Root canal-ed tooth needs filling removed and crown placed?
I have a molar, second in from the upper canine that I had root canaled about 18 years ago and a big silver filling put in. All has been well until the filling started to crumble.
I am scheduled to have the filling removed and a post placed for a crown. It's expensive, but I guess necessary. My fear is the tooth seems to be all filling and I can't imagine how they can remove it without breaking this little shell of tooth that will be left and then I'd need an extraction.
The dentist (whom I really like) says it's no big deal, not painful (there's no nerve of course) and will keep the tooth for the rest of my life (I'm 45).
Anything else I should know. Is this procedure usually successful?
Thanks for your answers. I'm a bit of a dental phobe so as the day nears (it's a 90 minute appointment) I am getting a bit stressed.
Thanks again!
Is mouthwash fruitless for the filling within teeth?
Answers:
Hi! I've been in dentistry for over 25 years and and I very surprised the filling lasted this long. That is you first molar as a child so it's been in your mouth for at least 30 years. You obviously have done a great job in caring for you teeth.
The NEW filling materials are tough stuff. One a post is placed inside the tooth, the material is placed around it, cured and then shaped for a crown. As long as you have some tooth to build on, it is fine. Worse case is crown lenghtening, but that is simple and gives a little more tooth to grab on to. But stop worrying, I do this every week and it is absolutely no bill deal except the expense, BUT, if done right, you will go to your grave with the crown in place. And the 90 minutes is for the impressions as well and you will NOT be worked on the whole time. The drilling and filling (post and core)is only about 20 minutes. Shaping the tooth for a crown about anouther 10. So relax. If you have any other questions, please ask. M
What is the best whitening method you've used on your teeth?
yes this is successful and the crown replaces the whole tooth ... its much stronger ... your lucky that you can keep a crown there ... most who have a root canal and then a filling end up with an infection in the hole because bacteria got up there through the filling and had to have a bridge put in or worse yet just a big gapping hole ... you'll be fine ... one chicken to another :)
As long as you've had a root canal we can rebuild the tooth with very little original tooth structure remaining. A post can be placed in the canal that then holds onto a filling material which then in turn holds onto the crown. As long as the root is decay free you should not worry. This is routine dentisty done everyday thousands of times.
The only painful part----the bill.
I just finished one on a front tooth where the tooth was broken below the gumline. You couldnt see any tooth and now we have a new crown and patient is happy but poorer.
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