On Thu, 28 May 2020 22:58:12 -0400, Radey Shouman
wrote:

John B. writes:

On Thu, 28 May 2020 09:32:06 -0500, AMuzi wrote:

On 5/28/2020 12:42 AM, John B. wrote:
On Wed, 27 May 2020 20:53:35 -0700 (PDT), "
wrote:

On Wednesday, May 27, 2020 at 5:38:47 PM UTC-5, wrote:

Paydays are excellent when you need some fast calories and don't mind
chewing a bit.

Unlike Jay I still have all of my teeth.


And why do you think Jay doesn't have a full complement of teeth?
He is an attorney. So I am guessing he makes at least the median
US income. So he should be able to afford a dental insurance
plan. He is an independent attorney, not employed by a firm. So
he does have to purchase his own plan. But I assume there are
insurance plans available to attorneys offices. So he is probably
able to get dental insurance through work, sort of, if he cannot
purchase a dental plan as an individual.

A serious question here. Can't the average USian afford dental care
without an insurance plan?


In 1965 the ADA opted out of many new government programs,
unlike AMA. Hence there are still reasonably priced cash
dentists. Not so much for MDs.

I was wondering as when I lived there was no real problem in "going to
the dentist" but I read above the mention of "Dental Insurance".

Dental insurance, or a dental care plan, or whatever really doesn't
change much in my experience. Simple cavities and preventive care are
reasonably affordable for those with good jobs, but the upper limit of
dental expenses has gone way up. My wife got a mouthful of implants a
few years ago, and it cost enough to buy a better car than I have ever
considered having. I had dental insurance through my employer, which
paid very little, and made no difference whatsoever in choosing a course
of treatment.

The alternative, of course, would have been dentures, which are still
much, much better than gumming all your food.

Some years ago I contemplated implants but in researching it seemed
that they install a metal stud and then wait for a period to ensure
that it becomes firmly attached and then add the "denture". But if the
initial stud doesn't become firmly attached than they remove the stud
and go no further. Or at least that was the way it was explained to
me. I thought about a mouth full of studs some of which were good and
could "hold" a tooth, and some of which couldn't be used and would be
replaced by what? Some sort of denture? And decided against them.

As for gumming your food... it depends greatly on what sort of food
you are eating :-) Chocolate cake, for example, gums quite well :-)
--
cheers,

John B.