Anyone decided to have a troublesome tooth extracted?

[ghosty]

Right. Am really fed up with one of my teeth.
I have been having a series of stuff done over the last few months because 3 if my four main molars are a mess. They have been giving me problems for years (breaking, being filled, fillings breaking, filled again ... ) Basically now, there is not much of the teeth left, just fillings and if they break again it is 'adios' to my teeth basically. Anyway, one is now successfully crowned ... looks and feels great and I have a brilliant kind and gentle dentist who I would die for .
Dental work in NZ is expensive (not offered on the Public Health System) and so last year was expensive (DH had a crown too so it added up). So this year we were planning to budget a bit more for it (had started an account with the Dentist)
But, last week one of the blighters started giving me some trouble ... 3 months ago the dentist had got rid of the amalgam for me (am aiming to get rid of all mercury in my mouth) and had filled it with an enamel filling ... to tide me over because he said there was a major crack near the root and that we had to keep an eye on it ... but he thought that might last another 2 years. Well, 3 months later it was hurting.
I went in, he injected me with enough anaesthetic to kill a horse (I am a huuuuge baby at the dentist), had a look and said that the tooth was a goner and that basically I either needed Root Canal treatment followed by a crown or he could extract it. He doesn't want to extract it because he said it is one of the molars that is vital for chewing (my cynical self thought, "Yeah right, you just want my $$$$s!") but at the same time he said that Root Canal treatment was the least successful procedure that Dentists do in that in 20% of cases it is impossible to get rid of the the nerve and the problem never fully goes away. He said it was up to me.
Should I just be done with it and get rid of the tooth (That's what DH says I should do 'cos he is thinking of the continuing treatment and the money)
Or anyone had success stories of Root Canal treatment and crowns .... ????
I am torn .... I don't want to lose a tooth for god's sake ... i am only 36 and I am rather attached to my teeth ... they look nice ... But then of course it is a tooth that can't be seen so does that matter?
Any dentists (Anyone seen Jasper around?) that could advise me here?
Ta ... and sorry for lengthy post ... I find it impossible to minimise my words ...

[fairyjay]

Hi
I've said on previous posts how crappy my teeth are, and I have a glorious selection of root canal fillings and crowns.
The last root canal was finished a couple of weeks ago - it took 2 one and a half hour sessions, and so far seems to have done OK. I think I have 4 now, one had to be re-done by my new dentist, because the previous guy had left a
piece of broken tool in the cavity (??!!!!), but apart from that, I haven't had any problems.
I would make sure that whoever does it is an expert at root canal work, as I think it has a much higher chance of success.
Good luck!

[ghosty]

Thanks fairyjay ... I am pretty sure that he is an expert ... he was recommended by a friend who really rates him ...

[chenin]

I have had root canal work done on 2 molars with crowns. Both were done about 6 years ago. One is still going fine and the other lasted about 2-3 years. It was really painful at the time and I had to have it extracted. Root canal work is fine but there is nothing else after that - if you have a problem following it, there is no option but to have the tooth out.
I have had to have 2 molars out and it doesn't show and I can chew fine!
What pisses me off is that no-one can look after their teeth more than me - clean and floss 3 times a day - but there is nothing I can do to halt this. Dentist tells me it is part hereditary and part due to crap dentistry when I was young

[ghosty]

Thanks helliebean ...
I know what you mean ... I am so finicky about my dental hygiene ... I brush everytime after eating, and pretty much every time I leave the house ... I floss every day too.
People tell me I have amazing teeth (they are very white and are straightish) but I don't know anyone who has had more problems with their teeth than me