Would you pull it out yourself?

[tayndrewsmama]

I have a baby molar that has come to it's final days. There is/was never an adult tooth underneath it. It needs to come out, but I really, really don't want to pay for something that it seems I can do at home. I don't want to use up part of the yearly max on the insurance for something that I can do myself. My dentist at home told me awhile ago that I could have it extracted in the office or wait until it comes out on it's own. The gum is a little sore now and I don't want the cavity on the underside to spread to the other teeth (which are fine now) or cause something else to happen. Is there something I just don't know about that would be a reason not to do this? Our yearly max is not alot and I would prefer to save that for filling the hole, KWIM?

What would you do?

[BabyOsMommy]

I voted no because I'm squeamish about these things. I don't know anything else about it except I just don't do well with the thought of something like that, let alone doing it. So it's a personal issue.

[jacksmama]

I voted no. It sounds like it would hurt. Unless it was very, very loose I would go to a dentist. But that's just me. I'm kind of squeamish around anything to do with blood or pain. Although I completely understand you're not wanting to pay a dentist. My cousin doesn't have dental insurance and it costs her a FORTUNE just to take care of her 3 dc's teeth. Good luck!

[kerikadi]

Have you checked to see if there is a dental college in your area? I know it has been a while but when I was in high school w/o insurance I had a molar pulled for $15. I am not squeemish but I don't think I could pull my own tooth.

Good luck,
Keri

[WriterMama]

Do you have a dental school near you? Their services are less expensive than a regular dentist. I'm not sure how it works with insurance, though.

[WriterMama]

Oops, I was posting at the same time as Keri!

[Faerieshadow]

I voted yes, but only if it is loose enough to come out fairly easily! Otherwise you might be looking at a bloody mess, not to mention pain.

[Girl In The Fire]

Have you asked how much it costs to have it pulled. It may not be that much and you could just pay for it out of pocket. I had my wisdom teeth pulled out (they had erupted through the skin and were not impacted) and it was $150 a side including the novicane.

[tayndrewsmama]

Originally Posted by APBTLuv

Have you asked how much it costs to have it pulled. It may not be that much and you could just pay for it out of pocket. I had my wisdom teeth pulled out (they had erupted through the skin and were not impacted) and it was $150 a side including the novicane.

: I'll do that right now. I hadn't thought of that.

[tayndrewsmama]

$120.00 is what they tell me. So, I guess I may as well have them do it because our deductible is $100 and only $20 would be taken off the yearly max. Then the $100 deductible would already be taken care of for the year. The main reason I had a creepy feeling was because he said that he doesn't recommend a bridge and that I need to have an implant and, oh by the way, they cost $3,000 and insurance won't pay for it. Then he says it appears that I have cavities and that I need two wisdom teeth pulled too, and they aren't even bothering me. FTR, this is the first time I have seen this dentist. After I left there, I was envisioning a for sale sign in front of the house.

[stafl]

no way. I've seen the xrays of my teeth, and my molars especially, have long twisty roots that go all the way down into my jawbone.

[tayndrewsmama]

Originally Posted by stafl

no way. I've seen the xrays of my teeth, and my molars especially, have long twisty roots that go all the way down into my jawbone.

Oh, no this is a baby tooth that didn't have an adult one underneath. Yikes! I'd never consider that with an adult one.

[lilyka]

even baby teeth have roots. they just usualy dissolve when it is time for them to come out. that was one of the things they checked for when pulling my wisdon tooth. they checked the roots. they sometimes form a hook which makes it a much more complicated procedure. also it took quite a bit of force for him to get it out. as in I had to pull agaist his force for him to get it out. and he did a lot of stuf with loosening my gum and there was a lot of blood. it didn't hurt (thanks to some wonderful local anistetics) but it was more than just a quick yank on a baby tooth that was *ready* to come out.

[tayndrewsmama]

Originally Posted by lilyka

even baby teeth have roots. they just usualy dissolve when it is time for them to come out.

I realize that. My point was that baby teeth don't have roots in the jaw though. In this case, there are hardly any at all. But all that doesn't really matter. I have decided to just let them do it anyways.

Thanks guys!