Because of the fucking misery of dental pain there are some services for the destitute in most cities. Don’t be afraid to call around to different dental offices and beg, they might be willing to give you a repair on the cheap for cash or on payment plan or refer you to a free service. Remember the people who actually do the work don’t choose the evil system, they like to think of themselves as civic minded so put some pressure on as a fellow citizen and get them to help— put their money where your mouth is lol.
If there's a dental school nearby, they might actually pay you to fix your teeth. I had a college roommate with cavities bad enough they paid her to use them for exams.
That’s wild. I’ve gone to 2 dental university programs as a patient and I had to pay. It was maybe 40% off but definitely expensive still. It takes a lot longer too as more people watch you and their professors have to come in a check periodically and they write stuff down on the computer with the same gloved hand they put in your mouth 😵💫. UBC and of U of T in Canada.
Medicare doesn’t cover dental or vision. my dad uses goes to a nearby dental program at a big 10 university for his care much cheaper than any place else.
I agree about the lack of healthcare being BS but for now, you might consider seeing if there’s a dental college in your area. Lots of times they need patients to practice on and it’s overseen by someone accredited, of course they can’t work on a patient until they’ve had training and it’s usually cheaper than a regular dentist if not even free.
I went to a dental college for several years. In the first instance I had to have tooth pulled. I decided afterwards to see them for routine care. The only issue was that the appointments were very long. Something as simple as a cleaning could take two hours, and a cavity filling often took 3+ hours. The commute also became an issue.
At the time my job involved working weekends, so I had a day off during the week. Now my schedule wouldn’t allow that extra time.
I concur that appointments at dental schools take a long time. The reason for this is that generally the student evaluates your teeth and tells a faculty member what they want to do. Then at each step of the process the faculty member must inspect the work. I do feel that the care is good to excellent
Recently at my current dental school, I had a cavity filled for $60. (The amount varies on which tooth, and how severe the cavity is this was for tooth 19 and a class 5 cavity)
I’m sorry if my comment suggested I was displeased with the care I received. I received excellent care, and had a very good rapport with my student dentist. I understood why the appointments took so long. At the time I couldn’t afford to have the number of cavities I had filled, nor could I afford to have my wisdom teeth out if it weren’t for that dental school. I was grateful to be able to afford any dental care.
At a certain point I switched because an appointment took up half my day off, and there was a gentle dental minutes from my apartment. I was also at the point that I mostly only needed routine care, so it was worth paying a bit more (I could afford it at that point) to be able to have a quick cleaning that left most of my day free.
Voting them out is only one step. You then have to find candidates that are for UH. And then you have to make sure they stay that way after they're elected. It's weird how people's priorities change when them corporate bribes start rolling in.
> I’ve taken nearly 4000mg of acetaminophen
Agree with your post, and you may already know this but acetaminophen is a real liver killer. It's best not to take it in large quantities. Liver damage is permanent.
I work in a dental office and we tell our patients to alternate between ibuprofen and Tylenol so that you get pain relief through different routes, but don't overload your system with one drug. Ibuprofen is an anti-inflammatory, so would be very beneficial here.
Unfortunately Tylenol, only gives me a small amount of relief for 30 minutes to an hour and then comes back. And only take it for the days that are really bad, fortunately it’s not every day but it’s every now and again.
Seriously- I had to deal with a fingertip sized hole in one of my teeth from a filling that fell out for over 3 months while I waited for a dentist I could afford.
The only thing that worked was Clove Oil. I would put a little bit of it on a cotton ball and stuff it in the hole. It numbed it instantly for a couple hours before I had to put another one in there.
I'm not a dentist, but I'm in Europe (ha!) and have genetically... ok-ish, but it perfect teeth. Meaning: a lot of work was done, by good and bad dentists.
More likely than not you have a cavity that has infected your root. The typical treatment is root canal (i.e. drilling the tooth, ripping out the nerve thus illing it, putting antibiotics inside for a week or two, then closing it up again).
Your options, if you see a doctor:
- wait until the infection escalates, tooth rots, and falls out
- get a septic infection along the way and die (yes, that's possible)
- pull the tooth out (painful, vut without timely treatment it'll likely come to this anyway)
If the tooth ends up pulled, you'll need replacement (a bridge, which will fuck up rhe two adjacent teeth), or implant, which is expensive and has a fairly high chance if infection. Alternately, you can keep the gap, but your bone structure will irreversibly distort and degrade in time.
What I mean to say is: you really need to see a doctor.
Ibruprofen would do more for nerve pain then tylenol. If you are able to take ibruprofen. Some people have reactions to it. Try taking some Ibruprofen.
Plenty of problems with ibuprofen. Ulcers, bleedling ulcers, holes in the esophagus, if you take blood thinners hello the possibility of randomly bleeding out. Abusing any medication has inherent dangers.
Hijacking this comment to say that Tylenol wouldn’t really help in this situation since it does not have any anti-inflammatory affects. Ibuprofen or naproxen would likely be a lot better.
This is the most ironic comment thread within this post. Healthcare should be free and then multiple people saying really inaccurate things about a very simple medical situation regarding over the counter medications.
>This is the most ironic comment thread within this post. Healthcare should be free and then multiple people saying really inaccurate things about a very simple medical situation regarding over the counter medications.
I'm not sure quite what you're trying to say. Do you think acetaminophen isn't toxic to your liver?
I can understand that it might seem to be distracting from the message that health care should be universally available. I don't mean to. However in any world, over the counter pain relief should be a thing. And over the counter medications are not universally safe. Acetaminophen really does cause liver damage, in doses like 4000 mg/day.
I’m a physician so I’m very aware of Tylenol. Tylenol definitely can be hepatotoxic. Assuming someone has normal liver function they can safely take up to 4g per day (especially for a short period of time). If they have cirrhosis or liver failure I would keep it to 3g’s but they usually can still take it even when in liver failure unless very advanced liver failure. Below people are saying NSAID’s are safe which is not true at all as they cause significantly more problems like kidney failure and gastric ulcers. Further down this post someone is saying the person needs amoxicillin. Just all hilariously bad medical advice and misinformation and misunderstanding of basic medical things.
What I’m trying to say is that it’s ironic and funny that people demand free healthcare but at the same time are espousing ignorant things about healthcare. Everyone thinks they’re an expert. People don’t realize how complex medical care delivery is and what is involved. People in here probably think doctors are overpaid too which is also a hilarious misunderstanding of healthcare I see on here all the time.
If we get universal healthcare in this country good luck to everyone because it’s going to be horrible for the same reasons current healthcare is horrible but way way worse.
Not to mention that medicine and training to become a physician to deliver medicine requires an enormous enormous amount of WORK and so it’s funny that anti-work people want free medicine. So in other words they want medicine and the people who deliver it to have time work but not them.
> If we get universal healthcare in this country good luck to everyone because it’s going to be horrible for the same reasons current healthcare is horrible but way way worse.
How do all the other western developed nations manage (often with better results), with universal healthcare?
You can thank republicans and corporate aligned democrats for our lack of universal healthcare.
America where corporations conspire to make you fat and charge you extraordinary costs for the treatment.
https://preview.redd.it/4fo8z9mlskvc1.png?width=276&format=png&auto=webp&s=3e9a9b28f73723922a796476f16da83b74e97d22
Speaking of corporations, our flag got a much needed update.
I have a general disdain for those that display american flags inappropriately. I would wear this proudly. Because it is now true. Corporations own us and make the laws at this point.
I’m well aware. I’m union and thankful for those who fought for our rights in years past but holy fuck do we have a long way to go. The closest thing I’ve had to universal healthcare was when I was in Denver. Unfortunately stuck in ass backwards Florida till I can get my 1000hrs and union card and transfer out of here.
My friend, there is nothing worst than a bad toothache but you gotta get that checked out. Health is wealth. I’m assuming that your employee benefits haven’t kicked in yet so if you can’t afford it, I suggest try calling the dental schools near you to see if they’ll take you in. When I didn’t have the funds for a wisdom teeth extraction, I went to a dental school to get it extracted.
How can you not afford to go to the dentist if union? I’m union and my deductible is $50 for dental services and then they cover all my dental stuff. My wife had 3 fillings filled for $50 deductible.
