I have an impacted wisdom tooth on the upper left. I need to find an affordable emergency dentist to pull the tooth. My toothache is so bad that it makes me nauseated. The gums all around the tooth are swollen. I had dental coverage through my husband’s job, but as of July he was laid off from work and hasn’t found anything yet. We have three children so I am not able to work. The toothache is only getting worse. Over-the-counter meds are not helping and with recent news reports about how they can cause stroke or affect your digestive system, I can’t keep taking them. I already went to one dentist and they asked for half the payment upfront. I can’t afford that. How can I find an affordable dentist to do the work for me before this tooth really messes up my system? Thanks Pilar
Pilar – You will be able to find affordable emergency dental help. The fastest way to get help is to call several dentists’ offices to find out their financial arrangements. If your pain wasn’t so severe, you might have time to find a dental insurance plan that doesn’t have a pre-existing condition clause.
An impacted wisdom tooth needs attention right away. Keep in mind that an impacted tooth can be difficult to extract. Depending on the training and skill-set of a general dentist, he or she might not be able to perform the surgical extraction. In that case, you will be referred to an oral surgeon.
If you are unable to find an emergency dentist who is able to work with you on payment arrangements, check for universities in your area that have dental schools. A dental school provides treatment that is affordable. Local dental clinics might also be able to help.
If there is a delay in your receiving treatment, visit your primary care doctor. Swollen gums indicate a likely infection. Your doctor will at least be able to determine if there is an infection and prescribe antibiotics if needed. Your doctor might also have colleagues who are dentists, and a call from your doctor might prompt a dentist to offer to assist you.
This post is sponsored by the San Jose dentists of Hillsdale Dental Care.
