Hate Dentists: Top 10 Dental Excuses

(and what they really meant)

People hate dentists, and they'll come up with excuses to avoid going. Here's a list of things commonly people say to avoid dental care - and what they're really saying.

Note: The only thing that makes this funny is because it's absolutely true.

1. "It doesn’t hurt." (It doesn’t seem urgent or important, so I’ll wait until it gets a lot worse)
2. "It really hurts, but it might feel better tomorrow." (Let’s wait until my pain far outweighs my fear of dentists)
   
3. "I'll leave things for now." (Dental care isn't a priority and I’m willing to gamble on my health in order to save a few bucks)
   
4. "I’m too busy right now." (No time for silly little matters like health care)
   
5. "My insurance only covers $____. (Just give me the free stuff. I have much better things to spend my money on.)
   
6. "It’s just a back tooth." (I only care about my 6 top front ones that show when I smile.)
   
7. The weather is bad." or "The weather is too nice." (Either way, it’s low on my priorities and you can't rely on me to show up.)
   
8. "My dog ate my appointment card..." (Even though I made a commitment and know I should go, I really don’t want to… so any excuse will do as my guilt-free ticket to freedom)
   
9. "This guy Bert told me... his friend had that done - 20 years ago in Alaska - and it was a total nightmare." (Any perfectly reasonable professional advice is completely invalidated by some dramatic second-hand disaster story that I heard through the grapevine or saw somewhere on the internet)
   
10. "I’m ___ years old. I don't know how much longer I’ll last." (My master plan is to limp along and save a bundle by dying just before things completely fall to pieces)

There you have it, funny things people say to avoid dental care.

Some excuses reflect the underlying beliefs and values people have about dental care. Values handed down from their parents or formed through early childhood experiences.

Some are just excuses to wiggle out of something they don't want to do. Lot's of people say they HATE dentists and any excuse will do to avoid going to the dentist.

My advice? Try not to let any excuses get in the way of progress. As a dentist, my job is to help you get back on track so you'll have a far better chance of staying healthy and keeping your teeth.

There’s one thing not on the above list that I hear now and then... “It’s just a cleaning.”

Ouch! Whenever I hear that I know I'm dealing with someone who just doesn’t get it. They could be amongst those that just drift along in crisis-driven mode. I call that the Path of Pain because pain is the only thing that forces these people to finally act, and they're almost guaranteed to get plenty of it.

Cold hard fact: Doing nothing has consequences. If you keep letting your dental health slide you'll can end up suffering greatly and eventually losing some or all of your teeth. I see it all the time.

To achieve sustainable health, you need to appreciate the value of prevention and ongoing hygiene care. Prevention is boring, but it's the key to sustainable health.

The good news? Preventive care is a lot more affordable than reconstructive care. It doesn't take much to stay on track for a healthy beautiful smile.
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Written by Dr. Joe Bulger
_{Owner & Founder of Royal York Dental}
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