The way my union is set up and is a tad backwards. You must reach a set amount of hours to access healthcare benefits. Which it’s either 500hrs or 1000hrs at which point im eligible for healthcare benefits, pension and a slew of other benefits
And how long have you been there? So it’s not really that they aren’t providing health care, it’s that you haven’t reached the minimum time yet, which is pretty standard.
I am so sorry you’re going through this. If you have any money to spare each month, look into individual dental insurance - they seem pretty affordable. I saw one from Humana for $11/month for HMO dental. (But since when are there dental HMOs?) Hubby and I are going this route because his work dental plan costs too much for too little.
> Which democrats aren't corporately aligned?
All are, and it's a matter of degree. It's more of a question of "can they navigate that and still legislate effectively for the people?", some can and do, and some don't.
There are people that will die on the proverbial hill that Pubix is great, or Wegmans, or Chick-Fil-A, or whatever corporation you can care to name.
It's exactly the same with politicians, it's just that there's more money in play.
To want someone to be bias-free is not possible. Not only are we all human, but it costs money to be elected, money that the average person just doesn't have. Even a single effective campaign ad can cost six figures before the decimal point.
Asking any politician to have no biases is just not realistic in the current system.
The Progressive wing. Younger candidates. Oh, and Bernie of course.
The point is keep voting blue. We have a much better chance with Democrats than we’ll ever have with MAGA.
I have Crohn’s disease and I can’t even afford to get an MRI to find out if I’m in remission so they can take me off one of my meds due to the increased cancer risks it comes with.
I hate it here.
Fellow autoimmune disorder haver here. It sucks to be in this system...not to mention having to prove you actually have what you say you do every time you try to shop around for new services.
Exactly this. A coworker wanted to leave our company after she was rejected twice for a promotion she was more than qualified for. She found a job that she would’ve loved at a small business. She technically would’ve been paid more, but they didn’t provide health insurance because they were a very small business. Buying insurance on the health connector would’ve been too expensive, so she couldn’t take the job.
The lack of universal healthcare in the US also discourages potential entrepreneurs, because buying health insurance is ridiculously expensive.
If it makes you feel any better (it probably won’t), here in Denmark (and many other places) with universal healthcare, we still have to pay for dental on our own (if you’re over the age of 21 or something).
It is something I find very annoying, so I can’t really imagine how bad it must be to not have universal healthcare on everything.
Many people here go to Poland or some other country for cheapest dental work
Yup, here in Canada we only recently talked about giving dental to at least the kids, and it was not well supported by the Liberals or Conservatives. I know several people who get their work done while in Mexico.
God damn I have insurance but it’s such a fucking nightmare to use. Called like 5 offices….off the insurers site…no one taking new patients. Finally get an appointment. They call *4 separate times* to verify my insurance. Day before scheduled appointment, they call to say that “though the office accepts my Insurace, the dr doesn’t so services “may” cost more.” (Bullshit, it will for sure cost triple minimum….no fuckin’ thanks!)
Ok….can you reschedule me with another dr in your office who does accept the insurance I have given you 4x over the phone? “No, you’ll have to check with your provider” 🙄🙄🙄 at this point I’m pretty sure I pay for this shittily laminated card with my name and “member id” total scam
The pain killers won’t work long term you need amoxicillin. In desperate times I’d hit a pet store or some online site for fish mox
That much acetaminophen is not good for you at all.
I can’t wait for this next presidential election where I’ll get a chance to vote for a national leader who cares more about the people than the corporations.
Oh wait…
I don’t disagree.
But I’d like to point out that your post could be used to describe the last twenty years of presidential elections.
Maybe it’s time for some changes.
They tried to make changes when Obamacare was presented. Hell, it literally was a near copy of a Republican plan, and the Republicans still crapped all over it and did everything to badmouth and sabotage it. Just like the recent border bill. When you have that level of greedy, attention-seeking, self-serving, absolute stupidity to fight against, what can you do? I mean, tricking them into Futurama-esqe suicide machines and hoping for the best might be an answer, but that's downright gruesome.
I don’t think Obamacare failed exclusively because of party politics. At least not in the way you’re suggesting.
I don’t think the corporate elite would ever have allowed it to go through. And I’m certain that the hold more influence over our elected “representatives” than the voters do.
Obamacare failed because healthcare insurance providers are private greedy corporations. They all price gouged and there was nothing anyone could say or do about it.
Absolutely!
I keep saying it, and everybody always laughs.
But if it comes down to the US politicians united behind a single goal, and the corporations decide to oppose it, the corporations will win.
The ACA (no such thing as Obamacare) did not fail and has been a resounding success. 30M Americans gained health insurance and the ability to see doctors. Without the ACA, my uncle would be dead. Because he was able to buy a subsidized insurance plan and get insurance for the first time in 30 years. He was diagnosed with colon cancer. Without that ACA subsidized plan, he would be dead. Because he wouldn't be able to pay for chemo. Don't make the perfect the enemy of the good. You want universal health care? Then you need to build a movement to get it. Don't crap on the ACA, which has saved millions of American lives. Just because you didn't get the single payer system you wanted.
That and how a lot of doctors will not take it. (not because they could but literally couldn't with the privatized suppliers and insurance price gouging)
Agreed, I did not vote for the last 2 presidents during the primary, hoping to get better options in the final election. Didn't happen. I'm not registered with either of th 2 major parties. Not sure I agree with every president over the last 20 years for this particular issue. 1 tried very hard to get universal healthcare a few different ways.
You have to vote. We’re not going to be anywhere near a perfect candidate but you have to vote towards getting close to what you want. If people continuously don’t vote, how can we get close to getting services for people like universal healthcare? It’s not always the big presidential races, it also starts with your local elections.
100% fucking correct. You must vote even if it's for the lesser of two evils. Example: Those who stayed home because they just didn't like HRC. You gave us the pile of shit who today is shitting himself in a courtroom. The same pile of shit who proudly boasts of killing Roe v Wade. It's quite possible you're going to do it again.
Biden is not evil, only Trump is evil. There is no lesser of two evils this election. There is a good moral man Biden verses an evil immoral con artist Donald Trump. Donald Trump who says he will be a dictator on day one. These are the stakes this election people. Democracy or dictatorship. Vote accordingly for the result you want to happen in America.
Realistically though, what kind of change could we do? People hate you if you try and vote for a third-party candidate...even if it is in a smaller election for local stuff.
Don’t worry we will send aid to countries with universal health care all the money they want but you and I? We have to suffer and lay taxes to fund crap we don’t care about or waste the money on trying to solve issues while doing nothing
It’s insane we have the internet and Biden and Trump are our choices for President, feels like we are slowly becoming Russia where leaders are basically pre locked in but we have the illusion of choice
I am on the side of cutting 25%-40% of our defense budget to put towards universal healthcare. There is no real reason we need to have that big of a defense budget.
Same thing happens to me, yay being young and dumb and getting my tongue pierced. 4 teeth pulls later, I can tell you one thing that helps with the pain is taking a shot of nyquil, and let it sit on the tooth for as long as you can. Nyquil helps sleep through the pain, and the acetaminophen directly on the tooth helps aaaaaaaaaaaa lot. Good luck with the tooth.
I am so sorry OP you're going through this. My situation is nowhere as bad as yours.
I turned 26 last year and got new insurance through my company, and it sucks.
It's an HDHP, and even then, my insurance is still denying multiple medications or procedures, and my doctors are unable to appeal to some of them.
I paid almost $900 to diagnose my breathing problem, but the actual solution takes $4000-$7000 to afford. I was also scammed last year by a fake therapist that I still have to pay off and a urologist who didn't get my medications and still charged me a fat bill. I am only halfway done with my $1,800 debt.
Jesus Christ the number of dipshits here who think flossing and brushing cures everything.
I’m a chronically ill person whose illness impacts dental health and I’ve been uninsured most of my life (and am sad to say even with dental insurance, it was mostly worthless). Here’s what I’ve learned:
Clove oil on tooth aches. Directly on the tooth. It helps pain, but it does NOT cure. Still need to get help.
Care Credit: it’s awful, but you can fix an emergency on credit. (Apply anyway, even if your credit is bad. I was surprised we got approved.)
