A national survey was carried out on tooth hygiene recently with alarming results.
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The result, from memory, that one in four adults have at least one decay did not surprise me.
I recently visited a local dentist to polish a front tooth.
I was happy to pay the charge for the service.
I thought while I was in the chair, I might ask what he thought about a tooth that had lost a filing, thinking it was just a casual observation on the dentist's part.
He said $400 (big hole).
Up out of the chair, thanks very much, “gives me something to consider” was my reply.
It is no wonder the nation is full of “decay” with these kinds of exorbitant dental charges.
How come the survey didn't ask what the reason was the nation had this problem with their teeth?
Could the answer be that they just can not afford or justify the exorbitant charges that dentists demand?
My recollection is that dentists have always been among those at the top of the heap in their charges. I remember my mother in the late 50s having to pay off her dentist's account for us kids.
To limit the dentist “getting at you”, parents of today paying for their children's dental hygiene will have to insist with a firm hand to their children they brush their teeth morning and evening after meals and get off the sugar, or else suffer the consequences later on.
I wish I had taken the advice of my mother, who knew best.
David Beard
Rutherglen
A look at roundabouts
Roundabouts from my previous designing, are intended to have approach angles so that all traffic is travelling at the same speed, hence sometimes there is a 'squiggle' in the road just before you enter.
Then traffic should 'merge' at the same speed and then apart on leaving the roundabout.
No, there is no such rule about merging but akin to vehicles entering through traffic on a freeway, you slot in at speed if safe, and there are often signs saying ‘merging traffic’ , so there is a recognition by authorities to be allowed to merge.
The merge rule should be formalised so vehicles entering a roundabout don't necessarily have to 'stop' and give way till all traffic on their right has passed, but if safe to do so without impeding the speed of traffic on one's right can slip into the 'stream'.
Roundabouts were created to allow such movement otherwise me might as well just have two roads crossing at right angles with existing road rules applying.
Leigh Privett
Stanley
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