Is There Any ‘Excuse’ For Not Seeing A Dentist?

Dr Yogi Savania of Alexandra Dental Care takes a closer look

Having worked in the dental profession for many years now, we have heard many different reasons why people haven’t been to see a dentist for a long time, before being forced to because of a painful toothache. Some of these reasons may be legitimate for a short period of time, such as illnesses. Unfortunately, all too often, these ‘temporary breaks’ last for much longer than initially intended. Especially where there are no obvious problems, such as a painful tooth, it can be all too easy to presume that everything is OK, so why bother to see their local dentist?

Unfortunately, even where the patient may not notice any problems, it is possible that decay or other issues such as gum diseases could be starting, potentially with more serious longer-term consequences such as periodontitis. With this in mind, we take a look at some of the reasons that people occasionally give for not seeing a dentist, and also our replies and recommendations.

I’m terrified of the dentist

Dental anxiety is a major reason why some people don’t see a dentist and may be founded on a bad experience when they were younger. Dental practices have changed dramatically over the years though and, if you haven’t been for some time, we feel that you will likely be surprised at the difference. Dentists are now generally more aware of and sympathetic to nervous patients and will treat you as gently as possible. It is important to remember that, by not seeing a dentist on a regular basis, it is almost certain that you will eventually need to have more extensive treatment than if you had regular care. We do offer sedation for our more nervous patients, so please do ask us about this so that you can access essential dental care.

It’s too expensive

‘The best things in life are free’, as the saying goes, but unfortunately this does not apply to dental care. Like all businesses, we need to cover the costs of years of training and modern dental equipment to allow us to maintain a high-quality service. At Alexandra Dental Care, we have taken time to seek out the best payment plans for our patients, and these can be used to help you to spread costs over a longer period of time. These can also be used for cosmetic treatments, as well as routine dentistry.

I hate the sound of the drill

Related in many ways to dental anxiety, but often cited as the only reason. It is true that the high pitched ‘whining’ sound so close to your ears may be a little disconcerting. The fact though is that the noise is caused by the drill rotating at very high speeds, in the region of just under half a million RPM. Whilst it may be noisy, this means that it is more effective and accurate, speeding up the procedure and making it more comfortable. Although early electric drills may not have produced the whining sound, they often only reached around 3000 RPM. This would have made many procedures more difficult and uncomfortable for the patient.

My teeth are fine

Well, actually, the chances are that they probably aren’t. Just because you don’t have toothache, doesn’t mean that you don’t have tooth decay. If you don’t see a dentist regularly, and have any treatment in its early stages, there is every chance that you will know all about it in due course when pain strikes. In addition to your teeth, your gums may not exhibit classic signs such as bleeding, but you could still be suffering from gum disease. If not treated promptly, this can lead to teeth becoming loose, or even falling out (1).

It’s inconvenient

If you look after your teeth well, you will hopefully only need two check up appointments a year. You may have to take time from work to do so, but it is well worth it to keep your mouth healthy. Our practice in Swadlincote is conveniently situated for patients from both Ashby and Burton, making it easily accessible for many patients in this area.

I don’t need to .. I haven’t got any teeth left

Even if you have dentures on both upper and lower arch, you still need to see a dentist. Unhealthy gums may have other medical implications, having been linked with heart disease and strokes, and you may also find that wearing dentures becomes uncomfortable as time passes and the shape of your mouth changes. If you do wear dentures and aren’t entirely happy with them, why not have a chat with us about dental implants. Many ex denture wearers have switched to implants, with excellent results.

Any ‘excuse’ or ‘reason’ not to see a dentist will, inevitably, lead to problems further down the line. Please make sure that this doesn’t happen to you and book an appointment to see a dentist at our Swadlincote practice as soon as possible. We will help you to book a convenient appointment and address and concerns that you may have.

Appointments can be made by calling Alexandra Dental Care on 01283 216347 and our team are waiting to help.

Dentist Dr Yogi Savania has practised in Swadlincote since 1996 (GDC 64763)

Reference 1  https://www.efp.org/patients/what-is-periodontitis.html

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