I just broke a tooth, right before I checked to find 1 more dead soldier

[uppityperson]

I checked my usual websites tonight, DU, # dead USA soldiers, chewed a caramel and went to see where the tooth chunks in it came from. A molar that had been getting thin by the edge is now gone. Came back to finish checking my usual websites to find another dead soldier and I have 3/4 a tooth left in the upper back and no insurance or money so I think I'll have them pull it out. Can I live with a missing tooth in the upper way back area? Will it ruin my gorgeous 50 yr old smile?

Will you still love me if I have a gap in the back if I ever smile really big like when we get rid of the people involved with killing our soldiers (mr.bush)?

[Spinzonner]

1. Holy Molar

Is there a dental school nearby that might do low cost work ?

[Pooka Fey]

2. YESSSS We will still LOVE you.

Your missing upper back tooth will go to "Missing Tooth Heaven" just like my missing lower back tooth that I had to have pulled. O8)

Hi Uppity Person :hi:

[uppityperson]

3. Hi pooka fey

How are you doing? It does get easier, after the first yr or two. Hang in there. sleep, wake, eat, repeat.

I hate taking bits of broken tooth to my dentist because he always wants me to give him $1000+ to make it go away and I just don't have it and I am to the point I really don't care if my teeth are straight. Did your teeth shift afterwards?

[Pooka Fey]

12. {{{{UppityPerson}}}}

Thanks I'm doing better -- the 1st month was rough, this one's not as bad. :hug:

$1000 !!! NOOOOO !!! Go here: http://www.dentalplans.com/ and get a dental plan - a molar extraction should cost between $120 and $195 with a dental plan. The plans are around $100/year; you get your 2 yearly routine exams at a greatly reduced fee so it sort of pays for the cost of the membership. You can look at the cost savings on the website; and you can call to find a plan that your regular dentist takes.

I know how annoying teeth problems are - I've had to get 3 gold crowns at $500 per molar over the last 5 years (gold lasts much longer than porcelain); ....AND I need to get a 4th tooth done.:mad:

No, my teeth haven't shifted, and the specialist --- the tooth was so infected I needed to see a specialist :-( --- who pulled my tooth said if I didn't have a $3,000 dental implant put in the gap that I'd lose the tooth directly above the pulled tooth. It never happened. HAH. And my new dentist says that I won't EVER lose that top tooth-at least not because of losing the matching lower molar. These guys can be just like mechanics (no offense the honest mechanics out there) - you've got to be so careful. You can usually see a dentist right after you've joined a plan - don't put it off...I know how rough it is to find $$ for dentists on top of everything else, though. :grouphug:

[uppityperson]

13. Thanks for the website, I'll check it out.

Yes, dentists (like many people and professions) can be honest and ethical or not and it is difficult to tell what you are really risking. Thanks for the website, I'll check it out, would be nice to have dental insurance.

My father came to visit for a couple wks, was nice to be able to spend time with the remaining aging parent who is doing wonderfully but is still getting up there.

[Ariana Celeste]

4. I have that problem.

I didn't take very good care of my teeth as a teen. To say the least. So my tooth all the way in the back on the upper right is about half a tooth now. :( The same one on the other side probably will go down the same path, but lordy I take care of my teeth *now*. I'm in the same boat, no insurance, no money. At least they are in the back, right? :)

[uppityperson]

5. Yeah, that's the one. It rubs the inside of my lip.

I shouldn't really complain, it isn't life threatening or anything. It is just that I was eating a piece of mi-cho-ko (french taffy covered with dark chocolate) to comfort me after looking at the iraqcasualties site and then they changed the number and it was just too much. Dead people and broken teeth and no insurance and no money bah. I am pitiful.

[Ariana Celeste]

6. I know the feeling.

As long as it isn't a wisdom tooth I don't think you have anything to worry about except for occasional mild discomfort. And the lip thing, that sucks. Do you know anyone in Iraq? My SO's (ex) step dad, who is his father figure, is out there hauling fuel. So I check icasualties all the time, because we certainly won't be the ones getting the call if anything were to happen to him.

[Radio_Lady]

7. Go to a dentist and get a crown. You're too young to have a missing

tooth in the molar area. It CAN screw up your bite and cause you pain. By all means, don't pull it out!

[uppityperson]

11. Thanks for the "you're too young" note.

actually I am not, I am just immature but thanks. I'm planning on living another 20-30 yrs (family life length average), and do like to chew, but may just have to put up with a hole. Thanks for the concern, this is what I hear from my dentist too, but I'll go check as soon as I can get an appointment. AND I had to throw away the candy. bah.

[nuxvomica]

8. I had one of the upper-farthest-back ones removed years ago

I think it was the one on the left. Wait a sec.... Yeah, on the left. It was no problem. I had plenty of insurance and the dentist just pulled it -- no shifting, no dentures, no replacement. Life just went on. If your situation is similar, I wouldn't worry too much about it. Y'know, sometimes folks actually have the back molars removed for that "Audrey Hepburn" look. :-)

[LisaL]

10. No way would I let a dentist to pull my tooth.

My dentist put a huge ugly filling on my broken tooth. Oh well, at least it's in the back.

[LisaL]

9. Welcome to the club. I broke mine while eating a piece of candy.