Rotten Teeth

My sister is 54 and has at least 4 teeth that are rotted down to the gum line. Cant his cause other problems and if so what are they? She has no dental insurance and we don't known what to do with her as she don't take care of herself properly.

[Jerome Tsang, DDS]

Unfortunately broken teeth that severely rotted can be great placed for infections to start and grow.  It can cause plenty of problems such as dental abscesses in which bacteria will grow in the root of the tooth and travel down to the jaw bone.  There it can spread to various places, resulting in various problems.  Worse case scenarios can result in life threatening infections. The infection can travel through the head and can travel down the neck and into the chest area.  It can also stay in the jaw and destroy it as well without leaving to go anywhere else.  It would be best to remove those infected teeth as they aren't doing any good in terms of eating or smiling and are just more prone to infection.

[michther]

We have a problem because she is on SSD and can't find anyone to help us. Do you have any idea what we can do to get these teeth out. The dentist that we saw said we need to see an oral surgeon. We live in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Do you know of anyone in this area that can help?

[Jerome Tsang, DDS]

Try contacting your local dental society.  I googled it and I believe its the Greater Milwaukee Dental Association.  

http://www.gmda.org/