Broken tooth, what can I expect at my dentist appointment tomorrow

[SheepGoesBaa]

I have a pre molar tooth that broke last year. It was saved with a filling. I had no problems with it. Today I was eating something and I felt something. I didn't feel pain. At first it felt like there was something stuck in between two teeth but that wasn't it. I feel a jagged edge on the tooth that broke last year.

I made a dentist appointment for tomorrow. I'm not looking forward to the appointment at all. Hopefully the dentist will be able to fix it with a filling or file it down a little bit. Just fix it up for now. I really don't want a crown on that tooth. I know a crown is like a cap on a tooth. Basically the dentist said my tooth has decay in it last year and that's why it broke. The way I see it, what's the point in crowning a bad tooth. A crown can be expensive as well and I would prefer to put the money towards an implant.

Would a dentist be able to fix this tooth with a filling or smooth it down for now and I will go down the road of an implant later on this month.

What would you do if you were in a similar position? Would you crown it or extract and implant?

I had a similar issue a few months ago when the side wall of one of my molars came broke. I assumed it would be a biggish job but the dentist just put a bit of resin on it and it's still there now several months later. He said at my next routine appointment they'd just check how it was getting on.

If yours has previously been filled though then it may be a slightly different procedure.

I went to the dentist last year with a broken tooth thinking it was going to be a big job. It was a filling I got and not too bad.

I'm nervous about tomorrow.

I had one filling in my whole mouth, it was a 'fill and bill' from an NHS dentist.

I'm 48 and last year the tooth just broke into two, this old filling had weakened it.

Dentist said nerves had to be killed, then a crown.

It took 5 appointments and cost me 550 euros.

I am really sorry OP. At one point I went mad and said why can't you pull the tooth out? But nerves still had to be killed, I was 'too young' to lose the tooth, an extraction would have to be done.

Same cost basically. Same hassle.

Good luck. Half my tooth was missing though, yours maybe a chip and a filling will do? Make sure you check all options.

I have a toot he with a large filling and it broke last year, a small chunk just came right off and like you i had no pain. The dentist looked and said song bacteria had got under the filling a the tooth was decaying. He took out the old filling, drilled away the decay and put in a new type of filling.

The 'fill and bill' was from the 70's, ie very old and very badly done and unnecessary and had weakened my poor tooth over time, back molar.

It depends OP. To be honest I would be expecting them to suggest it needs a root canal if it is a large crack.

With tooth cracks generally it depends how far up the tooth the crack goes. If it is below the gym line, the tooth can often be saved with a root canal and reconstructed where needed with either a filling or a crown (depending on how much tooth pulp was removed)

If the crack or break goes above the gum line a root canal can be attempted otherwise the tooth will need extracting. You could then have an implant (costly) or a bridge if you wanted to address the gap. Unless it is a front or smile facing tooth the NHS are unlikely to provide for this (in my area they won't even do white fillings unless its front teeth) but I suppose it depends on your dentist.

Root canals are a drag and not cheap (private in the SE about £700 all in) but saving the tooth if possible is always preferable, there is no replacement for a tooth that is as good as keeping your own.

Hope you're able to get it fixed promptly

I must add I had left mine for maybe 4 months? and it suddenly started to hurt like crazy. I have never had toothache and it is unbelievable pain.

I lost half a front tooth 50 years ago. I had a crown at first, but as I was still growing it kept falling out. I then had it removed and a false tooth fitted which I loathed. In my mid 20s, 15 years after the tooth broke, I saw a young dentist and she gave me a bridge. I've still go the same bridge 35 years later! The dentist I've had for the last 10 years can't believe it's still going strong.
Implants cost loads, and also fall out, especially if you have issues with your gums.

Either way, it won't be pleasant OP but so good you're just getting this sorted rather than ignoring for months, like me.

Very best of luck.

I'm back from the dentist. He investigated my tooth and gave me the treatment options available for me.

He said there is more filling in that tooth than there is tooth. The broken bit is not the filling I had last year but the rest of the tooth that broke.

He recommended a crown or an extraction to me.

I'm at a loss at to what to choose. I required about an implant but he didn't recommend an implant for me. The tooth is located in the middle lower jaw and it doesn't show in a smile. Also I'm missing other teeth in my lower, back right, all the molars are gone there from when I was younger. I'm apprehensive about losing more teeth.

Ladies, and gentlemen,

I'm divided about what treatment option to go for.

I want to save what I have left so that would mean a crown and I would jump on that one in the morning if I could.

I read through googling that the function of crown is to extend the life of a tooth. There's not much tooth left considering it is mostly a filling and I'm thinking would I be better off extracting the tooth.

SheepGoesBaa

This is more or less what happened to me. The filling fell out taking some tooth with it so there was only a bit of jagged tooth left. Like you, I could not see it when I smiled. At the back.

I was also told the crown is best option. When I asked how long it would last I was told forever basically. It has a guarantee!

They really thought I should go for a crown. As I said last night, at the end of 5 appts, I really wished I'd gone for an extraction, I was so fed up. (Didn't hurt after first appt, just annoying appts all the time and DD to pick up etc...

Now I am REALLY glad I got the crown (a year later) it is great and is just like a normal tooth.

550 euros though! Were you quoted a price? Mine is some sort of porcelain I think.

I thought about you this morning!!! Hoping it went well. I am glad you got options and have time to think about it. I left that luxury too late.

If you have lost other teeth, maybe go for the crown.

I had an old fill and bill in an upper premolar. One side sheared off and they managed to fit an inlay. Very happy, looks like a tooth and despite some battering it has stayed solid for a good few years now.

Thanks so much for the lovely replies and for your detailed reply Billie.

I was very divided what way to go but I'm going to phone the dentist reception tomorrow to make an appointment for the crown. I think I will get a metal crown or whatever that is the most durable. I was quoted the same figure you have - 550 euro.

I think most dentists will advise you retain your natural tooth is possible, even if it's damaged or root canaled. For root canals on molars a crown is normally recommended to protect the root, otherwise it's vulnerable to cracking. Crowns might also be used in other cases. An implant will be more expensive and arguably not as good.

Crown. I have two, one porcelain and one silver. One was a post and crown as there was literally nothing left of it above the gumline and is now about 15 years old. The other was a risky bet as the roots are so curved that they couldn't be fully cleaned out and there was a risk that the infection would cause an abscess underneath it. It didn't and a few years on the crown is fine. It's always best to preserve the tooth where possible.

I've lost alot of teeth like this, they broke too much to be repaired but the damage was caused by bruxism. Make sure you're not grinding in your sleep OP.