Will My Wisdom Tooth Fall Out?

I have a lower wisdom tooth which cracked. Now part of it fell out but the rest is still there and sensitive. I’m out of work right now because of the quarantine and don’t have any discretionary money. There is a part of me hoping the rest of this tooth will just fall out. If I have to go to a dentist, I may not have any money for food. What do you recommend?

Cassie

Dear Cassie,

woman grabbing her jaw in pain in need of an emergency dentist

While you are in a tough spot here, you do have some things working in your favor. First, this is a wisdom tooth and not a first molar or some other tooth. Second, it doesn’t sound like it is infected.

That being said, you are safe to wait and watch. It is possible that the tooth could just decay away and fall out. However, if the tooth becomes infected, that will be a dental emergency and you’ll need to be seen right away.

Here are a couple of things you will need to keep an eye out for.

  1. If the tooth develops an abscess (which will look like a pimple on your gums), that is a sign of infection.
  2. Another sign will be if your jaw begins to swell.

In either of these cases, you’ll have to get it seen. Infections like this spread. As unbelievable as it sounds, people still die from tooth infections. There were even deaths in 2019.

Affording Dental Emergencies

When you are out of work and there is no chance of employment in the near future, it makes it hard to get the care you need. The good news is there are dentists who would be willing to help.

I would do an internet search for two things. One is to see if your city happens to have a free dental clinic for people in your situation. If not, do an internet search using the term “affordable dentist“.

Those who advertise as such will almost always have some kind of payment plan, either in house or through Care Credit. This will allow you to get the work you need done, and then pay off the bill as you’re able.

Given the circumstances with COVID-19, if they’re financially able, they may defer the bill until after you are employed again.

This blog is brought to you by Baton Rouge Dentist Dr. Steven Collins.