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What was dental care like in your childhood ?

(233 Posts)
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Viridian Sat 23-Jan-21 12:41:34

Thank you Puzzler, nobody's ever sympathised about it before. smile

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threexnanny Sat 23-Jan-21 12:40:22

Brutal!! I can remember being out with my grandmother and bumping into our dentist's assistant. She had a ragging tooth ache and didn't want to be seen by the dentist!

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PamelaJ1 Sat 23-Jan-21 12:40:16

It is true Jaffacake my current dentist says we were very badly treated and most of us have the problems you mention because of this.

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Puzzler61 Sat 23-Jan-21 12:39:52

Oh Viridian how dreadful!

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SisterAct Sat 23-Jan-21 12:39:49

Oh this thread brings back awful memories. I totally agree in 60s think they were paid to fill and drill. My DH 10 yrs older than me at same dentist in 50,s said the same.
Locally if you mention dentists name to certain age group they refer to him as ‘butcher’ .

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Puzzler61 Sat 23-Jan-21 12:39:08

I lived in a village and the school dentist came once a year.
I dreaded seeing the caravan pull into the school drive as I knew what would follow. We were called a class at a time and I quaked in my shoes while waiting for my turn.
The dentist, a man, also seemed to enjoy pinning us in the chair and inflicting pain. I always had fillings or teeth out.
Now I too have lots of big silver fillings but I’m not afraid of the dentist. I found a nice one.

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Viridian Sat 23-Jan-21 12:35:15

I still have a scar running down the inside of my mouth, where my ancient dentist with shaky hands lost control of the drill. I was aged 10.

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Jaffacake2 Sat 23-Jan-21 12:33:28

It was interesting to read the thread on hygiene during our chidhoods and when we all managed to get a hot bath or not. I thought it would be enlightening to ask about the dental care,or lack of it,through our youth.
I can't remember having a toothbrush as a child but I do remember the trips to the dentist. In the 1960s I think dentists were paid to drill and fill teeth. Please feel free to correct me if I am wrong.
All my teeth seemed to be filled by the time of being a teenager. It was very painful with no pain relief and frightening. She seemed a sadistic dentist who managed to put the drill through one of my brother's tongue. The waiting room was full of old pictures of religious scenes although for me it was a gateway to hell.
Subsequently I now have had teeth where the enamel is breaking off from large fillings. I am also scared of dentists.
How did everyone else fare during their childhood ?

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