What was a visit to the dentist like back in the old days?

In the late 1950’s there was a school dentist in the clock tower of Whinney Banks school on Acklam Road. Horrible smell of gas as you entered the tower and getting worse as you climbed the stone staircase. That’s where the butchery started. Put me off going to the dentist until I had to go when I was a teenager, then I went to the Gables on Marton Road. Still hate dentist.
 
Woodiwis was an absolute butcher. Put me off going for years which caused me loads of dental issues in my 40’s. Looked into getting implants but very expensive in the U.K. Usually visit Goa for a month over Christmas and popped into a recommended dentist (actually a professor of dentistry). All done, a third of the cost and the implants are great. Had them checked when I got back by a dentist who i know who said the work done was top class. In India you end up getting a lot done in each sitting. One time I was in the chair for seven hours!!!
 
1970's ..dentist was a butcher.. drilled directly into tooth without any pain relief..
extractions via Gas... had to be helped out as you were out of it...
nightmare..

Marathon Man was a good ref' "....is it safe...."
 
I am going to tell you a true story. As a boy in Redcar, our family dentist did fillings with no local anesthetic. I am terrified of the dentist as a 55 year old man, I suspect because of the family dentist aforementioned. He did one day, and I say this with "some" affection, give me a magic marble..... A ball of mercury.
 
I am going to tell you a true story. As a boy in Redcar, our family dentist did fillings with no local anesthetic. I am terrified of the dentist as a 55 year old man, I suspect because of the family dentist aforementioned. He did one day, and I say this with "some" affection, give me a magic marble..... A ball of mercury.
That sounds like my dentist. I just assumed this was normal at the time (I'm 67)
 
Maybe Jack, my wife - 56 tells me she always got a local before drilling, but she lived in scotland at the time, maybe that is the difference.
 
It could be the same bloke. I lived in Redcar too. It's quite possible the rest of the UK was having pain-free dentistry but us!
 
I lived on the Lakes Estate, and I remember our childhood dentist being on Warwick road, opposite and a bit along from the youth club, just the other side of the back bridge.
 
what school did you go to, please tell me not Sacred Heart? I would have to come round and throw snowballs at your house! I went to Saltscar
 
St Mary's Junior in Redcar then St Marys College in Boro. I think the dentist was in Coatham rd so maybe all Redcar dentists still thought it was the middle ages. I refused to go from about age 9 onwards until I broke a rotten front tooth when I was 14. Went back and he took them all out. I had an enamel deficiency since birth and he said I'd just have loads of fillings and extractions until I had none left. Better to get rid in one go! Best thing I ever did, toothwise.
 
You know what, it was coatham road, that was the road I was thinking of, If I am right that is the same road the Lobster was on, same road the youth club was on, and you are a catholic, so I will still have to come round your house and snowball it
 
You'd need to come to Brighton then. Parents moved to Guisborough about 75 when I moved away.
 
No problem I will post dog poo through your letterbox, we tesssiders are nothing if not resourceful, what was your address again? Oh and if you can help me out, how do you spell teessider? If I am right then @Robert Nichols you have another problem to sort out.
 
When I was a kid in Redcar, my mam took me to the dentist to get one of my baby teeth took out. Apart from that one tooth my parents said my teeth were absolutely fine. The dentist took 8 teeth out without telling my parents. He clearly did it for money. Apparently it left me pretty traumatised.
 
Hi guys, (very) long time lurker but 1st time poster.

I'm an NHS dentist and this post has inspired me to finally sign up. Lots of misconceptions here along with a lot of genuine grievances. Hopefully I can be of some help to people on the board in repayment for the dad jokes thread.
 
No problem I will post dog poo through your letterbox, we tesssiders are nothing if not resourceful, what was your address again? Oh and if you can help me out, how do you spell teessider? If I am right then @Robert Nichols you have another problem to sort out.
Erm it’s Teessider you missed the capital . Flippant I know but nonetheless critical . Ooh feel better now 🤭
 
Hi guys, (very) long time lurker but 1st time poster.

I'm an NHS dentist and this post has inspired me to finally sign up. Lots of misconceptions here along with a lot of genuine grievances. Hopefully I can be of some help to people on the board in repayment for the dad jokes thread.
Me I’m first in the queue . When did comfort lollies come in as I feel deprived and robbed ?
 
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