fix the van or fix my teeth?!

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-13-2004
fix the van or fix my teeth?!
7
Wed, 08-18-2004 - 11:09am
ARG! I hate when I have to make choices like this!! I'm supposed to see the dentist September 1st, and I have to pay $150 up front. However, the starter on the van has quit, and I need to get a new one before it quits completely. The van also needs new tires. Desperately. I'm having to put air in one tire every time I go anywhere because it has a slow leak.

I can't keep putting my teeth off though. SIGH. I'm going to have to put it off for another two weeks and PRAY my front tooth doesn't break before I can get in.

Avatar for mymartes
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 08-18-2004 - 11:33am
sorry to hear about your dilema. I know how difficult it is when strap for money and have so many things going at the same time.

If it were me, I would go to the dentist. As for the tires in your car, is it possible to buy used ones. The tires on our suv cost $200 each. Recently, we had to replace one. My husband found it for $40 used.

Don't know if this was much help. Good luck to you.

MYM

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-30-2003
Wed, 08-18-2004 - 12:44pm

Ugh. I feel your pain. Right now, I'm like, pay school, or take care of that nagging root canal? At least I'm not in pain, y'know.


I would say, if you're in pain (with your tooth) and/or you think you could do MORE damage, take care of that. I didn't have money to do a root canal, had to literally go to a doctor to get some Vicodin to hold me off until payday AND find a dentist who'd take payments because I didn't have insurance. It sucked. And I lived in pain for almost 2 weeks. And trying very hard NOT to get addicted to the Vicodin. Let's just say that my friend saved my life by referring her dentist. Life saver.


But, if you think you'll survive until next paycheck, fix the van.


Hugs. Good luck. BTDT, it sucks.

~Cher




my pet!

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-14-2004
Wed, 08-18-2004 - 10:06pm
Is there a school of dentistry near you? They can do the work for a fraction of the cost. We live on the border so make trips into Mexico for that sort of thing!
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-13-2004
Wed, 08-18-2004 - 11:13pm
Yes, they probably could. I was being seen at one before we moved. It was a nightmare, because it would be eight weeks or more between visits because they had way too many patients in the practice. In the meantime my mouth is getting worse by the minute. My mother is going to cosign for the loan for the dentist to do the work in one sitting after knocking me out. However I have to come up with the first $150 just to schedule an appointment. (yes, this is already figured into our debt repayment schedule and everything...we consider this VERY necessary because my only other option is to keep breaking teeth faster than they could be fixed and ending up with dentures before I'm 30!)
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-22-2003
Thu, 08-19-2004 - 3:21pm
Hi. Peronally, I would take care of my health first and foremost. All of the other suggestions are great, but I would definitely take care of my teeth as a priority.

JMHO

slojuly

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-06-2003
Fri, 08-20-2004 - 5:59pm
I agree with the others who say to take care of your health first. If it's a purely cosmetic issue, then of course it can wait. If there's pain or other problems, then it should definitely come first.

Another suggestion for the van is: call junk yards. They often have so many cheap parts and tires, too.

Good Luck.

***

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-23-2004
Fri, 08-20-2004 - 6:38pm
We've been there and are still going through it.

From our experiences, if you have the money now, I'd recommend getting your teeth fixed. Dentistry costs more if the problem is ignored for too long, so taking care of it may save you money in the long run (I know, I know, that doesn't help the current situation). Is the dentist willing to bill you the $150 rather than require you to pay the $150 at the time of the appointment?

Another suggestion for saving money on tires, is to use is to use a tire vendor such as

http://www.tirerack.com/. They offer discounted prices on many name brand and off brand tires and they will ship them directly to an installer you specify. You'll just need to find a tire store in the area (or someone who can install tires) that is willing to accept shipment and install the tires for you.

Sorry you have to make such a difficult decision. I wish you the best of luck!

Christin