Dentist appt this morning

I think I can handle it.

You are very brave. I'm terrified of going and I really need to. I have constant tooth infections.

Go. You can do it. The consequences of not going are likely worse than going. Having a good dentist is important though.
The biggest downside is the cost :O

Week today, I have to face the demon hygienist and her searching cleaning probe, not that I am worrying, oops just broke another interdental brush...and I have swallowed it. She is Greek and it was probably a mistake to tell her my best friend at school was a Turkish Cypriot.

On the other hand it is a mere 20 mins of discomfort, £80 I might have wasted on some unneeded luxury, I might get to keep my teeth and I feel great when it is over.

The last time I went they wanted to take all my teeth out and I just can't deal with that, lol. I'll be forced to go at some point.

Like a lot of British people I have very bad teeth due to diet and shameful to say neglect. I was so nervous after a rather bad dentist, that I did not go for five years, and then found a really good dentist, but then she retired and I did not go for another five years, but now I have found a really, really good one who does not hurt at all and I am talking really deep fillings and root canal treatment. She does not however do National Health work and I have spent a lot of money on my teeth over the last ten years...but at least they are mostly still there. It was worth it for me - I really don't want dentures.

I wish I could avoid losing my teeth. Around 8 years ago I went to a dentist who was trying to save my teeth and wanted to do a bunch of work but I would have been paying him off for the rest of my life as far as I know. So I couldn't pursue it unfortunately. I feel so hopeless and my teeth are a big part of that. I'm so ashamed and sad.

I am really, really sorry to hear that as there but for the grace of God and all that. It is true if you need expensive work done it is ruinously expensive. My dentist is fair-minded - she won't do work that is not worthwhile and if a tooth has to go she tells me straight and I trust her judgement.

You are also right about hopelessness - when depressed I did not have the fortitude to face down my extreme (and in truth unreasonable) dental anxiety and in the long run that has cost me.

Are there any sources of help in your region for people who cannot afford dentistry?

I'm not sure, about any sort of paupers dental care. Maybe they'll pull teeth for reduced cost, I don't know.

You should look into that in the meantime. Dental colleges are a great place to start. I understand. I had slowly accumulated a nice little bankroll for a car and this took a huge chunk out of that. There also may be dentists willing to work pro bono. I don't want to scare you but the problem will seem so much more urgent and anxiety inducing as pain becomes a problem. A toothache is sheer misery. Saturday night I went through a whole tube of ___caine and still couldn't sleep. Had crazy thought of grabbing some pliers and pulling them out I have a high pain threshold but a full blown toothache is torture. The last time I had insured dental care in 2007 I had no tooth decay at all. Obviously I've been doing something very wrong the last 7 years.
Start looking for some free or low cost dental care soon. Good luck!

I used to go to a dental school in another city but there aren't those resources here.

I haven't been to a dentist in like over a year. For some reason my "cavities" go away on their own, I don't know why or how. It takes about a week for the pain to go away completely. I never knew they could do that. I'm terrified of going to the dentist so I just keep putting it off.

Try to go, when you can. The cavities don't really go away, they just get bigger.

True... tooth decay isn't something that goes away. Could have been cold or heat sensitive.
To finish my story, I had a choice between root canals and caps or extraction. I just let him pull them. I don't think I could afford the other option. I have one more to go and I'm hoping that one will be filled. I was shocked when I found out the cost of pulling a tooth. I can only guess what a root canal and cap would be.

I think they charge $200 per tooth here for extraction. It's crazy high.

Apparently its even more expensive here. Last week was $466 and today is supposed to be $280. Insult to injury I don't know what is being done today. Its putting a huge dent in my finances.

That's a shame. I wish they'd do simple extractions for free. They make money on the dentures after all. I'm so worried about it all. The dentist I saw 9 years ago said my bottom teeth were OK but needed work. Now that won't be true anymore.

I'm back and fine. My dentist is very good, very busy, and has a high overhead so I can sort of understand the fees. Fortunately he also has compassion and a heart. I'm now getting what the front office calls a 40% courtesy discount retroactive to last week. I call it a compassionate discount. I also get some time to pay off the balance.
I wish everyone here could have a dentist like mine