My wisdom teeth are fucking killing me

[PC LOAD LETTER]

I don't have dental or medical insurance. I'm not sure if Grady (atlanta's free/reduced healthcare system for low-income people) has dentists.

They aren't impacted. I only have the top ones, I just don't have bottom wisdom teeth. They're partially out, but every couple of months try to come all the way out, swell up my jaw, and fucking hurt. There's room for them.

What can I do to ease the pain aside from taking some advil and lighting up a joint?
I might be able to acquire some percocets. Shit's expensive, anyways ...

[Smyg]

I don't have any advice, as I don't know anything about the American dental system, but damn wisdom teeth are a pain in the ass. I have four, and it's no fun. :D

[Rooster]

I'm not even sure dentists would do anything for you. All I can recommend is that you take pain killers. You might be able to get a prescription from a doctor for this, instead of having to see a dentist on your Grady health service.

[GatesofLenin]

Being a Canadian, I love our socialized healthcare but there's no dental plan. I work real hard and make almost no money at all after rent and bills. I'm one of the "working poor" you hear about. Like OP, I got my top wisdom teeth growing in and they hurt like hell every few days. I usually take a liquid advil, works fast just makes sure you're not allergic to ibuprofen. GL

[Rocky Rococo]

Pain is one thing, and endure what you have to. However, if they get infected, then suck it up, put the extractions on plastic and get them out, because nothing can kill you (or cause permanent brain or heart damage) faster than untreated dental abscesses. I know what I'm talking about, because I have the permanent heart damage from untreated abscesses.

[Yugo45]

Try taking some dry clove (2-3), chew them around and keep the juices/the chewed clove on the spot that hurts you. Imo it works way better then painkillers. It's instant, cheap and you can do it whenever you want.

It always works great for me when I got toothaches but idk will it help with widsom tooth pain.

I guess I'm lucky, all of my wisdom teeth are fully grown but none of them ever hurt :D

[PC LOAD LETTER]

Yugo: I've heard of the clove thing. I'm from south Louisiana and it's considered part of the folk medicine there, but I didn't even think about it. Thanks for reminding me. I'll try and pick some up tomorrow.

This morning I stuck my finger back there and they're impacted and stuck at a 45-degree angle. I thought they were vertical before. My jaw was so swollen this morning I could barely open it to take some Aleve, which helped for a couple of hours. I could barely stand to eat today. I got 3 percocets, but only 3. Hopefully I can sleep tonight.

Smyg: The dental system is the same as the health system here but worse. If you don't have money, you're shit out of luck.

Rocky: That's what two of my friends told me. At work one told me forget about being late tomorrow, that he thinks I have an abscess and I need to go. But he's not a doctor. And I can be hardheaded about going to the doctor. I hate it.

[Sir Comradical]

My wisdom teeth are coming through about halfway now. No pain at all.

[dodger]

Whatever it takes, get antibiotics and get those teeth out ....or you might be in serious trouble. I got all mine(wisdom) out at a teaching hospital for dentists, gratis, in London. I still remember a teacher in dinner dress and 20 students all in dinner jackets all peering into my mouth to see my tooth with 3 roots being divided into 3 and ripped out piece by piece. Still it was the only time in my life i have been referred to as "this gentleman!!" Still it made them happy, even if late for their dinner party....I took the tube home in lower spirits.Glad to be 64 not 24 again, when I think of it.......still it was free.!!! Glad to say non of my blood spilled onto her finery.......

GET THEM OUT!!! NOW.....

[PC LOAD LETTER]

My ex-girlfriends mom is a dentist. She said her office doesn't do impacted, possibly infected, wisdom teeth removal. But, she gave me a ten-day supply of amoxicillin for free, which I am extremely grateful for. She told me I need to find an oral surgeon as soon as possible.

Right now I'm running a 100.3 degree fever and my entire body hurts, from my head (same side as the tooth) to my legs. I hope this doesn't get worse tomorrow or overnight or I'll need to go to the hospital ... All I could eat today was soup, I can hardly open my mouth to put food in it.