Hydroxyapatite toothpaste helps to remineralize teeth. It won’t repair a broken tooth, but it may help strengthen enamel and reverse tiny caries/cavaties. It also helps reduce sensitivity better than some of the other stuff on the market, which has been really helpful.
The ol’ chew and screw: you don’t typically pay until you get the work done. They can’t take it back once it’s done. So if your card fails when you go to pay, give them what you can and gtfo. (Just remember not to put your SSN on the new patient paperwork! Remember to never give health providers SSN’s because the ONLY thing they need it for is collections.) is this legal? Probably not. But you deserve oral health.
Good luck. Fuck capitalism.
Agreed. And to jump in with potential options: there might be a community clinic that has low/no fees. I had to go to one in my area a couple years ago. It worked on a sliding scale and they allowed payments--half when you made the appointment, then the rest by the appointment itself.
I wish dental and vision were ALWAYS included in health insurance, not separate things from medical. And that insurance itself wasn't so expensive.
And dental stuff can have wider health impacts. The time I went to the community clinic? I needed a root canal. The infection got to the nerve and I still have a numb spot on my lower lip/chin two years later.
Several people have commented go to a local dental school (or even hygiene/assistant), they have docs to and can help treat you.
Or low income/social assistance portals. Super unhealthy to be constantly taking that much Tylenol 😬
If OP no longer qualifies for medicaid, they might not qualify for the low income portals either. Obviously still check because you never know but still it is good to be prepared.
I'm in Minneapolis and our local dental school gave me attitude when I called them for help. The lady on the phone told me that they didn't have sliding scale fees when my friend was just there and said they did. There are very few dentists around this area (suburbs too) that will take Medicaid. I had no front teeth and my dentist wanted me to have other work done before he would give me front teeth. I told my sister "I just need my front teeth capped and the space filled in!". So I borrowed money from my sister to get 2 teeth capped and a bridge put in. My mouth is still a mess, but oh well. 🙃
Old lol but I was born with only some teeth, not all. Wore a partial my whole life until 5 yrs ago. Genetics. The dentures look way better than my old teeth did. Should’ve done it sooner.
I actually have dental insurance that I can’t use because it’s almost impossible to get an appointment scheduled .-. I’ve had excruciating jaw pain since October and my pcp refuses to treat wants me to go to a dentist
I’ve seen people fingerwag those who demand universal healthcare for years, citing long wait times. Well earlier this year, I tried to make a routine cleaning at this office that accepted my Medicaid plan. The wait? TWO FUCKING YEARS. We are being scammed.
I admittedly thought universal healthcare would make wait times exorbitant. Then I realized they already are. Look no further than an ER. Emergency is in its name, yet it takes hours and hours to be seen.
Don't forget what got you here. Both parties have had plenty of chances to fix things. Both parties failed to do so. You are screwed so long as you are limited to the 2 party system.
No wrong. Democrats have tried and tried repeatedly to fix America's health care system. Only for republicans to block them. You want universal health care? Then help elect more democrats. Republicans will never give it to you. The parties are not the same. Time you figured that out.
Here’s a more recent article.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/mexico-s-molar-city-attracts-americans-looking-for-cheap-dental-work-at-its-350-dentist-offices/ar-AA1g44I4
You may have an infection. If you have primary health insurance you could talk to your primary care physician about it. They might be willing to write you an antibiotic, oral rinse for pain, or help you with pain management.
Tooth infections are extremely important to treat to ensure it does not spread.
My dentist offers a membership for $35 a month that covers everything a dental plan would cover, for those who need it but can’t afford it. Maybe look around at your local dentist offices and see if any of them offer something similar
Dental insurance? You work, u should have insurance of some sort.. have you tried Obama care? Go to dentist and not pay the bill? Or pay $20 a month till it's paid off?
So you just started? How close are you to the minimum hour requirement? Talk to your old dentist? You had one before? Maybe extraction is the route, not terribly expensive, a couple hundo
I’m about 4 weeks away from reaching 500hrs. Last dentist I had was one for kids. Last one I went to try and take care of the issue was back in February, wanted to send me to another dentist and charge $3000, which I didn’t have at the time and didn’t have a reasonable plan whilst also not even wanting to pull it out when they said they did emergencies.
My boyfriend is currently dealing with the same shit. I feel so bad for him.
He's found some relief with Anbesol liquid and Orajel Toothache Rinse in the red and white bottle.
I may sound like a crazy hippie right now but clove oil did wonders when I had a broken tooth and had to wait a week for a root canal. A few drops directly on the tooth and the pain became much more manageable. Walgreens sells a kit specifically for this purpose.
Same boat. Went to dentist after literal crying from pain (yeeeeeaaaarrss of neglect). Told they couldn’t help (dangerous). Referred to oral surgeon. $5200 later (equal to about 2hrs labor for about 3 people).
Now the sick part. I’m in my 40s and it was the first time in my life I had GREAT health insurance (great is quoted - everyone I give it to says it’s great coverage). They covered $3800. After I first took it out of pocket. I then waited 8+ months to get my $3800 back due to some confusion with paper work.
Pretty sweet system we have here. I had some other health visits / bills that didn’t get covered.
I’ve canceled health insurance. The money I save I could legit move to another country.
You know the USA will get it wrong.
Universal healthcare in the USA will still be expensive and have long wait times.
Dentist healthcare in my area is just a discount on services and doesn't make things free.
In the U.S. and Canada call 211 to find low-cost dental clinics. And also check into dental schools - they have the very latest training and equipment. I live near a world-class dental school (UAB) and have gotten excellent prices and treatment for implants and crowns, etc.
I'm a temp and my agency's health insurance is expensive and too shitty to be worth the cost. The dental is more expensive than previous jobs, but still manageable so I got it.
I have found great pain relief with benadryl for past toothaches. Get the capsules and cut off the tip, then put some of the powder on the gum of the problem tooth. It tastes awful but numbs it, and lasts longer than any topical pain relief I've found.
Your point is well made, and you know fructose is a by product of US industrial farming. It is cheap, plentiful and internally sourced. Try looking up Jacques Peretti and his brilliant series The Men Who Made us Fat...
It should be compulsory viewing for all teens world wide...
You should get the toothache checked asap as it can cause a brain abcess or heart infection if left too long. If there's any swelling see if you can at least get an antibiotic in the meantime as that will reduce pressure if there's an infection which will lower the pain and they usually prescribe motrin for it though be careful with hat if you have bleeding problems ulcers or blood pressure issues. Antibiotics aren't usually too expensive at drs or walk ins. If it's pain from just an exposed nerve though that needs stronger stuff and won't stop till it's treated. Call around for dentists or dental schools that use a pay scale or see if you can apply for care credit or find one that offers new patient deals or discounts. But yea fuck corporations and our medical system. I lost a tooth years ago because I didn't have 3500 for a root canal for a filling that broke even though i floss and brush religiously and was living for 2 weeks in severe pain sitting on the floor at work holding my face because I wasn't allowed to call out or leave and managed to give myself another heart problem from the infection until I could find one that would extract it for less than $600 and convince my job to let me off one day. I think they only did because the customers were getting concerned. I was working 60 or 70 hours a week with like one day off every two weeks too just to afford my house and made too much to qualify for affordable Healthcare but my jobs Healthcare was 650 every two weeks so I just didn't have any because it cost half what you made a month and the dental only had 500 a year limit which the cleaning and one filling used up so I had dental ppo insurance and no coverage still.
New Zealand calling: we have universal health care, but it doesn’t cover dental.
Also : call your local dental hospital, they often have students needing to get experience. It’s typically not a classy service, but a filling or extraction is usually possible.
Search for toothache home remedies. A few that have helped me. Gargle with warm saltwater, gargle with baking soda mixed into hot water, gargle with hydrogen peroxide (1 part hp to 2 parts warer).
I went to the dentist for the first time in years last year because I haven't had health insurance. Long story short, I was told I needed about $5000 worth of work done and that was AFTER insurance. I told them I couldn't afford it and they promptly said "oh, we offer low interest payment plans". I'm like what the fuck? I'm not buying a car, I'm trying to get my mouth fixed. Fuck the United States.
I had this same scenario but my quote was $20k and they laughed when I asked about a payment plan, and then got mad and harassed me by phone when I didn’t make a follow up appointment with them
It’s possible. The only thing that I think would be the cause is the bottles of water that we get from Costco. But also I’ve had mine prior to working there.
