6 broken teeth are ruining my life, how do you cope with severe tooth pain?

r/

I’ve always had bad teeth, but they are killing me now. I don’t have dental insurance, what do I do? 😭 I went to the dentist and they referred me to an oral surgeon but it’s $3,000 to pull all the broken teeth. I feel like I’m out of resources and the ER just says to take ibuprofen and Tylenol which I’ve taken so much of I’m sure I’ve surpassed some kind of max dosage protocol. I just want to feel better again 😭

Comments

  1. AutoModerator Avatar

    Please remember that your Internet Parents are not medical providers and are not qualified to diagnose anything or recommend treatment. While we might be able to help you get through minor things (picking cold medicine, treating a minor burn, etc.), please seek help from a trained medical professional if you’re dealing with a serious problem.

    If you are not able to access medical care on your own, you may consider posting in a sub like /r/AskDocs or /r/DiagnoseMe where you can get help from verified medical folks.

    We also recommend the Cleveland Clinic website; you can search for symptoms and get information, or search the health library for things like “food poisoning” or “dandruff.”

    Posts seeking diagnoses or advice beyond basic first aid or self-care, or comments providing medical advice, may be locked or deleted at mods’ discretion.

    I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

  2. AutoModerator Avatar

    REMINDER: Rules regarding civility and respect are enforced on this subreddit. Hurtful, cruel, rude, disrespectful, or “trolling” comments will be removed (along with any replies to these comments) and the offending party may be banned, at the mods’ discretion, without warning. All commenters should be trying to help and any help should be given in good faith, as if you were the OP’s parent. Also, please keep in mind that requesting or offering private contact (DM, PM, etc) is absolutely not allowed for any reason at all, no exceptions.

    I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

  3. _duckswag Avatar

    Get them pulled and figure out a payment plan later, you don’t want an infection.

  4. ctothel Avatar

    I second the payment plan advice. It’s not enough to treat this with pain meds.

    By the way, tooth infections can easily be life threatening. If you feel any swelling or fever, or have trouble swallowing / breathing, go to the emergency room.

  5. smol-dargon Avatar

    Is the oral surgeon a part of a hospital or is it a separate practice? If theyre part of a hospital and its a nonprofit hospital, they should have a sliding scale of payment available.You also can tell them you cant afford it and see if they have a recommendation, or ask your other dentist for a referral for one that does payment plans.

    I am hesitant to suggest this, but there is also CareCredit. But you have to make every payment exactly on time or they charge back interest on the entire principal and it is A LOT.

  6. Infinitecurlieq Avatar

    I used to be a dental assistant, 

    I’m sorry but you gotta go to the dentist and get them pulled if you’re not able to get any other care at the dentist. (Or you come up with a plan with the dentist and get a payment plan going if you’re able to get fillings so that the teeth can be saved). With an infection, it’s going to spread.

    You get to levels of excruciating pain and then it stops, people think that this means that the infection is done but that happens because your tooth died and now it needs a root canal or to get pulled because that infection isn’t going away. 

    Left long enough, the infection will eat away at the bone. These infections are no joke and they need to be taken care of sooner rather than later. 

  7. AlternativeLie9486 Avatar

    Check with your local health department. Some areas have free or reduced cost dental programs and services that will help people with bad tooth problems.

  8. famousanonamos Avatar

    Do you qualify for state medical coverage? They’ll just pull them, but it should get the cost down if that’s what you’re doing anyway. You definitely don’t want to just keep takinh Tylenol. Maybe if you don’t qualify, you can find out what dentists take state insurance and call them, sometimes they have other ways to work with people. 

  9. typewrytten Avatar

    Is there a dental school near you? Sometimes they offer free or reduced cost clinics

  10. our2howdy Avatar

    Look for a local group that is FQHC – Federally Qualified Health Center. They service under or uninsured patients and often offer low-cost or free dental care. What state are you in, I may be able to help you find one.

  11. smol-dargon Avatar

    This also! I live near a medical school and they have dental school as well. They took insurance, but I didnt have any at the time. It cost probably half what it would have and they offered payment plans

    EDIT: crap this was meant to reply to someone suggestinf a dental school or clinic. It is 1am and I aint got my glasses on, have mercy lol

  12. Eadiacara Avatar

    If you can get a hold of xylitol, start sucking on it. It’s incredibly toxic to the bacteria that cause cavities.

  13. NEE3EEN Avatar

    See if they offer payment through sunbit or some other type of financing. I had to get 3 root canals while unemployed and that’s how I did it

  14. SnooWords4839 Avatar

    Check dental colleges near you.

  15. NerdyGreenWitch Avatar

    Go to the dentist.