I don't understand how my wisdom tooth could have gotten infected. I brush my teeth religiously. But then, it's not all the way out, and an abscess is underneath the tooth...

[ellipsis]

Dude, see if there is a local dental school. they might have a dental ER. they should be able to pull them for cheap.

[PC LOAD LETTER]

I just found out the Grady system here does have a dentistry and oral surgery department. I qualify for free care through grady, but I thought it was general medical care, not extended to dental care. I'm going to see them on Monday about this to see if they can help me.

[CornetJoyce]

Oral surgery is regarded as "medical" rather than "dental" it seems.

[GatesofLenin]

Good to hear CanisLupus about the antibiotics. Man oh man, 21st century and we're still dealing with being able to afford life or death dental services. What a world! :(

[tanklv]

CLOVE OIL is the best for TEMPORARY relief of tooth aches - it's also a great anti-viral/anti-biotic.

Please try to get the REMOVED!!! Try the local college/university if thay have a dental school - there may be a long wait/list - but it is worth it in the end - and they need people to "practice" on. Usually it's the faculty/staff family members, but they still take "outsiders", too. Tooth infections can lead to DEATH! They're that serious. In the US - there are some dentists that will do it for cash that's cheaper because they don't have to deal with the insurance companies at all - but it's in the $300 dollar range - at least that's what they advertise here in Las Vegas...

[PC LOAD LETTER]

CLOVE OIL is the best for TEMPORARY relief of tooth aches - it's also a great anti-viral/anti-biotic.

Please try to get the REMOVED!!! Try the local college/university if thay have a dental school - there may be a long wait/list - but it is worth it in the end - and they need people to "practice" on. Usually it's the faculty/staff family members, but they still take "outsiders", too. Tooth infections can lead to DEATH! They're that serious. In the US - there are some dentists that will do it for cash that's cheaper because they don't have to deal with the insurance companies at all - but it's in the $300 dollar range - at least that's what they advertise here in Las Vegas...
I appreciate the reply, but I actually got them removed on October 19th. It went well, and I actually experienced zero swelling and zero post-op pain ... although I was fairly strung-out the first day after being put under general anaesthesia for the surgery that morning.

$865 ...

*sigh* ...

I went to Grady first (I don't know if you saw earlier in the thread, but it's Atlanta's low-income healthcare). But they said they wouldn't be able to squeeze me in for an appointment to actually get them out until January. I said fuck that and found a local oral surgeon who was friendly to us sans-insurancers ...

He offered a payment plan but I just decided to pay in full to get it over with. Between this and getting new tires and the timing belt changed on my car ($1,100-ish) I now have very little savings - time to start working at that again. I suppose this is the working class life in capitalism - save up a little bit, then life throws you to the ground and stomps your ribcage.

[Veovis]

My wisdom teeth are coming through about halfway now. No pain at all.

I only have one on the upper right side. It's not impacted at all and has come through free and clear - no pain. It is kind of funny because the inside of my mouth is now asymmetrical, plus it's hard to brush up there.

I heard people can have up to eight come in! :scared:

[tanklv]

I appreciate the reply, but I actually got them removed on October 19th. It went well, and I actually experienced zero swelling and zero post-op pain ... although I was fairly strung-out the first day after being put under general anaesthesia for the surgery that morning.

$865 ...

*sigh* ...

I went to Grady first (I don't know if you saw earlier in the thread, but it's Atlanta's low-income healthcare). But they said they wouldn't be able to squeeze me in for an appointment to actually get them out until January. I said fuck that and found a local oral surgeon who was friendly to us sans-insurancers ...

He offered a payment plan but I just decided to pay in full to get it over with. Between this and getting new tires and the timing belt changed on my car ($1,100-ish) I now have very little savings - time to start working at that again. I suppose this is the working class life in capitalism - save up a little bit, then life throws you to the ground and stomps your ribcage.


I am sooo glad to read that - it's a crime that NOBODY was talking about dental care in the "healthcare" debacle...not even NOW!!!

I guess the mouth is considered the "naughty bits" for the common man...like the rest of the body is for the fucking religious fundies...