saves more money, patient pain and resources in the long run and make it simple? Then fewer people would need antibiotics, that'd help prevent resistance to them (mega problem now) and no/far fewer things like dentures, bridges and root canal ops. ?
Dentists (I think are only paid per procedure so if they take care and it takes a bit more time then they lose out so incentive is to rush which my dentist in 2006 (?) did when doing crown and she messed it totally, I have to live with that but she was paid. Maybe they should get paid after a bit of time when checked with us that they did it well and all OK, payment by results with real outcomes noted and audited? Then poorly-performing dentists would be picked up and retrained = better for everyone?
Amazing how a 'little' thing like that makes such a huge difference.
THANKYOU nice dentist for fixing me, removing the pain, preventing infection and for helping remove my fear of dentists !!!