Posted on 02/28/2007 6:59:16 AM PST by montag813
WASHINGTON - Twelve-year-old Deamonte Driver died of a toothache Sunday.
A routine, $80 tooth extraction might have saved him.
If his mother had been insured.
If his family had not lost its Medicaid.
If Medicaid dentists weren't so hard to find.
If his mother hadn't been focused on getting a dentist for his brother, who had six rotted teeth.
By the time Deamonte's own aching tooth got any attention, the bacteria from the abscess had spread to his brain, doctors said. After two operations and more than six weeks of hospital care, the Prince George's County boy died.
Deamonte's death and the ultimate cost of his care, which could total more than $250,000, underscore an often-overlooked concern in the debate over universal health coverage: dental care.
(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...
I don't think it can be assumed either. The $20,000/year/student public schools are too busy teaching multiculturalism and self-esteem to teach things like brushing and flossing, even in schools where it's clear that 99%^ of the students don't learn this at home. How much could it really cost, compared to expanding Medicaid, to have public schools in bad areas make daily brushing and flossing a routine part of school activities?
It is also a simple fact that some people are simply more or less resistant to the particular bacteria that produces cavities. Be that as it may, regular dental cleanings help tremendously.
Most likely a mother who lived on junk food during pregnancy and didn't take prenatal vitamins, and followed up by never making her kids brush their teeth.
Any infection which is encapsulated can become unencapsulated. Depending on the location, the first time a person becomes aware of long-festering encapsulated infection may be when it becomes unencapsulated, and begins spreading to other areas.
If you can find dentist who will do the work and let you pay payments for it please let me know.
Maryland.
Try copious amounts of Wild Turkey, or Jack Daniels next time. It really does work.
Spank your child for bad behavior and you'll probably get arrested. Let him die from an infection and you are a "victim" to be pitied.
I believe you.
Guys, did I really write "encapsulted?" Man, what a doofus! My apologies. My fingers must have been encapsulted, er, encapsulated.
I am not poor by any means and had root canal 2 years ago. It was $500. I paid in 4 installments of $125 over 4 months. The secretary hesitated a bit when I asked but she said ok.
Some years back I had a cat who lived largely outdoors, coming home only for food (several times a day) and when injured or sick (apparently knew that the sucker who bought him an endless supply of food would also take him to the vet and pay the bill). One night he turned up in "his" chair (yes, he regarded it as his, despite occupying it rarely) looking quite under the weather, and showed no intention of going back outside. I felt around for signs of injury or abcess and found none. Took his temperature and found it to be very very high, so immediately schlepped him off to the emergency vet.
They searched and prodded for a bit without finding anything, but finally located the problem: a HUGE abcess, running under the skin/fat layer along an entire side of his body -- none of us had been able to detect a lump typical of an abscess, because it covered such a large area, and very evenly -- vet and techs said it was the biggest abcess they'd ever seen. It had obviously been festering for months to reach that size, and whatever original injury had started it had long since healed over. He had been acting perfectly healthy the day before, jumping to high walls to head off to neighboring properties, coming home to eat several times and immediately leaving again -- clearly his giant abcess had still been encapsulated the day before. With a fever of over 104, it had clearly become unencapsulated. Took a long surgery with 2 big incisions to clean it out, had to leave drains in for 2 weeks. He healed up, though, and enjoyed a few more years of making his daily rounds to neighboring homes and shops (he was very popular in the neighborhood, and both homes and shops often let him inside to visit).
Years later (when could afford a dentist), my dentist could see from x-rays that I had had an abscess and was surprised that it had resolved on its own.
I still remember the pain.
During the same period of time, my ex-husband who was not paying child support, would berate me for not providing the necessities for our children like cable TV and HBO, needless to say, he was providing those things for himself. He would even joke to his friends that our only TV was a 13 incher.
I realize that it is difficult to comprehend that in the midst of plenty, some people really do without, but they do.
I remember a sermon I heard about judgment. The pastor said that we can look at someone who is down and out and think, "what a loser" and still if we knew all the facts of his life we might stand in awe that he has managed to do so well.
In the article at the head of this thread we are given few facts. We don't know anything at all about this mother except that she is poor and had two children, one of which has died for lack of treatment; the rest is conjecture.
My oldest daughter, now in her late 30s, has NEVER had a cavity. My younger daughter has had her share and her sisters too.
Raised the same way and ate the same food - you explain it.
80 dollars? She wouldn't pay 80 dollars to stop her kid from suffering toothache pain???? She had to wait until she could find a Medicaid dentist???
This is the stupidest article written by the stupidest writer about the stupidest mother I've ever seen.
Disguisting.
Okay, my kid? I would take him to every dentist I could find until one pulled the tooth and cleaned it out. They all get paid on installments anyway.
Bush's Fault
or
"An Inconvenient Tooth"
I have seen abscessed teeth due to incompetence of dentists, resulting in > 10cc of pus being evacuated from maxillary cavities.
Not a pretty sight.
Prayers up for the family.
I realize that it is difficult to comprehend that in the midst of plenty, some people really do without, but they do.
Who are you to assume ignorance about poverty? The above comment really made me angry. For the record, I was a single parent of an 18 month old and no I wasn't getting child support I was repaying the bills my ex created. (Yes, I am the dad) At the time I was initially homeless. The first night we slept in my car. When we could get housing we only had one bed to sleep on and kept our clothes in clothes baskets for the first several months. At some point, I too recall getting a small B&W TV (after I could afford a used 50 refrigerator) to us that could get two channels if I was lucky.
So no, it is not difficult to comprehend that some do without but it may be difficult to comprehend that those like me who have done without cannot for one second understand how this woman could let her child go through the pain (and death) because of the lack of $80.
And BTW, even today when I can afford HBO I rather use my money to give to God's kingdom or those in need. I would have paid for this child's care if I was asked.
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