when teeth get just too bad, the only recourse is bridges and full or partial plates, if I understand it right...and that is a bit expensive for John. (Do they have free/cheap dental work in dental colleges in the UK as they do here? might help, if John could be dragged to one)

(Jimmy..it's too bad some people have run into dentists they don't trust..*shrug*...I guess I have been lucky and had several I did like...my current one is VERY good, fair and reasonable. Nothing is cheap these days, and I can imagine what dental equipment, office space, insurance must cost!)