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This is the last visible tooth before my wisdom tooth (which is hidden).
I am age 39. I had a crown put on it in my early 20s which recently fell off. Last year, my dentist (who has since retired) replaced the crown. While it helped, I still have issues from time to time. It doesn't hurt 99% of the time. It will sometimes hurt for a split second when I drink something cold, but not always. It will sometimes hurt when I brush it but not always. There have been a couple instances in the past month where it started hurting after I ate. I swished a salt water mixture and that took care of the pain.
With that being said, I went to get a second and third opinion. One dentist (the one who took over for retired dentist) said there is little chance in saving the tooth recommended extraction. Another dentist said the crown does not fit right and there is a small opening. That might explain the intermittent pain. He sent me to an endo who recommended a root canal as replacing the crown will likely not be enough. He said the chance of success is good.
I basically have three options:
1) Do nothing. I can live with it, at least for now, pain is rare and it's tolerable.
2) Get a root canal followed by a new crown for approx 2200 (1000 out of pocket).
3) Extract the tooth for 400 (minus whatever insurance covers) and either leave it be or install an implant (cost would be approx 4100 including a bone graft) and I'm not sure how much insurance would pay. With it being the very last tooth, I may not miss it much. According to the endo, an implant is more difficult to install there since that tooth is so close to the sinuses.
Should I get yet another opinion since the second and third opinion dentists disagree? I don't really want anymore x rays though as I have been zapped several times already.
Hmm. I'm having similar issues with a tooth that has a newer crown on it (about months old). My dentist said the endo will be able to perform the root canal right thru the crown and he can then the crown. My insurance will cover the root canal and the re-fill.
OP: If it were me and what I know now at my late age in life, I would do #1 and when I feel a bit of pain or discomfort, rub either tea tree oil, oil of oregano or myrrh tincture oil on the tooth and around it. I use all these oils for something paining my body.
Hmm. I'm having similar issues with a tooth that has a newer crown on it (about months old). My dentist said the endo will be able to perform the root canal right thru the crown and he can then the crown. My insurance will cover the root canal and the re-fill.
I'm guessing such an option was not suggested?
It wouldn't work because the current crown doesn't fit right. I was told by the second opinion dentist that there is a small opening.
OP: If it were me and what I know now at my late age in life, I would do #1 and when I feel a bit of pain or discomfort, rub either tea tree oil, oil of oregano or myrrh tincture oil on the tooth and around it. I use all these oils for something paining my body.
I'm liking this idea. I did recently order Sensodyne toothpaste with novamin which is actually supposed to help repair sensitive teeth. I am not sure if it would help in this situation but perhaps it is worth a shot. If I hit the side of tooth with my tongue in just the right spot, I can feel a little pain but it just lasts a split second.
If not sensitive to heat / hot foods, endure it. The sensitivity may end over time.
But what do I know, I'm not a dentist.
It is not sensitive to heat. It's better than it was a few months ago which was better than it was a few months before that. My only concern is that if there is an opening, maybe particles are getting inside. The dentist that claimed there was an opening did say that I have an option to do nothing, however.
For the last 5 yrs or more I've been using a little hydrogen peroxide swish before I go to bed and also make up my own coconut oil toothpaste, no more commerical toothpaste for me. I've kept a lower left molar alive for the last 10 yrs, it's broken and I just didn't want to go thru the work and money that the dentists would have put me thru. I'm much older than you and been thru a lot of dental work for a lot of my life, but not now and changing my diet too, eliminating lots of sugars and carbs.
For the last 5 yrs or more I've been using a little hydrogen peroxide swish before I go to bed and also make up my own coconut oil toothpaste, no more commerical toothpaste for me. I've kept a lower left molar alive for the last 10 yrs, it's broken and I just didn't want to go thru the work and money that the dentists would have put me thru. I'm much older than you and been thru a lot of dental work for a lot of my life, but not now and changing my diet too, eliminating lots of sugars and carbs.
I recently started eating 2 tbsp of coconut oil per day. Didn't realize it can be used as toothpaste. It helps to eat less sugar I'm sure.
You can extract one now and it won't see so bad, but extract another one in a few years, and another one in another few years, etc., all throughout your life, and you'll end up with "teef" and not much chewing power, so fix them now with a root canal or a new crown, whatever you can do--just hold onto those teeth. You could replace those missing teeth eventually with bridges or implants, but it'll cost you big time.
Of your three options, I'm voting don't extract.
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