(no subject)

[novapsyche]

So last year my right back molar basically disintegrated. This had been in the works, as far as I can remember, since 1998. I remember being in the publications building and feeling a piece of my tooth come out. (Chewing on tooth feels like biting on a rock, d'ya ever notice that?) I did have a job the next year that had health insurance, and I did go to the dentist, but I had more pressing tooth problems on the other side of my mouth. That molar didn't cause me any pain.

So it breaks apart last year, and now there's kind of a husk left over. Again, there hasn't been any pain, so I haven't had a pressing reason to get it checked out. I mean, it's dead now; the only thing I have to look forward to is a root canal. Also, I've been without health insurance for several years now, and as much as it hurts financially to see a doctor for my various ailments, I sure as hell can't afford to see a dentist.

However, now the tooth below this husk has really started to hurt. This has been within the last week or so. I can't chew anything on the right side of my mouth. When I run my tongue over it, it feels fine, feels whole. It's just extraordinarily sensitive, not only to pressure but also to heat.

So I don't know what I'm going to do.

It's because of problems like these that I'm growing very resentful toward my current employer. Even though they'd save a little money in terms of pure salary if they hired me on permanently (my supervisor admitted this!), they seem reluctant to bring me on because I'd (of course) expect to be covered under their insurance plan. So instead of being paid what I'm worth and having health insurance, I'm stuck getting paid less than $10/hr and having to pick and choose exactly what ailments can and cannot wait for a doctor's attention.

Comments

[xiombarg.livejournal.com]

Personally, I'd do some general kvetching about the tooth in front of your boss and segway into your real issue.

[quility.livejournal.com]

I agree. Kvetch and segway. And if that doesn't work - try just asking! What can that hurt? Say you've been a great worker and now you are in trouble - that you woudn't have been if you had gotten good health insurance somewhere else and how much of it are they willing to pay for?

Also - check out Delta Dental. I had 6 cavities while having no insurance - so I paid ~$80 to signup and was able to immediately get significantly cheaper rates on procedures.

Good luck!

unsolicited advice ;)

[blackwinterbyrd.livejournal.com]

hello.
my experience with health insurance is that they do not cover dental unless you are injured in the face and lose teeth. dental disease is not covered. even my dental insurance is so stringent as to be nigh useless. i get a free cleaning, 20% off fillings, 10% off root canals. i am thinking if you had benefits, this would still cost you. definitely go, if the tooth next to it hurts, its bad. they will extract more teeth (they'll take the husk and its painful neighbor, you really don't want a peridontal infection, they'd take bone too) and more money than you would like, but the bill for both will only increase with time. it sounds like your employer is cheap and somewhat exploitative. i'd leave, unless you love your work and the people there. i hope you are not truly stuck, as you say. as a stranger who reads your lj; i imagine you'd make an excellent journalist of some kind. (as well as poet) you deserve health care, and you deserve to have this done in a clean office that does not feel cut-rate. take the time off work to heal, if they take issue, make it clear that it wouldn't have gone this far if you were paid what you are worth and covered medically.
neysa

Re: unsolicited advice ;)

[novapsyche.livejournal.com]

This office does offer dental insurance. And yeah, most dental insurance won't cover everything; there's usually a certain percentage of co-pay.

I am a little stuck. There are very few jobs around here, and even fewer that I'm qualified for. Thank you for your vote of confidence. I wish I had a background in journalism. And poets generally don't earn much.

Yes, my bosses are cheap. They're owners of a small company.

Re: unsolicited advice ;)

[chai-tease.livejournal.com]

have you ever worked for a nonprofit? just a thought, as we are hiring a new manager...

Re: unsolicited advice ;)

[novapsyche.livejournal.com]

I've been wanting to for a while, actually. In this area, at least, people seem to want experience, not just a degree. (Which blows my mind, because I read in the paper just last year that only 25% of Michiganians have a bachelor's or higher.)