Almost three years ago a water bottle accident caused me to chip the back of my front teeth; which I never really noticed until my dentist said it was cavity. My dentist proceeded to drill a hole in my front teeth and decide to tell me that it was actually a root canal and that since I was on medicaid because of my parents low income, that all they could do is put temporary white fillings in the holes they drilled, as well as filing one of my teeth shorter than the other(?!). Over the past year the filling has discolored and made me very self-conscious of my smile. Before this event I had a beautiful smile and it is a sad thing to have a ruined smile at 18 years old because of a dental misjudgment. I don’t have the money being a college student having to pay rent to pay thousands of dollars for porcelain caps. Is there any other option for me? Please let me know, thank you so much.

Answer:

We are very sorry to hear about your situation yet excited to announce that, depending on your location, a majority of dental schools provide free work for individuals on Medicaid!!  The American Dental Association website can direct you to the nearest dental school in your area.  Use this link to connect to their website and search for a dental school near you.  Also, be sure to check with your medical clinic on campus.  As a college student, most of your medical care should be covered in your tuition, meaning no out-of-pocket costs for you.

Several dental clinics also provide low-cost dental work to individuals in need, sometimes it just takes A LOT of research, persistence, and patience.  Use the Internet to research local dental clinics in your area and don’t be afraid to call around.  You may be surprised with your results.  There are plenty of dentists willing to help those in need, they are just sometimes difficult to locate.

Also, if the dentist indicated that you may need a root canal on your front teeth, be sure to use extra precaution when caring for your teeth.  Be sure to brush after each meal and floss at least once a day.  Based on your description, you may not need porcelain crowns.  Crowns are rarely placed on front teeth unless the damage is extensive.  Sounds like all you need is a root canal and a new filling.  So, until your trip to the dentist, continue to practice good oral hygiene.

We wish you the best of luck!!