Dentistry thoughts
Jul. 11th, 2007 05:25 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
alexxkaySo yesterday, ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
kestrell and I went to the dentist. It was the first time either of us had been in literally decades. We each have some cavities and wisdom teeth that 'need' dealing with, so we'll going back for a consult on Friday, and for the actual work at the end of the month. Bleagh.
I gotta say, dentistry as a basic concept is a hard sell for me. In order to prevent some unknown amount of future mouth pain, I voluntarily sign up for a system where, every six months they (at minimum) torture my entire mouth so that it hurts for the next 24 hours. Plus maybe more advanced torture to put in fillings and such. I'm pretty sure that I don't generally have that much mouth pain in a year *without* dentistry. Kes points out, correctly, that there is a marginal benefit in being able to *schedule* trauma, as opposed to having it be on an emergency basis. But it's pretty darn marginal. I doubt I'd do it if I was paying for it directly, rather than through insurance.
kestrell and I went to the dentist. It was the first time either of us had been in literally decades. We each have some cavities and wisdom teeth that 'need' dealing with, so we'll going back for a consult on Friday, and for the actual work at the end of the month. Bleagh.I gotta say, dentistry as a basic concept is a hard sell for me. In order to prevent some unknown amount of future mouth pain, I voluntarily sign up for a system where, every six months they (at minimum) torture my entire mouth so that it hurts for the next 24 hours. Plus maybe more advanced torture to put in fillings and such. I'm pretty sure that I don't generally have that much mouth pain in a year *without* dentistry. Kes points out, correctly, that there is a marginal benefit in being able to *schedule* trauma, as opposed to having it be on an emergency basis. But it's pretty darn marginal. I doubt I'd do it if I was paying for it directly, rather than through insurance.
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(no subject)
Date: 2007-07-12 03:54 pm (UTC)Got any more specific numbers? Given that I sometimes drive a car, and that I live in a (relatively) high crime neighborhood, there's a level of risk I'm clearly willing to accept. If, for example, the odds of this happening are less than the odds of being hit by a meteorite, then I don't think it's a very compelling issue.
(no subject)
Date: 2007-07-13 02:17 am (UTC)Even if death by abscess-related brain infection is rarer than being struck by a meteorite, it's still easier to prevent than death by car accident, stray bullet, or extraterrestrial projectile. Low cost, high reward—makes sense to do it.
Of course, knowing these things to be true hasn't kept me from skipping a few cleanings. Especially because, thanks to my TMJ, I really do feel your post-appointment pain.