Here's my situation.  I'm 53, sole caregiver to semi-invalid mother. I
am disabled and receive social security and medicare benefits; not
qualified for medicaid.

I have been dentist-phobic but I now get anti-anxiety meds that help;
however, my psychiatrist limits how much I can take.  I have TMJ also.

I am disabled with major depressive disorder and social anxiety. One of
the ways depression has manifested in my life is I didn't brush my
teeth more than once a week or so for several years.  I had a lot of
childhood fillings, and they are falling out, one by one. Some of the
teeth with lost fillings have broken.  I have constant pain in most of
my lower teeth, often to the point where my entire lower jaw hurts like
hell. I use products like Anbesol as sparingly as I can, because
they're not cheap. Ibuprofen at 800 mg doses just barely helps, and ice
packs have no discernible effect.

I've been brushing my teeth at least twice a day for about 6 months in
order to slow down the progress of gum disease and tooth decay, and to
prevent abscess.  My gums don't bleed anymore, but brushing hurts, and
flossing makes me vomit. I'm also using that new Crest health something
mouthwash.

I have no dental insurance, and I have not found a plan I can afford
(they don't cover enough of the costs).  I can't afford any of the
dentists I've checked here in the San Diego area, and they all want
payment in full up front.  I have no credit cards because I went
through the 10-year bankruptcy some years ago.

I want to go to Tijuana to have some work done, but even that is going
to be hard on the budget. At one Tijuana dental office I could afford
one root canal and crown every 3 months, or I could afford one
extraction every month.

If this was happening to you or someone you love, anybody here, what
course of action would you take?  What do any of you know about Tijuana
Dentistry (the McCoys), or other Tijuana dentists?  Is there something
else I could be doing to relieve pain better or an avenue of financial
assistance I don't know about?  I am just about at the end of my rope
here.

Thank you for your time and consideration.
Deirdre