Might have to wait 3+ months to get abscessed tooth treated?

[Amygdaland]

Hey, so I went to the dentist after 2 weeks of waiting, and they are now telling me to go to an endodontist to get my abscessed molar worked on. The problem is that the only endodontist who takes my insurance isn't available until June (just for a consultation). I'm at a loss for what to do.

I have gone to the ER to get pain meds and antibiotics, which messed up my stomach and general health bad. The infection and pain went away for a while but now it's gradually coming back.
I have a different course of antibiotics on hand that I can take to "re-treat" the infection, but I'm really wary of the side effects and I can't go much longer without dealing with the source of the problem.

I can't afford thousands of dollars for the treatment out of pocket.
What is someone expected to do in this kind of situation?

 

[geos]

Can you ask the endodontist for an emergency appointment?
Could you go back to your dentist and ask for other options?

 

[Zoidberg444]

You could opt for it to be extracted. Its certainly not my place to tell you what to do and i am not a professional. My understanding is that once a tooth has had root canal treatment its life expectancy is limited because it becomes brittle over time. Bad dental infections can be dangerous and 3 months is a long time to wait for proper treatment. I hope it works out. Its not fun. Believe me i know.

 

[letsconnect]

You could opt for it to be extracted. Its certainly not my place to tell you what to do and i am not a professional. My understanding is that once a tooth has had root canal treatment its life expectancy is limited because it becomes brittle over time.

That is why a back tooth that has had root canal treatment should always have a crown or onlay (depending on how much tooth structure there is left). Once the tooth is adequately protected, it can last a lifetime.

To the best of my knowledge, implants are excluded from virtually every insurance, and also it’s a lengthier and more involved process. So if it’s possible to save the tooth, I would go for it.

3 months does sound like an awful long wait though (4 weeks is pretty normal in many parts of the world).

Could you maybe contact the endodontist’s office and explain about the emetophobia and see if they can bring your appointment forward? Also, some offices operate waiting lists for appointments cancelled at short notice, so if you’re relatively flexible it might be possible to come in if someone else cancels.