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The original was posted on /r/tifu by /u/ThatRoofer on 2026-05-20 21:42:02+00:00.

Okay so I'm an idiot. Two years ago I had this little twinge in my back molar. You know the kind. Comes and goes. I was like nah it's fine probably just sensitive.

Fast forward to last week. The tooth literally cracked while I was eating popcorn. Not even hard popcorn. A soft one. Went to a dentist finally and yeah. The infection had been eating the bone under that tooth for two years. Nothing left to save. Need an implant + bone graft + crown. Total quote? $15k. My insurance covers like $1500 of that. Cool cool cool.

The worst part? If I went two years ago it would've been a $300 filling. Maybe a root canal and crown for $2000. But no. I had to be brave and tough and avoidant.

Anyway now I'm looking at flying to Mexico or checking out to see some networks if they can do it cheaper. Someone told me they can work with lower cost options. At this point I'll try anything.

Don't be me. Go to the dentist when it hurts.

TL;DR: Ignored a mild toothache for two years until my tooth cracked, and now I need a $15k implant instead of a $300 filling because I’m an avoidant idiot.