What would you do?

Does this seem like yet another fails at life skills post or am I crazy?

Dont be a brain dead simpleton. You sacrifice your health because some dbag dispatcher tells you no? Whoever said you don't ask them for permission, you tell them what you need to do, so you can continue to do your job effectively is the correct answer.

Teeth are no joke. The bacteria in your mouth that can cause infection and then spread to the rest of your body which then causes even more issues. A wife who was in dentistry for over 8yrs taught me a lot about this stuff. An abscess tooth can quickly become a blood infection and literally kill you within days. Thats not even getting into the intense pain one has to endure because of the abscess.

Like stated multiple times, there are dentists all over. Find one close and get in there. You aren't hauling anything that can't wait an extra day to deliver.

 

1) Google “Dentist near me”
2) pick one.
3) call a cab.

No need to miss any work...

Typically I’d just say “Think smart not hard”

 

Just remember. After seeing the dentist and taking care of the tooth, there's a 99% chance you may have a random drug test, so take it with a grain of salt. The dentist may offer a script for a few "Super Tylenol". Make sure you keep the bottle from the pharmacy. Some companies don't want you to drive for 72/96 hours after taking the last pill.

 

Screw that dispatcher!
Head for a dentist asap .
I let a toothache go once and wound up in the hospital over it .

 

You need to stop and get some penicillin from _any_ doctor/clinic along your route. They won't do anything while the tooth is infected anyway, you will take penicillin for a few days and then go in to have it worked on.

So just google a clinic,dr,dentist anywhere close to where you are or will be stopping and get a script and go to a pharmacy to have it filled. it won't take too long.

If it's causing serious problems then park it and get a cab/uber whatever. It is an emergency at that point. You won't be able to drive safe with an icepick feeling in your eye and that infection can get to your heart and kill you.

No load is worth dying for.

 

Stay away from Listerine, that seems to make it worse. Preoxide diluted in water seems o be better.

 

@Fltdds Might have a suggestion.

 

Point of order, but the supervisor is not the authority on what is a medical emergency. Unless he's got an MD, I suppose.

YOU make the decision if you are physically able to drive. Anyway, hometime, no, go see a dentist. They hand those diplomas out all over the country. Find an emergency number for the dentist, go get an Uber and get dentistried, bring a credit card. Couple of hundred is probably not going to cover it. Welcome to trucking.

BUT, YOU determine if you are physically able to drive. PERIOD.

 

OK, I will be the fly in the ointment.

This IS a failure in life skills. Did your parents not teach you to take care of your teeth? That means brushing them, watching for any blood, and going to the dentist once or twice a year to get them checked and cleaned. Thats how they catch problems when they're still small problems.

Abcesses don't just pop up. You've had a long term problem with your teeth that you didn't bother to deal with because (insert any excuse that strikes your fancy here)

Now its that big bad employer who's at fault? Give me a break. Man up, and go find a dentist tomorrow morning to yank that tooth. Then schedule a checkup with your dentist for next February.