This is long, and serious, so here goes...My dentist told me I have severe periodontis. When I was a kid, my family had no money and no car, so my mom NEVER took me to the dentist. Well, growing up as a teenager into my 20's, I never earned enough money to get dental insurance, as I worked part-time, and my employers never offered it to part-timers, and I didn't have the money to go to the dentist. Now two of my teeth have cracked partially off. Well, I went to the dentist, and he didn't even clean my teeth, he referred me to a periodontist. I have big spaces in my teeth, and my breath is bad too. My gums are red & puffy, and are receeding bad. My question is...I still do not have any dental insurance. So what will the periodontist do, and what will it cost? What are the options for saving my cracked off teeth? I am so scared, and embarassed to smile anymore. I am so ashamed about my mouth that I don't even go out anymore. My mom never had any money to go to the dentist, and now she is in her 60's, and has no teeth. I don't want to end up with a mouth like hers, but...if I don't have the $$$, I won't have a choice. I have never been to a periodontist, so I don't know what they do or what they charge. Is it too late to get my teeth and gums to look normal? All I want is to be able to smile without feeling embarassed about my teeth & gums.

I'm not quite sure of every option they may give you ,but most of the time consults are free.
Anyway, I had a tooth crack, but really the only thing they did was put a crown on it. Crown's at my dental office before my insurance is $700.

All cases are different though, so I would definately check out the consult and see what the initial cost of that is and they can tell you more there.

Because you have never been to the dentist, you probably -have severe periodontal disease. This is why your teeth are reseeding and gums are bleeding. If you teeth can be saved, the peridontist will want to perform what is called a "root planning" (aka Deep scale cleaning) This is a procedure where the peridontist will numb the section to be scaled (it is usually done in quadrants - sometimes two quadrants at a time - you have a total of four) They will then go up underneath your gum line with a special tool and scrape and clean the calculus (tartar) from your teeth. After your entire mouth is done, it is VERY important that you take good care of your teeth and gums by brushing and flossing. Gums do get better and heal after this procedure.
The cost for this varies. It could range from $250 to $375. I would simply explain your situation to the dentist and maybe they will set up some kind of payment plan with you.
As far as the cracked teeth go, I don't know. It depends on how bad they are, but I am sure something can be done for them as well.

Definitely explain your financial situation to the periodontist, and hopefully, if he/she has a heart, they will financially work with you given the severity of your disease. Unfortunately, if you leave it untreated, you will most likely lose your teeth. Hopefully, none of them are loose yet. Periodontal treatment can be expensive, but it's a worthwhile investment in your health. The periodontist will clean out the tartar buildup, bacteria, and toxins from above and below your gumline. This will get your gums back to a healthy state, but will not bring back any bone or gum tissue you have already lost. From then on, it is imperative that you do your part at home to keep it in a healthy state. That means all the homecare recommendations they give you as well as more frequent cleaning appointments (more often than twice a year). Periodontal disease can't be cured, only controlled.

The periodontist won't fix your cracked teeth, though. You should be able to find a general dentist who can do this for you. Good luck to you.