Back molar--#18--is infected & nerve exposed. Also was previously damaged. Extraction? Or root canal & crown

[gentlearts]

Originally Posted by WoodyWW

That's what I'm trying to figure out--if I could have it extracted to eliminate the pain and just go with an empty space. That's supposed to be a bad idea, generally, isn't it? Altho it's a very back molar, & only about half of it left.

I also don't know why the dentist wouldn't tell me if there was enough tooth left for a crown--she makes crowns! And she didn't really advise me on whether it was better for that tooth to do a root canal, or extraction. I guess I should go back to the dentist that did my previous 2 crowns & ask him.


I've also read about "dry socket" (alveolar osteitis) after an extraction--apparently its very bad news & very painful.


https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-...s/syc-20354376

I had the same decision, years ago (about 20 and I’m mid 70s now). My very back molar needed a crown, but I opted to have it pulled because it wasn’t needed, I couldn’t really afford it, and it wouldn’t show.

After all this time, there have been no negative consequences, except that I immediately mourned the loss of the tooth, and wished I hadn’t had it pulled. It felt like i had taken the first step toward becoming a toothless old crone. I wasn’t told at the time, but apparently there could be a tendency for the upper molar to drift down if there is no tooth below to stop it. This did not happen to me, so I wouldn’t consider this a concern.

Only you can decide, OP, but if cost isn’t a concern, I would get the crown.

[reneeh63]

I usually replace teeth after extractions but I did have a couple wisdom teeth extracted but because my jaw was crowded there was no reason to do crowns. The risk of a dry socket is always there with an extraction (more so for lowers than uppers) but can mostly be avoided by not smoking and not drinking anything with a straw as both actions create a vacuum that displaces the blood clot.

I'm not that gung-ho on implants - they are a very long process and prone to rejection and hence "do-overs". They work less well for those who are older because it takes even longer for the bone to come back around the base of the implant.

Good ol' crowns are relatively easy, reliable, and cheap compared to implants.

[snowmountains]

Originally Posted by gentlearts

After all this time, there have been no negative consequences, except that I immediately mourned the loss of the tooth, and wished I hadn’t had it pulled. It felt like i had taken the first step toward becoming a toothless old crone. I wasn’t told at the time, but apparently there could be a tendency for the upper molar to drift down if there is no tooth below to stop it. This did not happen to me, so I wouldn’t consider this a concern.

But wouldn't the adjacent tooth shift toward the hole?