I have a molar which is hurting like mad. I’m sure if I go to the dentist he’s just going to tell me it’s infected and to either get one of those fillings or pull it out. I can’t afford the dentist let alone one of those procedures. I have some leftover antibiotics from when I was sick last month. Can I just take those or do teeth need a different type of antibiotic for dental work?
Sydney M. – West Virginia
Sydney,
I have a friend who has a failing endocrine system. Because of that she has to take a lot of medication. She tires of having to take all that medicine and filling the prescriptions every month gets expensive. One day she brought her bag of meds to her doctor and asked, “Which of these can I stop taking?” He looked at the bag and replied, “That depends on how long you want to live.” She got the point. Some things though inconvenient and more expensive than we can actually afford are necessary.
This is true of your hurting tooth as well. This is a situation where you can’t afford NOT to have it looked at. If it’s not an infection yet, and you leave it, it will turn into one. You don’t want to end up in an emergency dental situation. If it is an infection and you don’t get the infection removed, you could end up losing your life. Even in the twenty-first century, people still die from tooth infections. I just read an article about a 26-year-old who died because his tooth infection spread to his blood and lungs.
The problem with antibiotics and dental infections is they’re only a temporary measure. They will not get rid of the infection because there is no blood flow in your tooth. That infected part must be dug out by the dentist or it will continue to spread.
Tell the dentist about your financial situation. There are affordable dentists who will work with you on payments. They care about you. Many dentists use Care Credit, which has zero interest payment plans.
I know it can be frightening when your budget limits your health care, but I promise you can find a dentist who will work with you. Please don’t put this off.
This blog is brought to you by Dr. Raymond Bolt.