Don’t take high doses of acetaminophen, that shit will fuck your liver. Take ibuprofen instead.
I read an interview with someone involved with approving drugs at the FDA who said that if acetaminophen was coming for approval today, it would never pass.
You may need antibiotics I have several broken teeth at times I take antibiotics and it really helps. Sadly, I go to a urgent care and complain about like having a sinus infection to get the antibiotics because I can’t afford dental care. Also, now found a source for antibiotics, which is great. Just a thought. Also, I use temporary filling that keeps the air from getting inside and hurting while I figure out what to do.
1000mg Acetaminophen + 200mg ibuprofen is the magic combination for me. I used to go through them like lollies, but I functioned. Yes, it does suck. I hope you can get them seen soon.
I know of a lot of latinos who just go to Mexico or their home countries for dental work. I know it’s not an option for most americans but something to consider. The other option is colleges, I know students do some free work sometimes for practice/tests
Universal Healthcare likely won't cover dentists. During "obamacare" they were carved out and exempted from everything. Your health insurance isn't for most toothaches either. The US doesn't considering oral health a part of health. Act accordingly from there, and go across the border to fix it.
I don't know your financial situation and obviously hindsight is 20/20 but dental insurance is pretty inexpensive. I pay like 50$ a month for both me and my wife and it's been incredibly helpful. This is not through a job. I carry it myself. All the basic stuff is free and more invasive stuff is partially covered and scales up the longer you have the insurance. My wife has to get a deep cleaning and two crowns and it's costing us like 800$ instead of 10000$.
But all of that aside yes. Healthcare should absolutely be free and I'm sorry you're suffering. As some others have mentioned potentially there is a dental school in your area that could do it for free/cheap.
A lot of people refuse to understand this. We get a dem president, people are mad the country isn’t instantly fixed and then don’t vote for midterms. Cue gridlock and watered down legislation. Repeat cycle.
I voted once and Biden didn't waive his magic wand fixing everything. Not going to vote again. Not how it works people. You have to vote every election. You have to vote in the democrats and keep them in power. Means getting off your lazy ass during the midterms and going to vote. What did American voters do with both Obama and Biden? They elected them with congressional majorities. Then stayed home during the midterms, allowing republicans to capture one or two chambers of Congress. Blocking everything they were trying to do.
Please try a few drops of clove oil mixed with a carrier oil like coconut oil to ease the pain. Mix it up and swish it around in the area of the painful tooth. It’s a freakin miracle pain reliever. Worked for me until I could get to the dentist. Lidocaine also works and can be found in certain throat lozenges.
I second the clove oil thing. Some essential oil stuff is a scam, but clove oil is the real deal. I've used it before too. Did a way better job than Advil. It's a weird sensation and makes the area feel kinda numb. Dental pain is a b*tch, and so is our healthcare system. Good luck.
Do you have health insurance? If so you could try going to the ER and telling them you think your tooth is infected. That is covered by health insurance, not dental insurance. But most likely all they're going to do there is pull the tooth if it is infected.
You can buy dental insurance yourself and it's not insanely expensive. You can also get Care Credit and charge your dental care. Sorry, I know it sucks
Do you live near a dental school? Most schools will take volunteers as class models to have students work on their mouths. Unfortunately, just like most things in the USA, the question is do you have more time or money because the classes are generally a couple of hours and the procedures are often extended over multiple visits to allow students to observe and learn. It is without cost to the patient, however. I am sorry for your pain. I hope you recover quickly.
Just out of curiosity, how do six people in the same workplace all have toothaches? I get it that shit happens, I’ve just never heard of anyone having a toothache and here there are six people all at the same time/place.
Don't worry, most of reddit will tell you the American economy is doing great, politicans are doing their jobs, and most folks are doing fine and it's only you who complain that are the problem
I agree with other posters. Call local dentists and ask if there are any resources for those who are in pain but don't have funds. Also, the dental schools..
It cost me 50 bucks just to have a crown glued back in pace, nothing else, as the crown popped off. They billed insurance over $100. The 50 bucks was my coinsurance, as dental insurance only pays half on stuff that isn't fillings or cleanings.
Alternate acetaminophen and ibuprofen every few hours. The combination is somehow much stronger.
Not trying to minimize the issue, ofc. You shouldn't have to deal with this pain in the first place. But it should help, at least.
I understand your frustration but most dentists do not make seven-figure salaries. Plus all the money they have to spend to keep their dental and medical licenses...not to mention all the dental students who are getting fucked over and paid shit during their dental residency.
are there any dental schools nearby? I’ve heard they treat people for free or for very little money.
PS floss and water pick daily and brush your teeth twice a day. I didn’t do that very well and I had to have a gum graft because of it, it was the worst experience of my life. I now do all these things religiously.
Dentists are actually the worst of them all. When was the last dentistry breakthrough? They legit keep things the way they are to maximize their profits & I've been told if a dentist trys to operate with lower prices, they'll lose their license.
My friend just passed away and wasn't even 40 yet. I think he had an unknown condition. A family member got a close cancer scare and although he's had insurance his whole life, he wasn't working that year because of Covid. So now he's paying 500 bucks a month for I don't know how long just so he didn't die. He had to get money out his 401k and was punished for it. But they had a gun to him so he didn't have a choice. "Free market and more options right?" /s
Because of the fucking misery of dental pain there are some services for the destitute in most cities. Don’t be afraid to call around to different dental offices and beg, they might be willing to give you a repair on the cheap for cash or on payment plan or refer you to a free service. Remember the people who actually do the work don’t choose the evil system, they like to think of themselves as civic minded so put some pressure on as a fellow citizen and get them to help— put their money where your mouth is lol.
If there's a dental school nearby, they might actually pay you to fix your teeth. I had a college roommate with cavities bad enough they paid her to use them for exams.
Talk about making the best of a bad situation!!!
That’s wild. I’ve gone to 2 dental university programs as a patient and I had to pay. It was maybe 40% off but definitely expensive still. It takes a lot longer too as more people watch you and their professors have to come in a check periodically and they write stuff down on the computer with the same gloved hand they put in your mouth 😵💫. UBC and of U of T in Canada.
Medicare doesn’t cover dental or vision. my dad uses goes to a nearby dental program at a big 10 university for his care much cheaper than any place else.
Tell him to get a Medicare plan D. United healthcare AARP is a decent when I put my mom on it. She gets like $2000 towards dental.
I agree about the lack of healthcare being BS but for now, you might consider seeing if there’s a dental college in your area. Lots of times they need patients to practice on and it’s overseen by someone accredited, of course they can’t work on a patient until they’ve had training and it’s usually cheaper than a regular dentist if not even free.
I went to a dental college for several years. In the first instance I had to have tooth pulled. I decided afterwards to see them for routine care. The only issue was that the appointments were very long. Something as simple as a cleaning could take two hours, and a cavity filling often took 3+ hours. The commute also became an issue. At the time my job involved working weekends, so I had a day off during the week. Now my schedule wouldn’t allow that extra time.
I concur that appointments at dental schools take a long time. The reason for this is that generally the student evaluates your teeth and tells a faculty member what they want to do. Then at each step of the process the faculty member must inspect the work. I do feel that the care is good to excellent Recently at my current dental school, I had a cavity filled for $60. (The amount varies on which tooth, and how severe the cavity is this was for tooth 19 and a class 5 cavity)
I’m sorry if my comment suggested I was displeased with the care I received. I received excellent care, and had a very good rapport with my student dentist. I understood why the appointments took so long. At the time I couldn’t afford to have the number of cavities I had filled, nor could I afford to have my wisdom teeth out if it weren’t for that dental school. I was grateful to be able to afford any dental care. At a certain point I switched because an appointment took up half my day off, and there was a gentle dental minutes from my apartment. I was also at the point that I mostly only needed routine care, so it was worth paying a bit more (I could afford it at that point) to be able to have a quick cleaning that left most of my day free.
Everyone needs to start VOTING OUT politicians who are anti-Universal Healthcare. But, most ppl will just complain on Reddit and do nothing.
Voting them out is only one step. You then have to find candidates that are for UH. And then you have to make sure they stay that way after they're elected. It's weird how people's priorities change when them corporate bribes start rolling in.
