My teeth are straight due to a couple years’ worth of braces and a retainer that I still wear today. There’s also a metal wire retainer glued to the inside of my bottom jaw that I have to have basically forever. No cavities, though. I mean, ever. No fillings or anything. I did have to get my wisdom teeth pulled when I was 14, though; had to get 'em out before they came in.
Great teeth, have had a cavity. Had one wisdom tooth yanked last month, supposed to have the other yanked tomorrow but I’m goona put it off because it’s not bugging me 
Yup, great teeth. But crap gums. I’m going thru all sorts of scaling and debridement (costing a fortune) to hopefully start some healing, and then I may need to see a periodontist. Bleah.
NEVER have had a cavity. Never. Humph. Heh.
a couple of years ago, i was accosted by a very persistent survey taker at the mall. this small elderly lady asked me what type of toothpaste i used. i politely told her that i didn’t use toothpaste. “oh, come now!” she said, “of course you use toothpaste!”
i reached out and firmly grasped her hand and spit my upper denture into her palm.
“no ma’am,” i replied, “i use efferdent.”
i picked my teeth out of her palm and put them back in, then walked on into the mall.
we never saw that survey lady again.
I had about 13 teeth extracted in my childhood, followed by a year or two of braces. Never had any cavities or fillings, however.
I only had 24 teeth (12 top, 12 bottom) up until I was 20 or so. There was no gaps between them; I just have a small mouth.
My wisdom teeth have since emerged, but they lined up nicely and I figured four extra teeth wouldn’t go astray. I now have 28, white, straight cavity-free teeth. 
I’m 50. Five fillings. I have a suspicion that my dentist at the time was making a little extra money by “finding” cavities – he found five in about four years, and I never had any before or since (and it’s been over 25 years). Further, one cavity he “discovered” just before I moved away has never been noticed by any other dentist.
All my wisdom teeth, but I had four bicuspids removed as part of orthodonture.
I never had wisdom teeth and I never had a cavity. I still have four baby teeth.
I can’t believe anyone is really reading this thread?
- Never had a cavity
- Had 3 wisdom teeth removed in college, the fourth has never appeared
- Had braces for three years at the age of 27
- Had extensive jaw surgery to correct my bite at the age of 30, have two permanent pins in my jaw which are always amusing to see on xrays
- Wear both top and bottom retainer every night
- Brush twice a day and floss every night
- Visit the dentist promptly every 6 months and the orthodontist once a year to make sure the teeth aren’t shifting. The last time I was at the dentist, she pulled another dentist into the room to show her how nice my teeth were, the dentist said I should be the poster child for oral hygiene. I have to admit, it makes me happy to have at least one thing about myself that is so nice other people comment.
Yes, I read this thread. After all my painful orthodontics and surgery, I have a mild obsession with other people’s teeth. I always notice if they are straight or not.
I bite.
I chew.
Perhaps I’m a poodle? [sub]::wag, wag::[/sub]
Seriously, about 6 crowns, at least one more needed, a couple of root canals (one in 1965 and one in 2001 - boy, what a difference). My first “date” with my college GF was to get her home safely from her wisdom tooth extraction. Had mine done at the same place a few weeks later.
More cavities than I can relate.
You can spend some money on your mouth.
I have had braces when I was young. They turned out pretty good, but then because I was too chicken shit to have my wisdom teeth taken out when I got older, the alignment was compromised. I just recently went to the dentist after several years of not going. They told me I needed a cavity filled to which I was suppose to get filled on April 30th, but because my insurance has a 6 month waiting period for any major services I had to postpone till July. So I am in limbo right now and have thought about having the wisdom teeth pulled after my waiting period since I do have insurance. I don’t know though just thinking. Coldfire let us know how the extracting of the wisdom teeth goes. I am always interested in that since it is something I have always feared. 
What I wonder is, why do they always end up identifying remains by dental records, and teeth in corpses last so long, but mine are just crumbling out of my mouth, even though I take care of them?
Man, teeth SUCK!
I think my dentist “found” my last cavity, the x-rays were whisked away so fast I didn’t get a good look. Otherwise, 2 wisdom teeth gone, 5 cavities and one side molar that needs to be fixed. But, considering the last trip to the dentist was over $500, and that was just a check up and filling, I think it can wait.
Three fillings, two more to be done soon. Braces since age 12, I’m 20 and still have them. Several teeth pulled because my baby teeth would just. not. leave, two wisdom teeth extracted, four permanent teeth pulled up by chains.
Five gum surgeries with bone sculpting, at least one more to go, one jaw surgery, one more to go, possibly.
Then capping/crowning all 32 teeth with bridgework.
I can’t wait for this to be over.
To everyone of you that have never had a cavity: I hate you.
