Just Miserable
By Amber
@AmbiePam (120532)
United States
January 8, 2019 7:00pm CST
I woke up Saturday with the left side of my face swollen tremendously. I got an emergency appointment yesterday at the dentist. Long story short, this is a disaster. I have a cavity under my bridge. To fix it, they have to remove the bridge and get me a new one. That's about $3,000. This is a fair price. I called around, and I remember how much my first bridge was. I can't afford this. So there is a new thing where they go on from the side to remove the cavity, without removing the bridge. It's hard to do, and it might not work, but buy time for a year or so. That's $1,200. I called around on that, and that's the cheapest price I got.
So I called the places they have to help people who can't afford dental work. They said they can't see me for a year. A year! I am on steroids and antibiotics, but the pain is still terrible. I don't know where I am going to come up with $1,200. Please pray something happens and somehow I find a way to get this to go through. I can't imagine living like this for a long time.
Thanks!
12 people like this
11 responses
@Courage7 (19626)
• United States
9 Jan 19
@AmbiePam Sorry to hear he lost his job. And that dentist does not have a payment plan no? I see some dentists with that Care Credit plan to make payments.
Not sure if this would be for your area
It is specifically for dental work along with other stuff.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
9 Jan 19
I am in a similar boat. Most dentists offer you the chance to apply for CareCredit, and even Lending Tree, but on a fixed income it is hard to do either one of those.
2 people like this
@snowy22315 (208746)
• United States
9 Jan 19
Oh no that is terrible! Check to make sure there is not a low cost dental clinic in your area. Normally, if you are in pain they will see you quickly. I will say a prayer. Also, call social services and the health department in your community they may have some options...or just tell a dental practice what is going on, they may arrange a payment plan for you.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (120532)
• United States
9 Jan 19
@snowy22315 Yes, I tried calling numerous times, and oddly, it's busy every time.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (208746)
• United States
9 Jan 19
@AmbiePam Thanks, I hope you will find something that works..Also, oftentimes universites with a dental program do that type of work at a greatly reduced price. Just tell them it is an emergency.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (120532)
• United States
9 Jan 19
Apparently, not this time. He let me do it once before, and I paid it off totally, on time. But this time it doesn't seem he'll do that. I'm grateful for that, and I appreciate him doing that since I know it is against policy. He also once made me a mouthpiece for free once (he found out we were contemplating Mexico to have it done because it was cheaper), and I will always be so grateful. I live on $750 a month (I think it went up to $771 this month actually), and he knew I couldn't pay him back for that. Wasn't that nice? I grind my teeth, which, thanks to a terrible former dentist I didn't know until they told me I needed a bridge, which resulted in the need for a mouthpiece.
Can you believe I had perfect teeth as a child? I was so proud because my sister needed bonding, and I never even had a cavity. That's what I get for hubris!
2 people like this
@DianneN (254949)
• United States
9 Jan 19
@AmbiePam Wow! I can understand from your dentist's perspective. He seems like a nice and caring man, but .....
I'm in total shock that you have to live on that amount of money per month. We spend that at Costco! Have you investigated agencies in your state that would be available to aid you?
I'm in total shock that you have to live on that amount of money per month. We spend that at Costco! Have you investigated agencies in your state that would be available to aid you?1 person likes this
@Courtlynn (67089)
• United States
11 Jan 19
I am so sorry you have all that pain and that you have to pay that much for it to be taken care of.
Would it be cheaper to just get the tooth pulled?
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (120532)
• United States
11 Jan 19
You're perceptive! We talked about that, but he said that would mess up how my dental mouthpiece fit me, which would cause more problems with other teeth, and I'd have to have them fixed and get another mouthpiece too. Otherwise, I'd be glad to get it pulled.
1 person likes this
@bunnybon7 (50970)
• Holiday, Florida
24 Jan 19
oh so glad God came through for you with a gaurdian angel i read about on your last post. teeth pain is one of the worst. i remember last time i had it, i thought it was worse then having a baby and that is pretty painful to me.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (153544)
• India
10 Jan 19
That is a miserable state to be in. Hope you will soon find a solution
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
10 Jan 19
Maybe the dentist has something at the office or at his home that you can do as a portion of the bill for bartering? For my dentist and eye doctor I've done these things before: Mostly wash windows, but also washing blinds, cleaning spider webs off the surfaces of the house or building with either a broom, or spraying water in the warmer months. And maybe there are other options as well.
If his help cleans his office that might be another option. I will also pray for you. I know some clubs help with eyeglasses, I don't know if any do dental help, places like the Elks or Eagles. Is there any foundations in your area, or possibly United Way might be someone that would know who might help.
1 person likes this
@andriaperry (118793)
• Anniston, Alabama
9 Jan 19
I am so sorry, I hope you find a solution soon.
1 person likes this
