TIL that dentists in the modern world still actually pull teeth. For some reason I thought that had been replaced by cavity filling and crowns and root canals and all the tooth maintenance stuff that seems to be what dentists mostly do.
Even if you have insurance, it only covers a very small amount of a crown. (Plus, in my experience, insurance companies balk at anything that’s remotely cosmetic.) Fillings are cheap, especially if an amalgam is used, but if a tooth needs a crown it’s usually too far gone for fillings to help. Root canals can also be pricey, especially if any restoration work is needed. So yeah, I know plenty of surprisingly young people who are missing teeth. 
I had a wisdom tooth pulled not too long ago; the prep work took longer than the extraction, and the dentist popped it out with a level of ease that suggested this was a routine thing. (I didn’t ask how often he does extractions though.)
I had an abscess in a root canal so my dentist removed what was left of the tooth. She didn’t pull the tooth, mind you, just drilled down to where it split apart and left the root. The root eventually withered away.
Well, the employer did say that he can’t remember if he paid the guy in pennies or not, so he’s either a liar, or stupid …
I’m blaming the judge.
A man who raped an eight year old girl and beat her with a shovel was released without prison or mental hospital because the Kentucky law says that you can only be sent to a mental hospital if there is evidence that you can be cured of your affliction.
Does the law say anything about not being able to be sent to a prison?
Yes. The judge found him mentally incompetent to stand trial. He can’t legally be subjected to a criminal trial or sent to prison.
I’m sure this seemed like a good idea at the time.
Did they believe nobody would notice?
Had my wisdom tooth pulled about a month ago (my first) after a different dentist screwed up the cavity filling to the point where it couldn’t be saved.
I’m still not happy about every single portion of the situation.
Wait, so who would then pull a tooth?
A car mechanic? An elderly scrapbooker with her needlenose pliers?
A donkey with a string on its tail? …
Donkey Dentist, DDS
The public brings their bad teeth, Francis brings the strings!
I insist on a woman dentist, because I expect pain from women.
I had to have a tooth pulled. It was cracked along its entire length. Neither of the two dentists I went to thought a root canal would work. Fortunately, it was a very back molar, and it hasn’t affected my gorgeous smile. 
Aside. I’ve had 17 tooth extractions. Including four impacted wisdom teeth. One sideways. Four upside down. Plus four implants in recent decade. If I’m ever murdered and they only find my head, it’ll take 11 seconds for them to match my dental records. 
End aside.
Just reading about dental work is stressful.
The guy who extracted my wisdom teeth was, I shit you not, Dr. Fear. And Dr. Fear took a look at my X-rays and said, “I don’t even think we’re going to have to break your jaw for this.”
Way to set a lady at ease, Dr. Fear! Maybe I should get a second opinion from your partner Dr. Hitchcock. (Also not shitting you. Fear & Hitchcock. JFC.)
What were we talking about?
Dr. Jordan Peele
you can’t handle the tooth
I thought it was about that scary scene in “The man that knew too much”
Is it safe?
I had a Dr. Hu. Saw her as a female darlek (is that the word? I call then spacey-trashcans you can just kick over). Awful service about getting a crown and why it took three weeks in 2012. As complicated as my dental records are, 72 hours is plenty.