A few days ago, my roommates shared their experience of suffering from a bad toothache. Regardless of the ways of alleviating toothache, they all resulted in the dental nerve injuries. This topic struck an instant chord. Recalling the desperate toothache experience that forced my roommates to even hit the wall, they rejected a dental visit in the U.S. Why? Although most international students in the U.S. purchase international student health insurance, yet the tooth extraction in America is usually excluded from their F-1 insurance.
I therefore created an online panel inviting international students to share their sufferings out of toothache.
Lao Wang
I chose to work in the United State upon graduation. Although I bought OPT insurance and I have been good at bearing toothache since childhood, I did not go to see a dentist until the eve of my marriage. I did not notice how much it hurt, because I didn’t get dental treatment in time. Basically, all the big teeth in my mouth now are dentures. Jesus Christ!
Wan Sicong
During my sophomore year in the United States, I had the wisdom teeth, and the right side of my face was swollen. However, my insurance didn’t cover the teeth diagnosis. When I woke up at midnight out of my toothache, I found my ears were deaf.
Fan Heihei
The wisdom teeth on my left face were inflamed after graduation in America. My face was swollen as if it had been stung by a wasp. I was too painful to fall asleep for three nights! The paregoric did not work at all!!! While traveling back to China during Christmas break, the first thing I did was to pull out my four wisdom teeth, since the insurance for OPT period did not cover my dental treatment. My life turned to normality. Peace
Amy Lee
I participated in the Study Abroad Program organized by my school in the summer of 2013. In the beginning of my second week in the United States, I got bad toothache. I already bought the travel insurance before the program, but it did not cover the dental treatment. I bore my toothache until I returned home two weeks later. I love great China! Smile.
Chang Feirui
I found a gap between the fifth and the sixth upper right tooth when I was studying in junior high school. During my junior year in college, I did not go to see the dentist even though I had a bad toothache. I brushed my teeth and filled 18 “dormant” tooth cavities after the finals. I doubted that I was already 66 years old in lieu of 22, especially when I licked my bumpy teeth before my teeth were filled. Now I use an electric toothbrush and dental floss every day. I do not want to die, nor dare to die.
