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Dammit All! Just Broke a Molar!

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REP Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-28-05 04:11 AM
Original message
Dammit All! Just Broke a Molar!
I'm missing teeth 1, 2 and 4 on my upper right arch. #3 has been hanging tough for years, with many repairs. Tonight as I was idly munching a Dorito, I noticed something much harder and rounder than a corn chip should be, and dammit, it's my last fucking molar on that side (well, upper side; I have all the lowers). I'm retired/disabled so my dental insurance was terminated, and I have no idea what to do about this, besides bitch and moan a lot. Damn!
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Robeson Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-28-05 04:14 AM
Response to Original message
1. Isn't it great we live in a country that doesn't give a shit about our....
...health care?...Sorry about your situation. You are a case-in-point of how we as people should not have to be worrying about how we should receive healt care. You have ALL my sympathy.
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REP Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-28-05 04:29 AM
Response to Reply #1
2. I Have Health Care ... Just No Dental
Unless having a broken tooth poses some kind of danger to my kidney failure (it might, as goofy as it sounds), I may be SOL for getting this dealt with. I may have to get married!
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hfojvt Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-28-05 05:16 AM
Response to Reply #2
3. if you are female
I do have dental insurance :evilgrin:

You should be able to get an extraction for under $100. They are cheaper than root canals and about the same as fillings. Fillings are not that expensive either. When I was uninsured I still had dental work done when I noticed cavities. Getting a filling is better than losing a tooth. Although I have lost one tooth and had the gum grow over it and it did not bother me for years until the tanjed dentist took it out without authorization or numbing (he was extracting the tooth next to it). Every so often they do a free dental clinic in the KC area and they have long lines.
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REP Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-28-05 07:21 AM
Response to Reply #3
6. Born and Raised in KC, but Managed To Escape
I know about the UMKC Dental School and its lottery, but that's a really long drive from here; I figured out I didn't have to live in hell about eight years ago and moved to the Bay Area.

As for the offer, well, thanks! I actually do have someone who wants to marry me, and not just because my teeth need work (I do have most of my teeth, even if some of them are in my jewelry box - and among the missing are wisdom teeth, and those don't count!).
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Robeson Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-28-05 05:21 AM
Response to Reply #2
5. Dental care IS part of health care, regardless of what insurance you....
...have. Last time I checked, your teeth are connected to your body....:shrug:

Just goes to show, you, and most others, don't have FULL healthcare.
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REP Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-28-05 07:23 AM
Response to Reply #5
7. I Always Think "Dialysis" Before "Fillings"
I don't need the former yet, bt I proably won't die without the latter. I'm unlucky enough to be of one of the last generations to actually need restorative work.
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NMMNG Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-28-05 05:19 AM
Response to Original message
4. I've done that before so I can empathize with you
I do wish you had insurance though--getting it fixed will not be cheap. Hooray for the USA and its overwhelming concern for peoples' oral health. :sarcasm: Best wishes to you-I hope you find a solution. :hug:
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REP Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-28-05 07:26 AM
Response to Reply #4
8. Got a Look at It; Only 1/4 Missing - Not So Bad
Feels weird as hell, but apparently there's no exposed tooth guts just lots of filling material (I have about 8 fillings in this tooth!) It doesn't hurt at all but it feels strange. I think fixed will be getting it pulled; only way to fix it is a crown which I'm not sure I can swing.
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NMMNG Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-28-05 11:33 PM
Response to Reply #8
10. The tooth I broke had a large filling in the center
I broke off the inner edge and rear, leaving the outer edge/front and the filling. It was very funky feeling but not painful other than the initial breakage. Fortunately I had insurance that covered 50% of the cost of the crown I now have covering the damaged area. That dental work sure isn't cheap.

In my state they have something called "Gray Area Dental", which provides reduced price dental to qualifying people (I'm not sure if it's just Medicare/Medicaid individuals or lower income people in general). Perhaps they have something similar in your state, seeing as you are retired. :shrug:
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REP Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-29-05 04:14 AM
Response to Reply #10
13. I'm Retired Through Disability, Not Age
I just celebrated the 20th anniversary of my 21st birthday Monday. I have Medicare and private insurance - just no dental coverage, and Medicare doesn't cover dental except under a very few circumstances (hospital extractions, mostly). I don't qualify for Medicaid, but I'll ask my doctor if he knows anything that might cover me or at least be cheap enough that I can save this tooth.
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Skittles Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-28-05 07:49 AM
Response to Original message
9. some dentists are very good with payment plans
I remember way back when I had little money and no insurance and a major dental issue, I found a dentist who let me make little payments over a long period of time. I was so thankful to him.
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texanwitch Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-29-05 12:23 AM
Response to Original message
11. Sounds like you will need a crown.
Most dentists take Dental Discount Cards, I saved a lot of money last year on my dental work using my discount card.

I have only one molar on the bottom left side, until I can get a implant. Try to save that tooth if possible.
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bliss_eternal Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-29-05 12:46 AM
Response to Original message
12. Please heed the advice to find a dentist w/payment plans--
I went through EXACTLY what you are referring to, years ago. I didn't have insurance at the time either, so I did nothing about it. I let it go so long, when I finally did get it looked into, I had to have a root canal--way more expensive, much more pain!

I know what it's like to have no income and have something go wrong with my health (or dental health) and not know where to turn. But I would give anything to have a vital tooth there instead of a root canal and crown.

I hope that you are able to find someone that is willing to work with you--I'm sorry you are going through this. Sucks. I know from experience!

:hug:
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REP Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-29-05 04:20 AM
Response to Reply #12
14. I'm A Dental Nightmare
The tooth that opposes the broken one is broken, too - but that one has already had a root canal (just no crown).

Thanks for all the goos wishes!
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