I'm one of those people that was born with good teeth. I've never had a cavity, didn't need braces, and my wisdom teeth pulled easily with minimal pain and no infection. So, as a result, I've been lax with preventative care. Sure I brush and floss a couple of time a day, but dental visits are only every five years or so.
Fast forward to this weekend -- extreme pain right beneath a bottom molar. Flashlight in mouth and a fair amount of googling (yuck, google images), and I'm pretty sure I'm dealing with an abscess and will likely need a root canal. I have an appointment with my dentist tomorrow, so I won't know for sure until then.
I have no dental insurance. It appears root canals and crowns are fucking expensive. Like $2 to $3 grand expensive. Extractions are cheaper, but I'll still need a bridge or an implant so my teeth don't shift in any crazy ways, which is similar in cost to root canal treatment. Skipping a filler probably isn't a good option -- my teeth already started to shift after the wisdom teeth were pulled. Any more shifting, and I'll be dealing with some major gaps.
Any mustachian strategies for getting the best deal? Bequeath upon me any wisdom, s'il vous plait!