My mother told my father she thought she had a loose tooth. So the old man decided he’d make an appointment for them both to have their teeth looked at and fixed if neccesary
Well we got there… and I left them to go pick up the kids from school. They were out when I got back after having had their teeth sandblasted and polished as dentists do these days to earn a crust. Their visit cost $225 which wasn’t bad for them both I suppose.
Then we discussed how much work they needed. Until the last few years while the old man has been looking after her, my mother was always fanatical about looking after her teeth so despite the years of neglect all she needs is a few fillings… four I think… to tidy her up for the next 20 years 🙂
My father on the other hand… who went to see the dentist when he was demobbed from the RAF in 1946… then didn’t go again until 1986 when for reasons unknown the dentist told him all was well!! Bearing in mind it’s 20+ years since his last visit you might think some things have changed – and you’d be right.
He needs 2 normal extractions… 4 root extractions… and 10 or more fillings… to be determined as work progresses. As for cost… let me report that the dentist has booked a European skiing holiday on the strength of it.
The estimate, including today, is in the region of $2,500 assuming nothing untoward (??) is discovered on the way. Anyone like to hazard a guess how much it would have cost them in the UK… bearing in mind they’re both 86??
He has little choice but get them fixed. The alternative is that his teeth collapse to nothing which will mean even *more* work and then dentures… which at his age would be hell to get used to… if he ever did. An even less attractive scenario than that… if anything could be less attractive than the old man in dentures… is the possibility of bacterial infection which could be fatal!!
All of which reminds me inexorably of that wonderful poem by Pam Ayres… “I wish I’d looked after me teeth” 😀
The Eclectic Interweb 