One of my upper molars has broken off at the gumline. I've never had good enamel, and now I have RSD, which means I'm in constant pain, and I tend to grit my teeth. I don't know if that's why it broke or not. Anyway, I have RSD in my legs and torso, and I'm worried about it spreading. I also have the problem of not having insurance. So I got in to the only dental clinic in 200 miles that will take poor people, and after waiting 2 hours, I couldn't take the pain from the RSD anymore and had to go home (they said it would be another 2 to 3 hours at least before I got in). I don't know what to do. The dentist at the clinic said it had to be pulled, but I don't know how long it will be until I can get in again. How long can I go without it rotting or setting off an infection or something else awful?

AJ

hi AJSG i broke my tooth off at the gum i only got it out last week .i did it about 3 months before took me that long to get the courage to visit the dentist lol he was the best dentist didn't hurt a bt

Hi AJSG,

If you are not having any pain in that tooth and there is no swelling, then it is not an emergency at this point. However, the tooth will become infected eventually.

Keep the tooth and the surrounding area clean. Make sure you brush it with your toothbrush. Make arrangements to have the tooth removed as soon as you can.

Please let us know how things go!

Bryanna

Thanks, guys. It isn't hurting yet. I did try to get it pulled last week, but the wait at the clinic was so long, my RSD pain just got overwhelming, and I had to leave.

A friend of the family gave me the name of a private dentist who might be willing to help, for not too much more money. I'll call Monday and see if he can. He can do simple extractions, but not surgical ones, whatever that means. Does having it broken off at the gum line mean is is a surgical extraction?

AJ

Hi AJSG,

All extractions are surgical. However, some dentists are only comfortable extracting teeth that do not require any incision or suturing. Sometimes a tooth broken off at the gumline can be a little tricky to get a hold of and needs to have a small incision. Other times, it does not. The only way for the dentist to determine how to remove it is to look at it clinically and on an xray to see the root structure.

Let us know how you do!

Bryanna

Thanks, Bryanna, for that information. I'm calling the dentist today. I hope he can do it, and that it's not very hard to take out. I have enough pain!

All extractions are surgical. However, some dentists are only comfortable extracting teeth that do not require any incision or suturing. Sometimes a tooth broken off at the gumline can be a little tricky to get a hold of and needs to have a small incision. Other times, it does not. The only way for the dentist to determine how to remove it is to look at it clinically and on an xray to see the root structure.

Let us know how you do!

Bryanna[/QUOTE]

I went to the private dentist, and he said he couldn't do the extraction, dang it. He said it's too attached to the bone, and he thought, given the RSD and all, I should have anesthesia. He was really kind and gentle, and he didn't charge me for the exam at all. But there is a bad cavity in the next tooth that he said needs attention NOW. It's almost to the pulp and he said that could mean root canal. So I'm going to get that tooth filled. And I guess I have to come up with the $750 for the oral surgeon. I'm afraid to go back to the clinic, because they didn't even mention the cavity, and they were perfectly happy to just pull the tooth, if I waited enough hours for them to get to me. Why are dentists so expensive?

I have lost four molars, and will lose another one soon, it broke off to the gumline today, how much can I expect to pay for a partial? Something to help replace the top upper three or the bottom two? Ideally two partials would be great but if you know medicare, they only pay for ONE SET over your lifetime and this makes me think I will have to cough up the cash myself for one set and save the medicare for when I am older.

Thanks Bryanna for any help you can offer about costs involved. I am just worried about it. And want to know what's involved with planning for this stage of restoration of my bite, since implants are too costly unless I get a couple of novels sold and so far that's not happening. But I am not giving up.

Hi Pamster!

Partial dentures vary in cost from one dental office to another. It all depends on what material is used to fabricate the partial and how much the lab fee is to the dentist. I couldn't even give you a ball park idea because it varies that much!

Your best bet is to call a few local dental offices and ask them for a ballpark figure and then do some averaging based on the fees that they give you.

Hope you are doing ok other than that broken tooth!!

Bryanna

Hi I am Lady Veteran.

Try crushing aspirin, or any kind of pain pills you have in a small amount of rubbing alcohol. DO NOT DRINK THIS! You can mix wintergreen and regular alcohol. It does NOT matter. Rub the side of your jaw especially the veins which leads to the tooth in pain. You will have to keep applying. Put a towel or face cloth over the painful site. YOU MUST KEEP AREA WARM OR IT WILL HURT WORSE. I got rid of an abcess using this method. My late mom taught me this.

Echinacea - get this at $1 store stops infections. Make sure you drink lots of Citrus acids especially Lemon or Orange Juice.

Hope this helps. God Bless. Good Luck. Write back and stay in touch. P. S. What is RDS?