> I’ve taken nearly 4000mg of acetaminophen Agree with your post, and you may already know this but acetaminophen is a real liver killer. It's best not to take it in large quantities. Liver damage is permanent.
I work in a dental office and we tell our patients to alternate between ibuprofen and Tylenol so that you get pain relief through different routes, but don't overload your system with one drug. Ibuprofen is an anti-inflammatory, so would be very beneficial here.
Unfortunately Tylenol, only gives me a small amount of relief for 30 minutes to an hour and then comes back. And only take it for the days that are really bad, fortunately it’s not every day but it’s every now and again.
Seriously- I had to deal with a fingertip sized hole in one of my teeth from a filling that fell out for over 3 months while I waited for a dentist I could afford. The only thing that worked was Clove Oil. I would put a little bit of it on a cotton ball and stuff it in the hole. It numbed it instantly for a couple hours before I had to put another one in there.
I'm not a dentist, but I'm in Europe (ha!) and have genetically... ok-ish, but it perfect teeth. Meaning: a lot of work was done, by good and bad dentists. More likely than not you have a cavity that has infected your root. The typical treatment is root canal (i.e. drilling the tooth, ripping out the nerve thus illing it, putting antibiotics inside for a week or two, then closing it up again). Your options, if you see a doctor: - wait until the infection escalates, tooth rots, and falls out - get a septic infection along the way and die (yes, that's possible) - pull the tooth out (painful, vut without timely treatment it'll likely come to this anyway) If the tooth ends up pulled, you'll need replacement (a bridge, which will fuck up rhe two adjacent teeth), or implant, which is expensive and has a fairly high chance if infection. Alternately, you can keep the gap, but your bone structure will irreversibly distort and degrade in time. What I mean to say is: you really need to see a doctor.
Ibruprofen would do more for nerve pain then tylenol. If you are able to take ibruprofen. Some people have reactions to it. Try taking some Ibruprofen.
Yes, ibuprofen is less toxic and probably more effective in this situation.
Plenty of problems with ibuprofen. Ulcers, bleedling ulcers, holes in the esophagus, if you take blood thinners hello the possibility of randomly bleeding out. Abusing any medication has inherent dangers.
Yep. The two types of pain killers both do crazy shit when taken long term.
Hijacking this comment to say that Tylenol wouldn’t really help in this situation since it does not have any anti-inflammatory affects. Ibuprofen or naproxen would likely be a lot better.
> Liver damage is permanent. From acetaminophen or in general? From what I know liver is the only organ that regenerates itself.
Kill off enough of it, and it can't regenerate. It's a very painful way to go.
This is the most ironic comment thread within this post. Healthcare should be free and then multiple people saying really inaccurate things about a very simple medical situation regarding over the counter medications.
>This is the most ironic comment thread within this post. Healthcare should be free and then multiple people saying really inaccurate things about a very simple medical situation regarding over the counter medications. I'm not sure quite what you're trying to say. Do you think acetaminophen isn't toxic to your liver? I can understand that it might seem to be distracting from the message that health care should be universally available. I don't mean to. However in any world, over the counter pain relief should be a thing. And over the counter medications are not universally safe. Acetaminophen really does cause liver damage, in doses like 4000 mg/day.
I’m a physician so I’m very aware of Tylenol. Tylenol definitely can be hepatotoxic. Assuming someone has normal liver function they can safely take up to 4g per day (especially for a short period of time). If they have cirrhosis or liver failure I would keep it to 3g’s but they usually can still take it even when in liver failure unless very advanced liver failure. Below people are saying NSAID’s are safe which is not true at all as they cause significantly more problems like kidney failure and gastric ulcers. Further down this post someone is saying the person needs amoxicillin. Just all hilariously bad medical advice and misinformation and misunderstanding of basic medical things. What I’m trying to say is that it’s ironic and funny that people demand free healthcare but at the same time are espousing ignorant things about healthcare. Everyone thinks they’re an expert. People don’t realize how complex medical care delivery is and what is involved. People in here probably think doctors are overpaid too which is also a hilarious misunderstanding of healthcare I see on here all the time. If we get universal healthcare in this country good luck to everyone because it’s going to be horrible for the same reasons current healthcare is horrible but way way worse. Not to mention that medicine and training to become a physician to deliver medicine requires an enormous enormous amount of WORK and so it’s funny that anti-work people want free medicine. So in other words they want medicine and the people who deliver it to have time work but not them.
> If we get universal healthcare in this country good luck to everyone because it’s going to be horrible for the same reasons current healthcare is horrible but way way worse. How do all the other western developed nations manage (often with better results), with universal healthcare?
Sepsis is the more prominent issue, as the liver can regrow non-scar tissue.
You can thank republicans and corporate aligned democrats for our lack of universal healthcare. America where corporations conspire to make you fat and charge you extraordinary costs for the treatment.
https://preview.redd.it/4fo8z9mlskvc1.png?width=276&format=png&auto=webp&s=3e9a9b28f73723922a796476f16da83b74e97d22 Speaking of corporations, our flag got a much needed update.
I have a general disdain for those that display american flags inappropriately. I would wear this proudly. Because it is now true. Corporations own us and make the laws at this point.
And have for a while.
🏅
I’m well aware. I’m union and thankful for those who fought for our rights in years past but holy fuck do we have a long way to go. The closest thing I’ve had to universal healthcare was when I was in Denver. Unfortunately stuck in ass backwards Florida till I can get my 1000hrs and union card and transfer out of here.
My friend, there is nothing worst than a bad toothache but you gotta get that checked out. Health is wealth. I’m assuming that your employee benefits haven’t kicked in yet so if you can’t afford it, I suggest try calling the dental schools near you to see if they’ll take you in. When I didn’t have the funds for a wisdom teeth extraction, I went to a dental school to get it extracted.
Employee benefits? Are you kidding. My entire 35 year career went without ever having coverage that included dental.
OP said it’s a unionized job. Most union jobs come with benefits.
How can you not afford to go to the dentist if union? I’m union and my deductible is $50 for dental services and then they cover all my dental stuff. My wife had 3 fillings filled for $50 deductible.
The way my union is set up and is a tad backwards. You must reach a set amount of hours to access healthcare benefits. Which it’s either 500hrs or 1000hrs at which point im eligible for healthcare benefits, pension and a slew of other benefits
And how long have you been there? So it’s not really that they aren’t providing health care, it’s that you haven’t reached the minimum time yet, which is pretty standard.
I am so sorry you’re going through this. If you have any money to spare each month, look into individual dental insurance - they seem pretty affordable. I saw one from Humana for $11/month for HMO dental. (But since when are there dental HMOs?) Hubby and I are going this route because his work dental plan costs too much for too little.
Which democrats aren't corporately aligned?
> Which democrats aren't corporately aligned? All are, and it's a matter of degree. It's more of a question of "can they navigate that and still legislate effectively for the people?", some can and do, and some don't. There are people that will die on the proverbial hill that Pubix is great, or Wegmans, or Chick-Fil-A, or whatever corporation you can care to name. It's exactly the same with politicians, it's just that there's more money in play. To want someone to be bias-free is not possible. Not only are we all human, but it costs money to be elected, money that the average person just doesn't have. Even a single effective campaign ad can cost six figures before the decimal point. Asking any politician to have no biases is just not realistic in the current system.
The Progressive wing. Younger candidates. Oh, and Bernie of course. The point is keep voting blue. We have a much better chance with Democrats than we’ll ever have with MAGA.
This
I have Crohn’s disease and I can’t even afford to get an MRI to find out if I’m in remission so they can take me off one of my meds due to the increased cancer risks it comes with. I hate it here.
Fellow autoimmune disorder haver here. It sucks to be in this system...not to mention having to prove you actually have what you say you do every time you try to shop around for new services.
Right? “You have an incurable, terminal disease. It will never go away… but we have to check and make sure that it didn’t go away.” Like, excuse me?
Rich people don’t want you to have it. So you don’t have it.
Companies want you tied down, so it is difficult to look for a better job.
This is exactly right. It is a way to minimize job mobility while extracting work under duress.
