Ask:
My ex-step daughter whom I love dearly just turned 18. She desperately needs a root canal and is in agony. Her father (my ex.) has disowned her. No one can afford to pay for this and she is in such pain, I feel awful and dont know where to turn to help her. If we dont do something soon she will lose this tooth, it could also absess. Any advice out there for us?? Thanks a ton!!
Answer:
Find out if you have a dentist in town that works payments OR does by income. Even your regular dentist can help you find out. Don't let it get too bad. An infection like that can travel into the brain fairly quickly. My six year old had to be put to sleep for some dental work last March...and that is one of the reasons we did it. The infections were so bad by the time the insurance cleared everything to go, the dentist was worried about the infection having already traveled. He spent weeks on an antibiodic!
Oh...and that is something you can do in the meantime. She can take antibiodics which will stop the worst of the infection, which stops the worst of the pain...and it will stop it from spreading!
Answer:
Call your local health department, or do you live anywhere near a dental school??? She may have to have the tooth extracted, which if she can't afford a root canal may be a better option that walking around with an active infection. Blessed is correct, there have been documented cases where the infection can in fact travel to the brain, however these cases are very rare. Just so happens my husband who is a physician had one such case, but again RARE!! Possibly check with your family doctor for an antibiotic if you don't have a dentist. If she has swelling in the neck or is having trouble breathing, go to the ER. Infections can be deadly!!! But whatever your circumstances, the sooner this is taken care of the better. Good luck and let us know what happens.
Answer:
Hello, I know this is a little late to help but Ive had an abcess before and it sure sound like your daughter did too. The pain is horrible. If your ever in that situation again a good over the counter pain relief is 2 over the counter ibuprofen and 3 extra strength tylenol taken all together. Just make sure no one is allergic to any of this. Also 18 years old or over.