dear sajha basi
my mom arrived in the US in tourist visa (b1/b2). now, she is complaining about serious toothache. How do I take her to a dentist without having a health/dental insurance?

Pay out of pocket, but it's really expensive if she needs root canal or crowning. So I think it would be better for her to wait until she gets back to Nepal.

in the meantime try dental ointment like Orajel http://www.walgreens.com/store/product.jsp?CATID=100210&navAction=jump&navCount=0&skuid=sku3199431&id=prod3200598

and use Sensodyne toothpaste

_x

If you are close to Boston and able to visit Tufts, let me know.

Thanks guys, I'm in NJ. Has anybody heard of ameriplan?

Sijupanta,

Is there something you can find for mohanB dental wise?

 

_x

There are couple of Nepali dentist in NYU or find out nepali dentist in your area... they might do it for cheap...

Usually, doctors in Chinatown are cheap.  You might want to go there and look around.  Alternatively, if you have friends in Queens, they might know dentists there who are inexpensive. 

If your mother is here for just a short time, meaning if she is leaving within a week or two, it might make sense to use Orajel or other pain reliever to numb the pain until she is back in Nepal.  Dentist fees can break your back.  That's why I tell whoever is coming from Nepal to do all the health checks and dental work before boarding the plane at TIA.

 

When it comes to health issues never ever make any financial compromise. I mean do not go with the cheapest.
You can sign up for a dental discount plan by visiting
www.dentalplans.com
which will save you about 25% off of a regular charge. Remember, regular dental insurances have waiting period for major works  to be covered by the insurance. Therefore a discount plan is the way to go for such an emergency, in your case.

Find a few dentists with good reviews in your area via google. Then make sure those dentists participate in a particular plan out of so many of them listed on www.dentalplans.com.

Pick a plan and call the 800 number/ sign up online and get a discount membership number and make appointment with one of the dentists.

Hope this helps. Good luck.

Going to NYU may be a good idea. They may even have free plans. Call them and ask. Also, NJ Medical and Dental School may be close to you.

Usually when you go to an institution, they tend to be really thorough with whole sets of diagnostic x-rays and so on. Go as an emergency and focus on the tooth.

Its hard to recommend Orajel just like that.

What I assumed is that your mom has a cavity in her tooth - if the pain is sharp, throbbing and sensitive to cold and pain last even after the removal of stimuli, the nerve (pulp) inside may be exposed. This can lead to the necrosis (death) of the pulp overtime and cause abcess. If this is the case, Orajel will not help -antibiotics like amoxicillin may be needed.

Your mom will need a X-ray  (even to extract tooth) of that area to determine what is going on.

I have seen people using counter irritant like Clove (lwang) and Clove oil too.

 

MohanB jee,
If you could explain me the symptoms ... I may be able to help.
I am a dental professional but based in UK not in US.
Please let me know if I could be of any help.

Thanks guys, really appreciate..
My mom will be here for next few months. I gave her orajel but didn't work.
gyanguru bro, i think its tooth decay and blackening of teeth as she used to have lots of ice cream.
shirish, which department should i contact in NYU?
mr hyde, how soon will i get the membership no. in dentalplan.com and is it cancellable after a couple of months?

Mohan ji call me tonite I have NYU number.

 

Bmohan ji,

I think NYU has dental but they dont give you urgent appointment. Here you go:

212-206-5200  this is the number for  free clinic of NYU. I strongly suggest you to call them and ask for urgent appoinment. If not you can always go to emergency and for emergency , you dont have to pay. I only know the elmhurst hospital. However, you have to wait at least 6 hours to get your trun. I also know one clinic which chare you $55 for check up.  Feel free to ask me if you need any further help.By the way "Lwan ko tel" works great for my husband. You can get it in indian store like butala.

Mohan B jee,
I think your mum have got root canal infection.
If it hurts only when eating sweet, than its not root canal infection.
If it hurts at night time or if she wakes up with pain, its definately root canal infection.
Root canal infection must be treated with antibiotic and/or root canal treatment.

I guess "oragel" is just a chlorohexidine gel which generally helps with gum infection not root canal infection.
"Lwang ko tel" Clove oil contains sedative, so it may help a little  but such problem it definately requires antibiotic and/or root canal treatment.
For the time being take some strong pain killler (follow the given instruction while taking).
Tooth ache with root canal problem is very painful.

This is just a simple suggestions, I reccomend you to consult a professional for treatment.