Bye bye money, hello pain.

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You may remember I have a MASSIVE fear of the dentist.

Well heart racing and stomach churning I went there yesterday. First time in way too many years. And oh the smell. You know what I'm talking about right? I told him it smelt like a dental surgery. He must be immune to it after all these years as he didn't agree that his practice has a smell.

When I was trying to find a dentist, I turned to my friend, google. This dentist was highly recommended. Great skills, friendly, honest, keen on sedation and gentle.

Well google was right. He was super friendly. He asked why I had such a fear of the dentist. I couldn't really answer him. I think it's the great big fear of the unknown.

You see growing up in a single parent household we never went to the dentist. Well except when they came to our school and let's be honest they are not friendly, or gentle so maybe that's why I hate the dentist so much.

He didn't scold me for not going for years which a bitch dentist did two years ago! No wonder I never went back for that filling mean lady.

He found out I'm a registered nurse. He asked whether I worked with his golfing buddies, two doctors at the hospital I work at. Turns out I do. I was hoping this would mean a discount.... ah no! Someone has to fund his golf trips after all.

So what does not going to the dentist your whole life mean? Seven fillings, a crown, a splint for night time and the possible removal of wisdom teeth.

HOLY FECKING HELL!!!

Bye bye money, hello pain!

I'm going back next week to hand over $410 have two fillings done. I'm slowly working my way up to the crown. Totally not convinced about the wisdom teeth though. I have never had a general anaesthetic before and I have nursed people who've had their wisdom teeth out. It's not a pretty picture.

Lucky we have been putting money into a health account for the last few years to cover some of the costs of the dental work. We don't have health insurance, though it is on the list of things to look at.

But it got me thinking last night, no wonder lower income households don't go to the dentist. It is expensive, and you don't get anything back from medicare.

I'm really grateful that I have no permanent effects from putting off the dentist for so long. I have no pain, my teeth nerves are all okay (apparently decay can go down to the nerve!) and I get to keep most of my teeth bar the damn wisdom teeth!

I am certain though that my kiddies will go to the dentist often. I really do think if I had of gone regularly I wouldn't be in this position today.

Do you visit the dentist often? How do your children handle the dentist?