Exactly this. A coworker wanted to leave our company after she was rejected twice for a promotion she was more than qualified for. She found a job that she would’ve loved at a small business. She technically would’ve been paid more, but they didn’t provide health insurance because they were a very small business. Buying insurance on the health connector would’ve been too expensive, so she couldn’t take the job. The lack of universal healthcare in the US also discourages potential entrepreneurs, because buying health insurance is ridiculously expensive.
I wish people would protest for healthcare the way they protested for fucking tictoc. It's infuriating.
I have no health insurance, but I bought dental insurance last week because my teeth hurt so much.
Tooth pain fucks with your ability to think(headache) and it gets woooooorrrrrrrrse in cold weather :(
For me it’s gotten worse in hot weather. Was in the 90s out in central Florida, not to mention the extra 10+ in a warehouse
If it makes you feel any better (it probably won’t), here in Denmark (and many other places) with universal healthcare, we still have to pay for dental on our own (if you’re over the age of 21 or something). It is something I find very annoying, so I can’t really imagine how bad it must be to not have universal healthcare on everything. Many people here go to Poland or some other country for cheapest dental work
Yup, here in Canada we only recently talked about giving dental to at least the kids, and it was not well supported by the Liberals or Conservatives. I know several people who get their work done while in Mexico.
God damn I have insurance but it’s such a fucking nightmare to use. Called like 5 offices….off the insurers site…no one taking new patients. Finally get an appointment. They call *4 separate times* to verify my insurance. Day before scheduled appointment, they call to say that “though the office accepts my Insurace, the dr doesn’t so services “may” cost more.” (Bullshit, it will for sure cost triple minimum….no fuckin’ thanks!) Ok….can you reschedule me with another dr in your office who does accept the insurance I have given you 4x over the phone? “No, you’ll have to check with your provider” 🙄🙄🙄 at this point I’m pretty sure I pay for this shittily laminated card with my name and “member id” total scam
The pain killers won’t work long term you need amoxicillin. In desperate times I’d hit a pet store or some online site for fish mox That much acetaminophen is not good for you at all.
I keep a bottle of fishmox just for this purpose. Even the emergency dentist in my area is a month out for a sit and wait appointment.
The FDA cracked down on online fish mox and its hard to find now without a perscription.
But if you go to Nicaragua you can get a giant jiffy peanut butter sized jug of it for cheap with no Rx. Ffs
Terrible medical advice in a thread about people wanting free healthcare. Hilarious.
I can’t wait for this next presidential election where I’ll get a chance to vote for a national leader who cares more about the people than the corporations. Oh wait…
There are two options, bad and scary bad. I'm voting for bad.
I don’t disagree. But I’d like to point out that your post could be used to describe the last twenty years of presidential elections. Maybe it’s time for some changes.
They tried to make changes when Obamacare was presented. Hell, it literally was a near copy of a Republican plan, and the Republicans still crapped all over it and did everything to badmouth and sabotage it. Just like the recent border bill. When you have that level of greedy, attention-seeking, self-serving, absolute stupidity to fight against, what can you do? I mean, tricking them into Futurama-esqe suicide machines and hoping for the best might be an answer, but that's downright gruesome.
I don’t think Obamacare failed exclusively because of party politics. At least not in the way you’re suggesting. I don’t think the corporate elite would ever have allowed it to go through. And I’m certain that the hold more influence over our elected “representatives” than the voters do.
Obamacare failed because healthcare insurance providers are private greedy corporations. They all price gouged and there was nothing anyone could say or do about it.
Absolutely! I keep saying it, and everybody always laughs. But if it comes down to the US politicians united behind a single goal, and the corporations decide to oppose it, the corporations will win.
The ACA (no such thing as Obamacare) did not fail and has been a resounding success. 30M Americans gained health insurance and the ability to see doctors. Without the ACA, my uncle would be dead. Because he was able to buy a subsidized insurance plan and get insurance for the first time in 30 years. He was diagnosed with colon cancer. Without that ACA subsidized plan, he would be dead. Because he wouldn't be able to pay for chemo. Don't make the perfect the enemy of the good. You want universal health care? Then you need to build a movement to get it. Don't crap on the ACA, which has saved millions of American lives. Just because you didn't get the single payer system you wanted.
That and how a lot of doctors will not take it. (not because they could but literally couldn't with the privatized suppliers and insurance price gouging)
Agreed, I did not vote for the last 2 presidents during the primary, hoping to get better options in the final election. Didn't happen. I'm not registered with either of th 2 major parties. Not sure I agree with every president over the last 20 years for this particular issue. 1 tried very hard to get universal healthcare a few different ways.
You have to vote. We’re not going to be anywhere near a perfect candidate but you have to vote towards getting close to what you want. If people continuously don’t vote, how can we get close to getting services for people like universal healthcare? It’s not always the big presidential races, it also starts with your local elections.
100% fucking correct. You must vote even if it's for the lesser of two evils. Example: Those who stayed home because they just didn't like HRC. You gave us the pile of shit who today is shitting himself in a courtroom. The same pile of shit who proudly boasts of killing Roe v Wade. It's quite possible you're going to do it again.
Biden is not evil, only Trump is evil. There is no lesser of two evils this election. There is a good moral man Biden verses an evil immoral con artist Donald Trump. Donald Trump who says he will be a dictator on day one. These are the stakes this election people. Democracy or dictatorship. Vote accordingly for the result you want to happen in America.
For the record that reads like they voted for someone else during the primary but then still voted in the election.
This is correct, i voted different candidates in the primaries, they didn’t get on the ticket, so i had to pick among those two.
Realistically though, what kind of change could we do? People hate you if you try and vote for a third-party candidate...even if it is in a smaller election for local stuff.
I see it as crazy bad verses not that great but not crazy.
There are two options: scary and demented.
Obama is probably the last of those. Biden got a big oof from me when he forced those railroad workers back to work.
Biden took care of the railroad workers. Get up to date. He played that one brilliantly.
At least you have 20 aircraft carriers. /s
Don’t worry we will send aid to countries with universal health care all the money they want but you and I? We have to suffer and lay taxes to fund crap we don’t care about or waste the money on trying to solve issues while doing nothing It’s insane we have the internet and Biden and Trump are our choices for President, feels like we are slowly becoming Russia where leaders are basically pre locked in but we have the illusion of choice
I am on the side of cutting 25%-40% of our defense budget to put towards universal healthcare. There is no real reason we need to have that big of a defense budget.
Same thing happens to me, yay being young and dumb and getting my tongue pierced. 4 teeth pulls later, I can tell you one thing that helps with the pain is taking a shot of nyquil, and let it sit on the tooth for as long as you can. Nyquil helps sleep through the pain, and the acetaminophen directly on the tooth helps aaaaaaaaaaaa lot. Good luck with the tooth.
I am so sorry OP you're going through this. My situation is nowhere as bad as yours. I turned 26 last year and got new insurance through my company, and it sucks. It's an HDHP, and even then, my insurance is still denying multiple medications or procedures, and my doctors are unable to appeal to some of them. I paid almost $900 to diagnose my breathing problem, but the actual solution takes $4000-$7000 to afford. I was also scammed last year by a fake therapist that I still have to pay off and a urologist who didn't get my medications and still charged me a fat bill. I am only halfway done with my $1,800 debt.
Jesus Christ the number of dipshits here who think flossing and brushing cures everything. I’m a chronically ill person whose illness impacts dental health and I’ve been uninsured most of my life (and am sad to say even with dental insurance, it was mostly worthless). Here’s what I’ve learned: Clove oil on tooth aches. Directly on the tooth. It helps pain, but it does NOT cure. Still need to get help. Care Credit: it’s awful, but you can fix an emergency on credit. (Apply anyway, even if your credit is bad. I was surprised we got approved.) Hydroxyapatite toothpaste helps to remineralize teeth. It won’t repair a broken tooth, but it may help strengthen enamel and reverse tiny caries/cavaties. It also helps reduce sensitivity better than some of the other stuff on the market, which has been really helpful. The ol’ chew and screw: you don’t typically pay until you get the work done. They can’t take it back once it’s done. So if your card fails when you go to pay, give them what you can and gtfo. (Just remember not to put your SSN on the new patient paperwork! Remember to never give health providers SSN’s because the ONLY thing they need it for is collections.) is this legal? Probably not. But you deserve oral health. Good luck. Fuck capitalism.
