serious decay? - Dental Health Message Board

jul22 · 10-31-2002, 08:26 PM

Hi,

I had a baby almost 18 mos ago and noticed a short while after the baby's birth that something was wrong w/my teeth. I have a large brown hole in a molar near the gum line. I can feel w/my tongue that there is no tooth, just empty space through this hole and I think the same thing is happening on the other side of my mouth. I have no insurance, little money (I haven't seen a dentist in about 15 yrs) and no dentists will see medicaid patients in my area. Should I just get this tooth extracted? Leave it alone or could it be saved if I try to go out of state to find a dentist?

Any advice would be much appreciated.
Thanks

*Cat* · 11-01-2002, 05:56 PM

Hi

I'm not sure if I read your question correctly, so please tell me if I misunderstood!

In my view, I would definately try to find someone you trust to tell you if the tooth can be saved. It may be just a large cavity, or you may need a root canal. Either way, the tooth has a chance of being saved. The most important thing is to find someone you trust. Explain to them about your situation, and work with them.

Congrats on the baby! Please let us know what you find out!!

Cat

jul22 · 11-03-2002, 09:01 AM

Hi Cat,

Thanks for your reply. I think I am a bit of a lost cause. I live in NC where there are literally no dentists willing to accept medicaid patients. My only option is a dental school, 4 hrs away from me. I have made an appt at the urgent care clinic at this school for monday, however, they will only do partial root canals (whatever this is) or extractions here. If I want to be seen by a dental student I have to travel 4 hrs to this school to fill out a postcard which will be thrown into a lottery that is decided at the end of each month. I will enter this lottery when I go on monday in case I chicken out of the root canal/extraction.

I've never had a cavity on the outside of a tooth...its always been in the crown. That's why I wasn't sure what my options were.

Anyway, sorry this is so long...thanks for the congrats, she's a one of a kind little person

!