My half tooth just cracked. It's rotten and black. I don't have dental insurance and I don't know what to do (Photo)

Question

Robert Fields, DDS · Answer

Hi in Sacramento!  Many people do not have dental insurance, but you happen to be in California and you probably could qualify for help if you call Medical.  All adults that are unemployed or make a minimum wage can qualify for Dental Care.  The # to call is 1 800 322-6384.  There is a Sacramento County Dental Clinic that take walk ins M-F 8-12PM. The # for this facility is 1 916-874-8300.  There is a third avenue you can follow and call Carrington California Dental College # is 916- 361-5168.  You should be able to have the tooth extracted  and go from there.  Hope this was helpful!

Andrew Currie, DMD, MS · Answer

I agree with Dr. Borowski, that tooth looks like it needs to go and not having dental insurance is not a good reason to avoid it. Think of dental insurance as a coupon book that has discounts on certain procedures. In this case, it'd be something like, 50% off this extraction. No matter what, that tooth is only going to cause bigger and more expensive problems (like pain, infection that spreads throughout your body, swelling, bone destruction, etc) the longer you wait. Having a tooth extracted is one of the more affordable dental treatments (likely $100-$400) depending on where you go and how involved it is. Again, the longer you wait the harder that tooth is to extract and therefore the more expensive it gets. It's time to go see a dentist so you can get rid of that tooth, discuss replacement options (implant, bridge, partial denture, or leave a space), and have the rest of your mouth examined to make sure you avoid this same problem by treating any other teeth that need attention.

Vicki Borowski, DDS · Answer

Don't let the fact that you don't have dental insurance keep you from taking care of your dental health. This tooth needs immediate attention. Leaving it in can lead to infection in other parts of your body. Have the tooth removed and also get a complete set of x-rays and an exam to confirm that your other teeth are healthy.

My half tooth just cracked. It's rotten and black. I don't have dental insurance and I don't know what to do (Photo)

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My half tooth just cracked. It's rotten and black. I don't have dental insurance and I don't know what to do (Photo)

Answers (3)

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Everything you need to know about Tooth Repair

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.