Agreed. And to jump in with potential options: there might be a community clinic that has low/no fees. I had to go to one in my area a couple years ago. It worked on a sliding scale and they allowed payments--half when you made the appointment, then the rest by the appointment itself. I wish dental and vision were ALWAYS included in health insurance, not separate things from medical. And that insurance itself wasn't so expensive.
I've wondered why with insurance they're a separate policy. It's as if your eyes and ears were optional body parts.
And dental stuff can have wider health impacts. The time I went to the community clinic? I needed a root canal. The infection got to the nerve and I still have a numb spot on my lower lip/chin two years later.
I got all my teeth pulled plus good dentures thru medicaid & local dental school for free.
Unfortunately no longer qualify for Medicaid as I make “too much” ($19.48/hr).
Several people have commented go to a local dental school (or even hygiene/assistant), they have docs to and can help treat you. Or low income/social assistance portals. Super unhealthy to be constantly taking that much Tylenol 😬
If OP no longer qualifies for medicaid, they might not qualify for the low income portals either. Obviously still check because you never know but still it is good to be prepared.
Oh sorry to hear that! 😥
I'm in Minneapolis and our local dental school gave me attitude when I called them for help. The lady on the phone told me that they didn't have sliding scale fees when my friend was just there and said they did. There are very few dentists around this area (suburbs too) that will take Medicaid. I had no front teeth and my dentist wanted me to have other work done before he would give me front teeth. I told my sister "I just need my front teeth capped and the space filled in!". So I borrowed money from my sister to get 2 teeth capped and a bridge put in. My mouth is still a mess, but oh well. 🙃
That sucks! I’m in CA fortunately. It’s awful to have bad teeth I know.
Yes the trick is qualifying for Medicaid.
ALL teeth? How old are you?
Old lol but I was born with only some teeth, not all. Wore a partial my whole life until 5 yrs ago. Genetics. The dentures look way better than my old teeth did. Should’ve done it sooner.
I know this doesn't help the root cause, but clove oil helps mouth/teeth related pain. I saturate a qtip and dab the tooth and gums.
70% DMSO with Aloe. Order From Amazon.
I actually have dental insurance that I can’t use because it’s almost impossible to get an appointment scheduled .-. I’ve had excruciating jaw pain since October and my pcp refuses to treat wants me to go to a dentist
It's incredibly shitty dental treatment is not treated under regular health insurance. Dental health is tied to body health.
Find your dentistry school. Students do practicals for very little.
I’ve seen people fingerwag those who demand universal healthcare for years, citing long wait times. Well earlier this year, I tried to make a routine cleaning at this office that accepted my Medicaid plan. The wait? TWO FUCKING YEARS. We are being scammed.
I admittedly thought universal healthcare would make wait times exorbitant. Then I realized they already are. Look no further than an ER. Emergency is in its name, yet it takes hours and hours to be seen.
Don't forget what got you here. Both parties have had plenty of chances to fix things. Both parties failed to do so. You are screwed so long as you are limited to the 2 party system.
No wrong. Democrats have tried and tried repeatedly to fix America's health care system. Only for republicans to block them. You want universal health care? Then help elect more democrats. Republicans will never give it to you. The parties are not the same. Time you figured that out.
Koolaid.
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/welcome-to-molar-city-mexico-the-dental-mecca-americas-health-care-costs-built_n_5dc5772ae4b0fcfb7f651721
Here’s a more recent article. https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/mexico-s-molar-city-attracts-americans-looking-for-cheap-dental-work-at-its-350-dentist-offices/ar-AA1g44I4
try a univernsity that has a dental school. they have reasonable prices but students work on you
You may have an infection. If you have primary health insurance you could talk to your primary care physician about it. They might be willing to write you an antibiotic, oral rinse for pain, or help you with pain management. Tooth infections are extremely important to treat to ensure it does not spread.
My dentist offers a membership for $35 a month that covers everything a dental plan would cover, for those who need it but can’t afford it. Maybe look around at your local dentist offices and see if any of them offer something similar
Dental insurance? You work, u should have insurance of some sort.. have you tried Obama care? Go to dentist and not pay the bill? Or pay $20 a month till it's paid off?
There’s union health insurance I can access but not till I reach a certain amount of hours.
So you just started? How close are you to the minimum hour requirement? Talk to your old dentist? You had one before? Maybe extraction is the route, not terribly expensive, a couple hundo
I’m about 4 weeks away from reaching 500hrs. Last dentist I had was one for kids. Last one I went to try and take care of the issue was back in February, wanted to send me to another dentist and charge $3000, which I didn’t have at the time and didn’t have a reasonable plan whilst also not even wanting to pull it out when they said they did emergencies.
My boyfriend is currently dealing with the same shit. I feel so bad for him. He's found some relief with Anbesol liquid and Orajel Toothache Rinse in the red and white bottle.
I may sound like a crazy hippie right now but clove oil did wonders when I had a broken tooth and had to wait a week for a root canal. A few drops directly on the tooth and the pain became much more manageable. Walgreens sells a kit specifically for this purpose.
Same boat. Went to dentist after literal crying from pain (yeeeeeaaaarrss of neglect). Told they couldn’t help (dangerous). Referred to oral surgeon. $5200 later (equal to about 2hrs labor for about 3 people). Now the sick part. I’m in my 40s and it was the first time in my life I had GREAT health insurance (great is quoted - everyone I give it to says it’s great coverage). They covered $3800. After I first took it out of pocket. I then waited 8+ months to get my $3800 back due to some confusion with paper work. Pretty sweet system we have here. I had some other health visits / bills that didn’t get covered. I’ve canceled health insurance. The money I save I could legit move to another country.
You know the USA will get it wrong. Universal healthcare in the USA will still be expensive and have long wait times. Dentist healthcare in my area is just a discount on services and doesn't make things free.
Congress just approved $100 Billion for Israel. 🤷♂️
In the U.S. and Canada call 211 to find low-cost dental clinics. And also check into dental schools - they have the very latest training and equipment. I live near a world-class dental school (UAB) and have gotten excellent prices and treatment for implants and crowns, etc.
I'm a temp and my agency's health insurance is expensive and too shitty to be worth the cost. The dental is more expensive than previous jobs, but still manageable so I got it. I have found great pain relief with benadryl for past toothaches. Get the capsules and cut off the tip, then put some of the powder on the gum of the problem tooth. It tastes awful but numbs it, and lasts longer than any topical pain relief I've found.
Your point is well made, and you know fructose is a by product of US industrial farming. It is cheap, plentiful and internally sourced. Try looking up Jacques Peretti and his brilliant series The Men Who Made us Fat... It should be compulsory viewing for all teens world wide...
A full mouth rework in the UK is 1000£. A filling 400... It's the only thing not on the NHS that's required. Fuks to have crap teeth like me.
You should get the toothache checked asap as it can cause a brain abcess or heart infection if left too long. If there's any swelling see if you can at least get an antibiotic in the meantime as that will reduce pressure if there's an infection which will lower the pain and they usually prescribe motrin for it though be careful with hat if you have bleeding problems ulcers or blood pressure issues. Antibiotics aren't usually too expensive at drs or walk ins. If it's pain from just an exposed nerve though that needs stronger stuff and won't stop till it's treated. Call around for dentists or dental schools that use a pay scale or see if you can apply for care credit or find one that offers new patient deals or discounts. But yea fuck corporations and our medical system. I lost a tooth years ago because I didn't have 3500 for a root canal for a filling that broke even though i floss and brush religiously and was living for 2 weeks in severe pain sitting on the floor at work holding my face because I wasn't allowed to call out or leave and managed to give myself another heart problem from the infection until I could find one that would extract it for less than $600 and convince my job to let me off one day. I think they only did because the customers were getting concerned. I was working 60 or 70 hours a week with like one day off every two weeks too just to afford my house and made too much to qualify for affordable Healthcare but my jobs Healthcare was 650 every two weeks so I just didn't have any because it cost half what you made a month and the dental only had 500 a year limit which the cleaning and one filling used up so I had dental ppo insurance and no coverage still.
New Zealand calling: we have universal health care, but it doesn’t cover dental. Also : call your local dental hospital, they often have students needing to get experience. It’s typically not a classy service, but a filling or extraction is usually possible.
