I have a tooth that has been hurting for a while. Yesterday, I tried to eat something and it hurt. This morning my cheek was swollen. I’ve been laid off at work and have no money to spare. I don’t know what to do. I tried calling my doctor, because I do have medical insurance, but he said that they can’t treat dental problems. Will this eventually resolve on its own?
Lisa
Dear Lisa,
You are in a tough spot. Even if your doctor did see you, while he could prescribe you an antibiotic, he would not be able to give you the treatment you need. The only way to truly get rid of a tooth infection is to physically remove the infected pulp. There are two ways to do that, either with a root canal treatment or a tooth extraction.
I’m sure the pain alone is enough to convince you that you don’t need to put this off, but I do want you to get the importance of dealing with this in case you’re tempted. A tooth infection will continue to spread. Yours has already started, which is why your cheek is swollen.
You want to have the infection removed before it reaches your lungs, heart, or brain. That can quickly go from a dental emergency to a life threatening emergency. In fact, in the United States alone, between six to ten people die from a tooth infection every year.
There are a few options for you to get treatment. Every state has charity dental clinics. I would call your state dental board, explain your situation, and ask if there are places that can help you. You’ll also find that most dentists went into their field because they wanted to help people. If you call around, you may be able to find a dentist who is willing to get you the treatment that you need and allow you to pay them out.
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