I've definitely seen this happen a lot. Had a patient once who came in just for a routine cleaning, zero complaints, and we ended up spotting early signs of gum recession. She was pretty shocked because she felt totally fine. Thankfully, catching it early made a huge difference in managing it. Makes me wonder how many people skip regular checkups thinking they're okay... ever had friends or family who avoided the dentist and later regretted it?
Totally agree, regular checkups are way more important than most people realize. My brother was one of those "if it doesn't hurt, it's fine" types—avoided the dentist for years because he felt okay. Then one day, bam, toothache out of nowhere. Turns out he had a cavity that had been quietly getting worse and ended up needing a root canal. He kicked himself afterward because the dentist said it could've easily been caught and fixed with a simple filling if he'd just come in sooner.
It's funny how we don't think twice about regular oil changes for our cars or software updates for our phones, but when it comes to dental checkups, suddenly it's optional? I get it though—life gets busy and going to the dentist isn't exactly fun. But honestly, catching things early saves so much hassle (and money) down the road. Plus, your mouth feels amazing after a good cleaning... that's gotta count for something, right?
Yeah, it's weird how we prioritize stuff sometimes. I used to be pretty lax about dental visits too—figured brushing and flossing was enough. Then my dentist caught a tiny cavity during a routine checkup. Took like 15 minutes to fix, no big deal. But she said if I'd waited another year or two, it could've been way worse (and pricier). Lesson learned... now I'm annoyingly thorough about checkups, lol. Better safe than sorry, right?
"But she said if I'd waited another year or two, it could've been way worse (and pricier)."
Ugh, hearing this makes me even more nervous about my appointment next week. I've been putting it off forever because I figured brushing religiously was enough too, but now I'm second-guessing everything. Did the filling hurt at all? I know you said it was quick, but still... dental anxiety is no joke, lol. Wondering if anyone has tips for calming nerves before a first-time cavity filling?
Totally get the anxiety—it's super common. Honestly, fillings usually aren't bad at all. Most people say the numbing shot is the worst part, and even that's quick. Maybe bring earbuds and listen to your favorite playlist... helps distract your mind a bit. You've got this!
