Just a question here. Most of my back teeth have been hurting really fucking bad the last 48 hours. I've gotten maybe 3 hours of shit-grade sleep since this started. I tried Advil this afternoon but I know it will only work for so many days. I can't get in for a dental appointment until April 14th. Basically, I'm worried that the cavities are infecting the nerves. Am I fucked ? Is it dangerous to wait that long ?

m.koren wrote:Just a question here. Most of my back teeth have been hurting really fucking bad the last 48 hours. I've gotten maybe 3 hours of shit-grade sleep since this started. I tried Advil this afternoon but I know it will only work for so many days. I can't get in for a dental appointment until April 14th. Basically, I'm worried that the cavities are infecting the nerves. Am I fucked ? Is it dangerous to wait that long ?

I don't think a matter of 2 weeks is going to change anything now. If the nerves are inflamed, you'll probably need a root canal. If you can get an appointment somehow before that, I would obviously do it to relieve the pain. I'm not sure waiting will make the difference between a regular old filling and a root canal - but you definitely want to avoid a root canal - they're costly.

if you start running a fever, it's time to go to the local emergency department.

You still have your wisdom teeth? Could be them, if not, I'd check into a low income/community dental clinic if there are any in the area. Most of those places take walk in patients with dental emergencies on a first come/first serve basis. If the pain doesn't stop this may be your only option.

A similar thing happened to me a while back, when I got to the clinic I had been up for four days straight and was beginning to lose my shit. I sat there for four hours waiting for an opening. When I finally got in they just pulled the tooth, said it couldn't be saved because I waited too long. I have a feeling a pocket full of money and a rich man's dentist could have saved that tooth, but that's not where I was.

I would try to take care of this as soon as possible. Call your dentist and tell them what's up. They should be able to squeeze you in briefly to make sure you're alright and prescribe painkillers and maybe antibiotics. If not, call someone else's dentist.

Dentists are simply lawyers with pliers.

Hi, m.koren! Yes! You ARE fucked!

Go to the dentist. He might send you to an oral surgeon. My oral surgeon was a delightful fellow who put a screwdriver type tool in my mouth, squared it on my bad tooth, put his foot ON THE FUCKING WALL FOR LEVERAGE, and hit this tool repeatedly with a hammer. Don't worry, the nurse will hold your head straight while he cracks your back teeth into pieces with his hammer and chisel and pulls your hooked roots out with pliers. Your mouth will only continuously bleed for a day or two. LOL! Good times!

It was all worth it, though.

Dr. Venkman wrote:Go to the dentist. He might send you to an oral surgeon. My oral surgeon was a delightful fellow who put a screwdriver type tool in my mouth, squared it on my bad tooth, put his foot ON THE FUCKING WALL FOR LEVERAGE, and hit this tool repeatedly with a hammer. Don't worry, the nurse will hold your head straight while he cracks your back teeth into pieces with his hammer and chisel and pulls your hooked roots out with pliers. Your mouth will only continuously bleed for a day or two. LOL! Good times!

Did the instrument look like an ice skate?

madlee wrote:Dentists are simply lawyers with pliers.

Actually...they are doctors who couldn't get in to medical school.

j_harvey wrote:

madlee wrote:Dentists are simply lawyers with pliers.

Actually...they are doctors who couldn't get in to medical school.

I thought they were sadists with newer magazines?

m.koren, I think I feel your pain...