848
getting a deadly infection and an eating disorder from an untreated shattered tooth because dental isn’t considered healthcare (lemmy.cafe)
submitted 1 year ago by to c/politicalmemes@lemmy.world
69 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] 27 points 1 year ago (8 children)

I'm literally looking forward to having 8 teeth pulled this month because A. at least the pain will go away B. They're putting me under general because the several extractions I've had before this traumatized the shit out of me.

I could also share the story of paying $800 for a root canal and temp crown then losing my job before getting the perm crown. The remainder of that tooth was extracted a year later for $350.

Paying $1150 to lose a tooth radicalized the fuck out of me.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • hideshow 8 child comments
    •
  • [–] 12 points 1 year ago (2 children)

    When my tooth started rot, the pain was so severe that I tried to pull it out with my hand. Now I am eating only on left side of my mouth. Hope left teeth won't die...

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 2 child comments
    •
  • [–] 4 points 1 year ago

    Been there done that. Was pulling rotted roots from a broken tooth the other week...had my surgery set but my x-rays were 6 months old, shit had deteriorated and surgeon agreed with me that a new exam was warranted. That meant the surgery was delayed and I get to deal with the pain for longer and likely get more pulled.

    I legitimately want them to pull everything. I'd rather deal with full dentures until I can afford implants. My teeth have always been sensitive and I will absolutely fuck my tongue up probing at partial denture wires.

    Just today I had two new chunks fall out. The first time I bit down on a chunk of tooth scarred me, but the day I realized I was used to it broke me a bit.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • [–] 2 points 1 year ago

    Recovery from General is kind of rough but I think it's the only thing that my insurance would cover too. I had all the work in my mouth done at once under general for 8 hours. The follow-up 4 hour procedure was done under IV sedation where they give you fentanyl.

    That stuff is a miracle. It feels easy on the body, like I woke up and could semi function after a couple hours instead of two or three days later from the GA. I didn't feel or remember anything. And while I was nervous because in my previous experience I really like opioids, there is no lingering wish to go to the dentist for more really expensive drugs. Heck, I don't remember any of it.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • [–] 2 points 1 year ago (2 children)

    Not a doctor, but I guess it depends on the case, the anaesthetic used and so on. As a kid I had to have a primary molar pulled out and it hurt like hell with local anaesthetic. Recently I had all four of my wisdom teeth pulled out and I didn't feel a thing during the procedure (also with just local anaesthetic) - it only hurt for a few days afterwards while the wounds were healing.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 2 child comments
    •
  • [–] 2 points 1 year ago (1 child)

    My red-headed mother passed down the gene mutation (melanocortin- 1 receptor) that causes resistance to lidocaine and other local anesthesia. Made for some rough dentist/ortho visits as a child. The pain afterwards is pretty negligible but when the lidocaine wears off mid-extraction it's fucking rough.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 1 child comment
    •