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Go see an ENDODONTIST! They specialize in root canals, and are superior at doing that one thing.
I had to after my regular dentist didn't do a good enough job on the root canal after an abscess I had.
He can go in through the side, and clean it out much better than just a regular dentist. Tooth won't even need to be pulled. I had this done 5 years ago, it cost me $200, with insurance paying the remaining $550.
A root canal from the best endodontist in the world is still useless if the tooth cannot be restored with a crown or something similar. If the OP's General dentist recommended extraction, then perhaps they deemed the tooth "non-restorable", hence a root canal was not an option and the only option was extraction.
Thank you all. The tooth that my dentist wants to extract already had a root canal around 2002. Since I already had a bit of a gap in that area from previous extractions and braces (I have a very small face & jaw) the doctor that did the root canal put a larger than normal crown to cover the root canal tooth and fill in the small space. So when the offending tooth is removed now I will have a space and a half missing. I guess I won't be able to chew on that side?
I didn't even think about calling an endodontist. I will do that tomorrow morning. I do have Care Credit but it's only for $2000. Dentists are so expensive and unfortunately like a lot of people I don't have dental insurance. For $4000 I could have a mini face-lift. :-)
Thank you all. The tooth that my dentist wants to extract already had a root canal around 2002. Since I already had a bit of a gap in that area from previous extractions and braces (I have a very small face & jaw) the doctor that did the root canal put a larger than normal crown to cover the root canal tooth and fill in the small space. So when the offending tooth is removed now I will have a space and a half missing. I guess I won't be able to chew on that side?
I didn't even think about calling an endodontist. I will do that tomorrow morning. I do have Care Credit but it's only for $2000. Dentists are so expensive and unfortunately like a lot of people I don't have dental insurance. For $4000 I could have a mini face-lift. :-)
Not ALL dentists are quite so expensive. I think yours is trying to scam you...
I highly suggest you find another general dentist, after the endodontist fixes this problem for you.
Not ALL dentists are quite so expensive. I think yours is trying to scam you...
I highly suggest you find another general dentist, after the endodontist fixes this problem for you.
You have absolutely no clue as to what specific treatment other dentist recommended on precisely which teeth, but since you had a completely different experience with a completely different dentist involving a completely different mouth at a completely different point in time, you think the OP's dentist is a crook because their treatment cost more than yours? Unbelievable.
You have absolutely no clue as to what specific treatment other dentist recommended on precisely which teeth, but since you had a completely different experience with a completely different dentist involving a completely different mouth at a completely different point in time, you think the OP's dentist is a crook because their treatment cost more than yours? Unbelievable.
Actually, he makes it up as he goes along. Everytime he sees a doctor he's being scammed, being charged thousands what other will do for a hundred blah blah blah. He does the same in other forums here as well.
Last edited by BLAZER PROPHET; 08-10-2016 at 11:42 AM..
OP, get a second opinion. I can't stress that enough.
I had several periodontists tell me I needed gingival flap (gum) surgery. The last professional I saw looked at my pockets and said he thought he could initiate healing with a deep cleaning. It worked. That was done well over a decade ago and I have had no problems with periodontal disease, not even gingivitis, since.
If I hadn't gotten other opinions I would have undergone an expensive and unnecessary procedure.
OP, get a second opinion. I can't stress that enough.
I had several periodontists tell me I needed gingival flap (gum) surgery. The last professional I saw looked at my pockets and said he thought he could initiate healing with a deep cleaning. It worked. That was done well over a decade ago and I have had no problems with periodontal disease, not even gingivitis, since.
If I hadn't gotten other opinions I would have undergone an expensive and unnecessary procedure.
I agree with this. The first dentist I saw several years ago for all my restorations wanted me to see a perio specialist for very expensive and invasive gum surgery. I sought a second opinion, and thank goodness I did, my capable dentist used a laser on my gums and did all my restorative work himself. He did not believe I needed a periodontist. Since then I have only had one root planing scaling and my gums are fine. Oh, and I saved 30,000 total over the first estimate (for all my work, which was extensive)
I'm confused - when I asked to wait and see if the antibiotics cleared up the infection I was told that the infection would come back after the antibiotics were finished. This makes no sense to me. Does strep throat or a UTI return as soon as antibiotics are stopped? Should I go back to the original dentist who did the root canal and crown 14 years ago? Do they have a life expectancy?
Antibiotics will not fix this as long as the source of the infection is still present. Comparing to UTI or strep throat is apples and oranges. An infected tooth is like having a splinter in your finger. The splinter will fester up and no matter how much antibiotics you take, it will keep festering up until you remove the splinter. The bridge is optional and only necessary if you want to replace the tooth.
Yes you can go back and ask the dentist who did the root canal 14 years ago about it. He will be proud that his work lasted that long. You can also take your tires back to Michelin after 120,000 miles and complain they are worn out.
Antibiotics will not fix this as long as the source of the infection is still present. Comparing to UTI or strep throat is apples and oranges. An infected tooth is like having a splinter in your finger. The splinter will fester up and no matter how much antibiotics you take, it will keep festering up until you remove the splinter. The bridge is optional and only necessary if you want to replace the tooth.
Yes you can go back and ask the dentist who did the root canal 14 years ago about it. He will be proud that his work lasted that long. You can also take your tires back to Michelin after 120,000 miles and complain they are worn out.
Can you explain this to me? I am sure I am not the only one who is in the dark about this. I don't remember any of my dentists saying there was any sort of time limit on root canals. Are you saying they need to be redone after a certain point? I have a couple front teeth with root canals and they are holding up part of my bridge.
Can you explain this to me? I am sure I am not the only one who is in the dark about this. I don't remember any of my dentists saying there was any sort of time limit on root canals. Are you saying they need to be redone after a certain point? I have a couple front teeth with root canals and they are holding up part of my bridge.
Teeth are finite. Therefore, in general, dental work is finite as well. That said, people are all different. I had 22 crowns after a car accident when I was 18. They lasted 35 years. For others, crowns may last for 5 or 6 years- and that is perfectly acceptable as well. There are many variables- to name just a few would be smoking, quality/quantity of home health care, diet, medications, illnesses such as diabetes, genetics, if you brux or grind, whether you have fluoridated water, your dentition,... the list goes on.
Crowns, bridges, root canals, gum work, fillings, implants.... are all finite.
People make 2 inherent mistakes with dentists and their work. Both are fallacies.
1. The work should always be perfect and last forever.
2. Once a dentist touches a tooth, they own it for life and have to pay for it's ultimate demise.
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