I agree that it’s mainly genetics. I have a friend that brushes once a day, never flosses and has perfect teeth. I on the other hand brush twice a day, floss, use floride rinse, listerene (sp?) and still have countless fillings, a root canal, a crown and a missing tooth that will have to be bridged (once I get braces to straiten one of the teeth it will be attached to. Thankfully it’s not visible when I smile). I also had to get all four widsom teeth yanked because they were falling apart right after they came in.
I once had a dentist ask me if I eat nothing but sugar coated stones my teeth are so bad.
Blasted genetics.
No fillings…YET.
I’ve never had a cavity until I went in in January. I found out I had two and they wanted me to come in later that week. I couldn’t since I needed to come back to school so they told me to make an apointment during my Spring Break (mid March).
Here I am. Still avoiding it.
31 teeth, no current cavities. The first time I went to the dentist I was 17, and I got one cavity filled in both of my top right molars. A year after that, the tooth around the back filling broke away, and I carried that sucker around for three long years before I got it pulled. Now that I think about it, I don’t know why I waited that long. 
Anyhow, behind it was a wisdom tooth I didn’t even know I had, which has since straightened out and assumed the responsibilities of the missing molar. The wisdom tooth on the other side has come in as well, but it’s a bit crooked and a pain to clean behind.
I have never flossed in my life. I guess I just have really healthy teeth.
All 32 adult teeth, and zero dental work, including fillings.
interesting to see this thread, I was talking about how freaked out I am about my teeth just today. And the possible cost…!!!
I went to the dentist about 2 months ago. They did all kinds of x-rays and took individual screen-capture pictures of each tooth. Kind of far out. The doctor spent about 2 hours with me, showing me the photos and talking to me.
I have 10 or 12 fillings, can’t remember. ALL of them but one need to be replaced. This was news. I didn’t know they wore out. The dude said it was because I grind my teeth. I have TMJ syndrome too, one jaw joint is about 10 degrees different than the other. I was diagnosed with that a while back.
He showed me each filling, the holes, the cracks, and the decay forming under the fillings. Also, I only have two wisdom teeth. One is on its side, trying to push my teeth out of my mouth entirely, while the other one has opted to skip the mouth itself completely and is growing back up into my jaw. Yay.
So they need to go. Also, and I don’t know if you all have heard of this, if you have it please respond – he said they can clean my teeth and then seal them, so that it isn’t so easy for them to get cavities. Even the healthy teeth are trying to decay. Anyone had this done? It is popular for kids once they get their permanent teeth in, he told me. Maybe that could help some of you that are having problems.
Okay, so they are going to give me an I.V. and sedative for all of this. For me to be able to stand this, I won’t need to be sedated, I will need to be DEAD. Did I mention I am really afraid of going to the dentist?
Okay, the I.V. sedation, then all the fillings drilled out and then replaced, and then there’s one that needs a brand new filling made. Then the wisdom teeth cut out, and the teeth cleaned and sealed.
Can you imagine what this bill will be?
He said he would have to work up an estimate of the bill and call me. I never answered the phone. I’m afraid to find out how much. Hell, I’m afraid to have all of that done.
Heeeeeeeellllllllllppppppp!
interesting to see this thread, I was talking about how freaked out I am about my teeth just today. And the possible cost…!!!
I went to the dentist about 2 months ago. They did all kinds of x-rays and took individual screen-capture pictures of each tooth. Kind of far out. The doctor spent about 2 hours with me, showing me the photos and talking to me.
I have 10 or 12 fillings, can’t remember. ALL of them but one need to be replaced. This was news. I didn’t know they wore out. The dude said it was because I grind my teeth. I have TMJ syndrome too, one jaw joint is about 10 degrees different than the other.
He showed me each filling, the holes, the cracks, and the decay forming under the fillings. Also, I only have two wisdom teeth. One is on its side, trying to push my teeth out of my mouth entirely, while the other one has opted to skip the mouth itself completely and is growing back up into my jaw. Yay.
So they need to go. Also, and I don’t know if you all have heard of this, if you have it please respond – he said they can clean my teeth and then seal them, so that it isn’t so easy for them to get cavities. Even the healthy teeth are trying to decay. Anyone had this done? It is popular for kids once they get their permanent teeth in, he told me. Maybe that could help some of you that are having problems.
Okay, so they are going to give me an I.V. and sedative for all of this. For me to be able to stand this, I won’t need to be sedated, I will need to be DEAD. Did I mention I am really afraid of going to the dentist?
Okay, the I.V. sedation, then all the fillings drilled out and then replaced, and then there’s one that needs a brand new filling made. Then the wisdom teeth cut out, and the teeth cleaned and sealed.
Can you imagine what this bill will be?
He said he would have to work up an estimate of the bill and call me. I never answered the phone. I’m afraid to find out how much. Hell, I’m afraid to have all of that done.
Heeeeeeeellllllllllppppppp!