Submitted 6 months ago by someguywithacomputer@lemmynsfw.com to [deleted]
You’re better off going in for the cleaning you know the need, and they’ll tell you if you have cavities more surely than asking the Internet. Maybe it’s different at your local practice, but my dentist always schedules a follow-up visit to deal with the cavities.
You can always decline further treatment if ithe cost is an issue. Or, your debris can work with you on prices and finance.
Find a dental school in your area. They often offer extremely low rates for simple things like a filling or extraction, just not much by the way of cosmetic work.
This, just keep in mind that these places are often first come first serve, and only have limited spaces each day, so check in advance, and be prepared to turn up quite early to get your place in line (I have done this myself, it's a bit of a hassle, but the treatment was as good as any, and was supervised the whole time. Their work is still in place over a decade later).
Buy an x ray machine and take x rays of your mouth.
That’s pretty much the only alternative. Oh, or pull out your teeth and break em open
My dentist always tells me they really only care if the area has recently become heat sensitive. So that’s kind of what I base my level of concern on.
Get your routine cleaning. If you have a cavity they’ll tell you and you don’t have to get it filled right away.
Whenever I’ve had caveities I find that tooth is extremely sensitive to chocolate and registers quite a bit of pain.
So get a small chocolate bar, chew up a chunk so it’s like a paste and push it with your tongue to the tooth you think has a cavity. If you do, you’ll know.
Based on research, I maybe don’t have a full-on cavity. There is no pain and nothing normal such as hot temperatures, cold temperatures, or eating sugary stuff (or anything in general) causes pain. My bottom back molars definitely have brown stuff in the cracks but the upper molars are pristine for some reason. I’m going to put more emphasis on brushing those molars on top and if the brown stuff goes away I can spend the money on a vehicle repair I also badly need.
as someone who fucked up their teeth with this attitude let me tell you it can be far more expensive putting it off.
a checkup should be the cheapest thing they do.
actually after 4 years you'll need xrays so keeping on top of checkups is actually cheaper.
get them to bill you or put you on a payment plan if you really can't afford it but get in there asap.
Tell your friends or family that you want to see a nice dentist and wait for recommendations. Getting a personal recommendation is going to help you feel comfortable going.
You can always look for a dentist that advertises they work with kids. Chances are if they can calm screaming toddlers they can put your concerns to rest too.
KISSmyOSFeddit@lemmy.world 6 months ago
This question is brought to you by the US healthcare system.
someguywithacomputer@lemmynsfw.com 6 months ago
I almost got to have a dentist appointment 2 years ago but the toxic job that found out I had plans to leave somehow canceled my health insurance before I could do it.
DessertStorms@kbin.social 6 months ago
Sadly I don't think any nationalised healthcare services provide free dental (aka luxury bone care) anymore, I know the NHS doesn't, even the very few of their dentists that remain in the now almost exclusively private, and expensive, sector, charge money for treatment (at the top tier which covers complex treatments, it's £300+, and this resets every 2 months, so if your treatment takes longer, which it is likely to because of lack of appointments, you have to pay that again).
HubertManne@kbin.social 6 months ago
this is so sad given dental issues can lead to much more expensive medical issues. It makes so much sense to have dental be part of medical.
Vendetta9076@sh.itjust.works 6 months ago
It works this way everywhere I think. Dental is private in Canada at least.