I'm 43 now and haven't been to a dentist since I was 18. This started due to a combination of being young and generally careless, constantly busy and procrastinating, and somewhat scared of dental procedures. And over time, as years piled up, it kept going on because now honestly I'm ashamed of going to a dentist, looking like a normal, functional, well-dressed person, and telling them straight to the face that my mouth hasn't been checked in 25 years.
So far, I haven't had pain in any of my teeth (I guess I would bite the bullet and go if I did). I'm not proud of my attitude and I fear some day my negligence may come home to roost. But on the other hand, I see other people who go to the dentist every year, and every year they seem to need treatment and have lots of cavities while if I have had any, they haven't had any practical consequences in 25 years, and I can't help but thinking "overall, am I sure that they are better off?"
So far, I haven't had pain in any of my teeth (I guess I would bite the bullet and go if I did). I'm not proud of my attitude and I fear some day my negligence may come home to roost. But on the other hand, I see other people who go to the dentist every year, and every year they seem to need treatment and have lots of cavities while if I have had any, they haven't had any practical consequences in 25 years, and I can't help but thinking "overall, am I sure that they are better off?"