Earlier today I found a pretty huge cavity on one of my canines. It's along the gum line, and covers probably about 1/3 of the front surface (No idea how I didn't notice it sooner). It hasn't been causing me any pain, and unless I poke something inside of the cavity there is no pain at all.
Because I'm a college student, there are budgetary limitations to what I can do to solve this. Frankly, from what I've looked at on the internet it looks like my only options with a dentist are to get a root canal or a tooth extraction. Outside of that, my free alternatives are getting drunk and then killing the nerve by sticking something very hot inside of the cavity and burning out the pulp, nerve, and bacteria before the decay makes it through the dentin and into the pulp. I'm not saying that's a good idea, but extracting it myself is beyond my ability, so cauterizing the tooth is my only self fix.
If anyone has some actual dental knowledge, I would appreciate tips on how to do this safely, or if that would not work and I simply have to come up with the 1000 bucks it will take to have a professional deal with it.
Attached below is a photo I found on google that is similar to the cavity I found:
I discovered a rather large cavity on one of my teeth. Not sure how to proceed. Advice?
As someone who had an abscess for four years during the great dentist shortage of the early '00's I can tell you now, anything you do to that tooth is going to end up infected. You don't know what you're doing, pulling it will end badly, as will jabbing things inside it.
I'm sorry but you need a dentist and the sooner the better, how can it cost $1000? It looks as it it needs a clean and a filling. Here in the UK I have to pay for my treatment because of how much o earn but it is subsidised so I'd pay about £25, but it can't possibly imagine it costing £1000. I'd doubt you need root canal surgery, there is almost always an alternative to that.
Can't you book an assessment visit to find out your options?
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4 Reply
Asker
+1 y
I can, and I will probably have to, I just don't want to.
I didn't and I put it off for years, had to have a big molar removed as I also couldn't face root canal surgery. Those four years were agony though, infection after infection...
I've never understood the fear of root canals. I had to have two done on the same day a couple of months ago and I fell asleep while one was being done. The only pain I felt was when I went to check out and pay. :-(
@VirginiaBeachBum I used to be fine with dentist work, I had a lot done when I was younger when I fell and smashed my front teeth, but I got a bad dentist once and she injected me far too much and was just brutal. Ever since then I've had a bit of an issue dealing with it.
Go see a dentist before that spreads to your other teeth and starts eroding your jaw bone. Does your school have a dentist on campus? They're usually cheaper. At least go see a dentist for a consult and an estimate before concluding that it's going to cost a thousand bucks. You don't know that. I've never heard of it costing that much before and I've had dental work done in Canada and the US. But the longer you leave it, the worse it will get which means they'll have to do more work. More work costs more money.
Don't do anything yourself. That's the stupidest idea ever. And afterwards, consider seeing the dentist more often so this doesn't happen again.
You need to get to a dentist for that. Either that or cross your fingers and hope it doesn't get infected and kill you. At that location I don't know if it can be filled or not. The dentist can give you options. If you need a root canal or crown, or something like that, yea it can get expensive.
Don't assume it will cost a grand until you find out. They might be able to fill it or some other option. If they know you are paying cash and don't have much money, they might deeply discount the cost.
It'll probably be worth it if you have to travel to a big city that has more options. Are there any dental schools near there? They usually do stuff pretty cheap.
Obviously, I don't know much about dentistry, but can't you just get a filling? They're £55 here. Though our stuff is subsidised, they can't be *that* expensive there?
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2 Reply
Asker
+1 y
The medical system in the US is absolute garbage. But a filling probably isn't all that has to be done from what I can tell, I think they would have to drill in and extract the nerve.
holy shit dude... do not do anything yourself, you're just guna make it worse. If i were you, I would walk into a dentists office, explain your situation and see what he recommends. Hell most likely take a quick look for you. If you call in, they will say theyre busy and to not come in- just walk in.
Man that's gross, it's obviously caries and you should get it fixed by a dentist immediately before there's no option other than to pull the teeth out completely. You should also brush your teeth more often.
How do you think women brushed there teeth before the invention of a brush and toothpaste? They never needed to because of their healthy unprocessed diet and all the semen they swallowed from their husbands
I can't post link so just go on Google and look up 'semen affects on teeth' first link by unrealfacts. It's so much better than getting those pearly white teeth whitening products that probably give you cancer. Nature provides the best natural protection
There's no way you cAn fix that. Usually just wait until it gets bad and pull it out. But dude just go to a dentist. Find a way. Not worth losing your teeth
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2 Reply
Asker
+1 y
I have considered that, but trying to pull it myself would likely lead to it cracking from the pliers and then having to go to a dentist anyway, but this time covered in blood. I'm sure if I had the funds the tooth could be saved, but I'm in enough debt as it is.
Yea well you'd just have to do it like they did back in the day. When it got really bad they just pulled it out. You still hAve a few years before that happens though. Eventually the tooth will just start breaking in pieces
SCCC is closest out of the two, but for illogical pride and stubbornness reasons I won't be using a cheaper alternative to a professional firm. I know it doesn't make sense, but if I'm going to see somebody to fix it, I'm paying extra to get it done right even if I can't afford it.
1. get an eye dropper 2. gargle for 10 min with some hydrogen peroxide 3. mix up some concrete in the garage 4. remove rubber back of eye dropper and push some crete mix into the tube 5. put the back on the tube again and stick the eye dropper in your mouth 6. squirt some concrete into the cavity until it is filled
You do NOT need to go to a dentist. That is a scam for your money, and so the gov can get your medical records.
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1 Reply
Opinion Owner
+1 y
Also you might want to get a friend or neighbor to help you with bits 5+ unless you've got a big mirror!
That absolutely needs to be addressed by a professional. Is there no a dental school near you? If so, they often provide services by instructor supervised dental students at a significant discount.
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