Found out why people gripe so much about paying for their kids' dentistry. I'm stepping in to pick up the tab for the work my mom's getting done this week, and the only things I've ever paid more for had seatbelts.

It'll probably have a good effect on my own dental health though, as I'm unlikely to chip any teeth on the ramen noodles I'll be eating for the next couple of years.

For misc work reasons, today I have come across the obituaries of what sound like two great New York ladies. [link] [link] Enjoy.

And dental insurance is, generally speaking, crap.

Yeah, I'm going to be paying more than twice as much as her insurance is. Whereas in my experience that ratio tends to be reversed with regular medical insurance.

Well, with teeth, as opposed to most medicine, there is the option to say "Yank 'em all, dammit, I'm going with something sturdier."

Dentures are pretty miserable, or so I hear. I had to have a partial denture for a couple months when I was getting a bridge made for my front teeth, which wasn't intended to be fitted really well to start with.

Dad's gotten used to his, but then he's had them for more than 50 years. Apparently dentists in the 1950s had a pull first and ask questions later policy.

on this line of thinking - y'all are familiar with the common dream of teeth falling out? I had a dream last week of my gums separating from my jaw and falling out, it was incredibly painful.

ew!

My mother had to talk a dentist into pulling all hers (30 years or so ago?), after she got tired of dealing with fillings getting pulled out etc. She was so happy to be able to eat salt water taffy again.

Tooth problems squick me out, so I'd rather deal with a broken rib or even limb, despite the greater severity and recovery time.