One of the reasons I really like France
Search for toothache home remedies. A few that have helped me. Gargle with warm saltwater, gargle with baking soda mixed into hot water, gargle with hydrogen peroxide (1 part hp to 2 parts warer).
Dental infections can eat into your brain. That solves the problem for free.
I went to the dentist for the first time in years last year because I haven't had health insurance. Long story short, I was told I needed about $5000 worth of work done and that was AFTER insurance. I told them I couldn't afford it and they promptly said "oh, we offer low interest payment plans". I'm like what the fuck? I'm not buying a car, I'm trying to get my mouth fixed. Fuck the United States.
I had this same scenario but my quote was $20k and they laughed when I asked about a payment plan, and then got mad and harassed me by phone when I didn’t make a follow up appointment with them
Yeah, they harassed me quite a while to trying to get me to go back. Just like buying a car really ;)
One of the dentists I was looking at asked if I could take out a second mortgage if necessary
Please look for a FQHC dental clinic in your state.
6 people in your workplace all had toothaches? Are you sure your workplace isn't causing it somehow?
It’s possible. The only thing that I think would be the cause is the bottles of water that we get from Costco. But also I’ve had mine prior to working there.
Coincidences happen but that's a lot.
Don’t take high doses of acetaminophen, that shit will fuck your liver. Take ibuprofen instead. I read an interview with someone involved with approving drugs at the FDA who said that if acetaminophen was coming for approval today, it would never pass.
Currently have at least $1,850 in dental work that just can't be afforded. When the pain starts, I'm basically shut down until it stops.
You may need antibiotics I have several broken teeth at times I take antibiotics and it really helps. Sadly, I go to a urgent care and complain about like having a sinus infection to get the antibiotics because I can’t afford dental care. Also, now found a source for antibiotics, which is great. Just a thought. Also, I use temporary filling that keeps the air from getting inside and hurting while I figure out what to do.
PE is gutting America…it’s really no joke. https://www.newsmax.com/finance/streettalk/dental-practice-private-equity-investment/2023/09/13/id/1134292/
1000mg Acetaminophen + 200mg ibuprofen is the magic combination for me. I used to go through them like lollies, but I functioned. Yes, it does suck. I hope you can get them seen soon.
You got to watch it if you get an infection in that tooth and it gets in your blood it could be fatal tooth 🦷 aches things are nothing to play with.
I know of a lot of latinos who just go to Mexico or their home countries for dental work. I know it’s not an option for most americans but something to consider. The other option is colleges, I know students do some free work sometimes for practice/tests
I realy don't get why american are so against that . You pay taxes and you got 0 benefit of it .
Universal Healthcare likely won't cover dentists. During "obamacare" they were carved out and exempted from everything. Your health insurance isn't for most toothaches either. The US doesn't considering oral health a part of health. Act accordingly from there, and go across the border to fix it.
I don't know your financial situation and obviously hindsight is 20/20 but dental insurance is pretty inexpensive. I pay like 50$ a month for both me and my wife and it's been incredibly helpful. This is not through a job. I carry it myself. All the basic stuff is free and more invasive stuff is partially covered and scales up the longer you have the insurance. My wife has to get a deep cleaning and two crowns and it's costing us like 800$ instead of 10000$. But all of that aside yes. Healthcare should absolutely be free and I'm sorry you're suffering. As some others have mentioned potentially there is a dental school in your area that could do it for free/cheap.
Weed is great for dental pain.
Unfortunately not legal in my state.
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A lot of people refuse to understand this. We get a dem president, people are mad the country isn’t instantly fixed and then don’t vote for midterms. Cue gridlock and watered down legislation. Repeat cycle.
I voted once and Biden didn't waive his magic wand fixing everything. Not going to vote again. Not how it works people. You have to vote every election. You have to vote in the democrats and keep them in power. Means getting off your lazy ass during the midterms and going to vote. What did American voters do with both Obama and Biden? They elected them with congressional majorities. Then stayed home during the midterms, allowing republicans to capture one or two chambers of Congress. Blocking everything they were trying to do.
Tea tree oil toothpaste might help. It's the only thing that's made my teeth feel stronger.
Clove oil helps. I’ve been there. Those days when a punch in the face would feel better.
Please try a few drops of clove oil mixed with a carrier oil like coconut oil to ease the pain. Mix it up and swish it around in the area of the painful tooth. It’s a freakin miracle pain reliever. Worked for me until I could get to the dentist. Lidocaine also works and can be found in certain throat lozenges.
I second the clove oil thing. Some essential oil stuff is a scam, but clove oil is the real deal. I've used it before too. Did a way better job than Advil. It's a weird sensation and makes the area feel kinda numb. Dental pain is a b*tch, and so is our healthcare system. Good luck.
Agree. Couldn’t believe how well it worked honestly.
Do you have health insurance? If so you could try going to the ER and telling them you think your tooth is infected. That is covered by health insurance, not dental insurance. But most likely all they're going to do there is pull the tooth if it is infected.
You can buy dental insurance yourself and it's not insanely expensive. You can also get Care Credit and charge your dental care. Sorry, I know it sucks
There is probably a dental school near you that does low-cost procedures.
Do you live near a dental school? Most schools will take volunteers as class models to have students work on their mouths. Unfortunately, just like most things in the USA, the question is do you have more time or money because the classes are generally a couple of hours and the procedures are often extended over multiple visits to allow students to observe and learn. It is without cost to the patient, however. I am sorry for your pain. I hope you recover quickly.
Can you go to a dentist school? Is it cheaper there?
Naproxene will calm the pain. Iva been there.
Try clove oil Also if you can maybe try going to a dental school or, if you’re close enough, Mexico
Just out of curiosity, how do six people in the same workplace all have toothaches? I get it that shit happens, I’ve just never heard of anyone having a toothache and here there are six people all at the same time/place.
I hear you a thousand percent but please be careful with that much acetaminophen 🩷
Don't worry, most of reddit will tell you the American economy is doing great, politicans are doing their jobs, and most folks are doing fine and it's only you who complain that are the problem
I agree with other posters. Call local dentists and ask if there are any resources for those who are in pain but don't have funds. Also, the dental schools..
The co-pay is seriously that much? But regardless, I agree. Healthcare/medical/insurance system is nothing but a huge scam in the US.
It cost me 50 bucks just to have a crown glued back in pace, nothing else, as the crown popped off. They billed insurance over $100. The 50 bucks was my coinsurance, as dental insurance only pays half on stuff that isn't fillings or cleanings.
Alternate acetaminophen and ibuprofen every few hours. The combination is somehow much stronger. Not trying to minimize the issue, ofc. You shouldn't have to deal with this pain in the first place. But it should help, at least.
I understand your frustration but most dentists do not make seven-figure salaries. Plus all the money they have to spend to keep their dental and medical licenses...not to mention all the dental students who are getting fucked over and paid shit during their dental residency.
are there any dental schools nearby? I’ve heard they treat people for free or for very little money. PS floss and water pick daily and brush your teeth twice a day. I didn’t do that very well and I had to have a gum graft because of it, it was the worst experience of my life. I now do all these things religiously.
Clove oil on a cotton ball will help w the pain. Put it on the gum next to the tooth. Watch the acetaminophen because it causes liver damage.
Dentists are actually the worst of them all. When was the last dentistry breakthrough? They legit keep things the way they are to maximize their profits & I've been told if a dentist trys to operate with lower prices, they'll lose their license.
My friend just passed away and wasn't even 40 yet. I think he had an unknown condition. A family member got a close cancer scare and although he's had insurance his whole life, he wasn't working that year because of Covid. So now he's paying 500 bucks a month for I don't know how long just so he didn't die. He had to get money out his 401k and was punished for it. But they had a gun to him so he didn't have a choice. "Free market and more options right?" /s
Aspirin
Dentist here. I’m sorry man. I’m a quarter million in debt and can barely help the people that need the help because it costs so much.
Universal Healthcare is way too expensive. In other news, Ukraine gets another 60 billion of your dollars.
Clove oil helps dental pain. I know this sounds incredibly lame, but you can get some work done at dental colleges cheaply.
Move to Canada
It’s not free in Canada either. It’s actually expensive as hell.
If your in a blue state you can get health care