Yeah, I get the “I’ve made it this far” defense from my mom all the time. I usually try to frame it in terms of comfort—like, “If something starts hurting, it’s way worse to fix it later.” Sometimes I’ll mention how much harder it is to chew with missing teeth, and that gets her thinking. Not sure it always works, but at least she knows I care.
My dad used to say the same thing—“I’ve gone this long without issues.” I finally got through to him when he chipped a tooth on a pistachio and realized how much it messed up his eating. Sometimes it takes something like that to make the point hit home.
That’s so common, honestly. People think if their teeth have held up this long, they’re invincible. I’ve seen folks who ignored little issues for years, then one cracked molar later, they’re in my chair wishing they’d come sooner. I get it—dentist visits aren’t fun, but catching stuff early is way less painful (and cheaper) than waiting for a crisis. Sometimes, people just need that wake-up moment... but I wish it didn’t always have to be a broken tooth.
My daughter nagged me for years about my “old man teeth” and I always shrugged her off. Then a popcorn kernel did me in—cracked a molar right down the middle. Ended up with a crown and a much lighter wallet. Should’ve listened sooner…
That popcorn kernel story hit close to home. I put off a cracked filling for ages, thinking it was no big deal—until it turned into a nasty infection and a root canal. The cost and hassle were way worse than if I’d just gone in earlier. It’s tough to admit when our kids are right, but honestly, they usually just want us to avoid pain (and those surprise dental bills). At least you got through it in one piece... and with a new crown to show for it.