I need answers from dental professionals only...?

I am really worried b/c my husband has extremely bad teeth, most of his back ones are rotted and broken, everyone in his family has this b/c he grew up poor in a country where dental care isn't as common. I am afraid this will make him sick, I'm so worried and scared for him but I don't know what to do b/c when we took him to my family dentist they said they couldn't help him and that he needed an oral surgeon. We can't afford that, we're broke. We have no money to get this fixed. Plz help (serious answers only).

I need answers from dental professionals only...?
As a dentist myself, I completely agree with bluemona's post above. Try to find a local dental school- I attended the Medical University of South Carolina School of Dentistry and if you allow a student to perform the dental work it usually costs about 1/2 of what it would normally cost to see a dentist. Most school dental clinics are also very willing to work with you to fix out a payment plan that will suit your budget. You might also want to try your count DFACS office, the county in which I live has a dentist on staff that will perform dental work free of charge to patients with low income. Bad teeth can cause very serious health problems if left untreated, so it is best to go ahead and take care of any problems before they become any worse.
Reply:The dentist should refer him to an oral surgeon for a consultation. At the consultation, you can discuss what, if any, payment plans are available.


If you are unable to work out a suitable plan, contact a dental college in your area. Many dental colleges have special programs which allow dental students who are supervised and advanced in their training to offer free or very inexpensive care to patients in the community
Reply:My mom's a dentist and I work with her. I asked her and she said if it's that bad that he needs oral surgery, then it's gotten to the point where unfortunately it's all you can do. He will end up losing most of his teeth if he needs root canals. She said to be careful nothing gets infected because if an infection in the mouth reaches the brain he could die. You should really get some medical help if it's that bad.
Reply:he would need to go to an oral surgeon and if you have medical they may be able to cover a portion of that cost. If not does your area have a dental school because there they do dental work very cheap.. or get one tooth done at a time or try to get on a payment plan with the office. If not then try to pick up dental insurance for a short time. If you do that option, just be care full since some dental insurance companies have a waiting period on oral surgery and major work. Hope some of this helps you.
Reply:You are right to be concerned. There is so much reasearch right now that link periodontal disease to heart disease, diabetes, and other serious health conditions. If you've ever heard the saying "One bad apple spoils the bunch", that holds true for teeth as well. As teeth rot, they give off a gas that spreads to the other teeth, unless the teeth get fixed, this can cause the rest of the teeth to rot. Infections can spread throughout the body and cause damage as well. One suggestion would be to see if you have a dental college in your area. Usually dental colleges have students do the work and it's 80-60% less than going to a private practice dentist. It does take a lot longer, but at least he's getting it done. Do you qualify for medicaid? There are several offices that accept medicaid. Have you called your local dental society to see if there are any clinics that do "income based" dental work? Lastly, can you take out a loan or borrow money from a relative or friend that you can pay back? Look into CareCredit at CareCredit.com. You can find a participating dentist in your area and can apply online using a co-signer if you can't qualify yourself. Consider this a long term investment not only in your husband's teeth, but also his health. Good luck!
Reply:Is there a dental school around you? I am currently going to school at the Medical College of Georgia. If you have a student do your work here, it costs about 1/2 the price and usually they offer payment options. If there is one around you, talk to them and see if they can help you.