posted
I have had a broken tooth (two of them, actually) for a while now. One for several years, which has never bothered me, and one where a filling came out....and nothing was left of the tooth, it had all been filling for years.
I have not visited a dentist for years, because I had a horrible one last time. He broke my jaw in 3 places trying to get a wisdom tooth out that wasn't bothering me....and he did so without telling me he was going to. (he was an Army dentist)
Also, I had no dental insurance.
Now I do, and it is a good thing....
I am in complete agony. It began out of the blue several hours ago, and has reached the point where I am considering taking the tooth out myself, however necessary.
I called 4 dentists, all of whom have "EMERGENCY" listed in their ads in the yellow pages, but there opinion of "rapid response" is severely lacking. I called hours ago and not one of them has called back, despite voice mails and pages.
If you do feel that you have no other option than to take it out yourself, don't use a skate.. /unhelpful advice
Posts: 1215 | Registered: Apr 2005
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posted
It's a LONG haul, but I was a patient of Dr. Steven Hall in Oviedo for as long as I was in Orlando. He is the best dentist, bar none, that I have EVER had, anywhere.
Call him. If he's accepting new patients, get to him. He will make it all alright.
Tell him I sent you, and that I still want a ride in his car.
Posts: 22497 | Registered: Sep 2000
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quote: I am in complete agony. It began out of the blue several hours ago, and has reached the point where I am considering taking the tooth out myself, however necessary.
Kwea, an ER should at least be able to help you with pain control, even if they can't fix it. Severe pain such as you describe is an emergency.
Posts: 14017 | Registered: May 2000
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I am using some meds to manage the pain right now, nothing dangerous but something that will hopefully help me sleep. I had them left over from other things...nothing too old, or dangerous.....pain meds with teh "take as needed" label.
I need it.
If I can't get a dentist to answer me tomorrow I may have to do that.
I did get a call back, but my cell phone had died, so I will try to call them again tomorrow, and get in to see him ASAP.
One thing is for sure, I can't go to work like this. Posts: 15082 | Registered: Jul 2001
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posted
Kwea, you have probably left for the hospital, but I was going to suggest not checking in unless you absolutely have to for financial reasons, as you mentioned you didn't have insurance.
I had to go to the emergency room (I needed a medication and it was NYE, so everything was closed) and it ended up costing me $800+ insurance which got whittled down to a still icky $300. Just for the visit. The medicine is only $40.
If you are beyond ice and meds, then by all means go. Hope you feel better. My wisdom teeth are coming in and it hurts like heck. Posts: 484 | Registered: Feb 2006
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posted
I think he has insurance now. At least, he clarifies in the initial post that he does have dental at this time, so I think it's likely that he has medical now, too.
I hear what you are saying, though, Kristen. ER does cost much much more than people expect. I hope we get the insurance issue straightened out in this country.
I also hope Kwea is being taken care of.
Posts: 14017 | Registered: May 2000
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posted
It is pointless. It took them 5 minutes to tell me what was wrong, and that I needed to see a dentist, and that all they could do for me was give me pain meds and antibiotics. They told me that when I checked in.
I wasn't see for 4 hours after that, and once in back it took another 45 min before the Doctor came in to see me.
He spent less than 5 min telling me that again.
I have an appointment tomorrow morning, asap, but am still looking for a doctor who can do it today.
There is actually a 24 hour place, but5 believe it or not they do NOT accept ANY insurance on the weekends! Talk about raping people in need, huh?
I do have insurance now, but I had not had insurance for a while before that, which is why this got so bad....I couldn't afford to have anything done about it. Posts: 15082 | Registered: Jul 2001
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They don't have non-money-grubbing urgent care centers?
We have an urgent care center that's, I guess, an offshoot of a hospital, and they can do ANYTHING there that doesn't absolutely require hospitalization. And they even take my crappy student insurance that isn't accepted ANYWHERE.
I have an appointment to speak to a dentist who can fit me in some time tomorrow, they will call me when they open tomorrow (Monday) at 9:30 am.
I had the infection break open tonight, which while tasting really, realy gross is a good thing. Now the swelling is half the size it was earlier today. I woke up this afternoon and it felt like I had cotton balls in the right side of my mouth between my gum and my lip.
I feel much, much better, although I still need to see a dentist asap. Posts: 15082 | Registered: Jul 2001
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posted
Never got a call from the "emergency" dentist. so I called around.
The general consensus was that I need to have a course of antibiotics to get rid of the infection before having dental work done. Since the ER game me a script for that already, I am going to delay going to the dentist until next week. I have limited pain, and Vicadan if it gets more painful, and about 8 more days left until this course of antibiotics is done.
If I see the swelling increasing or begin feeling a lot worse, I will go to see a dentist right away....it is easier now that it isn't the weekend:D
One way or another, this is going to be expensive, even with insurance. Posts: 15082 | Registered: Jul 2001
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Sorry you are having such a rotten time. There has got to be a better system out there than these trouble-prone teeth-and-gums things that we are saddled with.
posted
Oh, jimminy cricket. I am so glad you are on antibiotics and have access to pain meds. Is it an appropriate antibiotic choice? (*she asks the pharmacist, who of course would never have considered that )
Posts: 14017 | Registered: May 2000
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It IS working, the swelling a MUCH less than it was even yesterday.
My WIFE was a pharm tech, not me...I sell suits.
I was an EMT in te Army though, so I have a better knowledge of basic medical issues than most though. Posts: 15082 | Registered: Jul 2001
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Here I thought we were going to be treated to another seedy pool-hall story. I was hoping you had brawled with some Merchant Marines or something.
Posts: 4753 | Registered: May 2002
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Funny thing is that most pool halls these days are not seedy at all. Most are high end pool halls, with millions of dollars invested in them, anad the customer base is mostly the 20-somethings.
My dad went to the pool hall I used to work in with me and my wife last year, and he was amazed at the number of tables FILLED with women who play. It is a popular pre-date ritual. Also, a lto fo them have ladies night, where 4 or more ladies play free.
Not you old school gamblers haven. Posts: 15082 | Registered: Jul 2001
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