Hi, posting here after another sleepless night due to tooth extraction. Think I'm partly venting but also to seek reassurance. I'm also tired because the mild throbbing has been enough to keep me awake despite the painkillers.
I generally have very healthy teeth and no real issues. However, I do grind my teeth and have done for many years due to stress. I used to use a retainer but stopped (my bad) because I found it hard to sleep with it and I thought I had stopped grinding. The last few months, it's come back bad enough that I've woken myself up grinding.
Not that long ago I went to the dentist for toothache. They said I need a filling in that tooth as it has a cavity. Unclear whether the toothache was caused by the cavity in my back molar or grinding. Either way, toothache disappeared after the filling.
However, the dentist said that X rays revealed an infection in the pulp and a root canal was advised. I didn't question this as the dentist is a respectable one and I trusted their advice. So I was booked in for one. Had root canal done. All went well. A week later my molar cracked. The filling then the root canal treatment compromised the tooth's strength and the grinding on top meant it cracked.
Dentist advised that there was no chance of saving the tooth as it was too far gone. I think the crack went above the gum line. Dentist advised an extraction sooner rather than later to reduce the risk of infection (due to the crack). A week later, my molar is extracted and I'm now reminded me of it because it throbs everyday managed by painkillers and I'm worried about dry socket.
DH says I should have queried the root canal. Or
live with the cracked molar and not had the tooth extracted. Perhaps got a second opinion as to whether the molar could have been saved with a crown.I'm the kind of person who trusts the opinion and advice of a professional. DH is of the view that dentists usually push for dental surgery.
It's hard to explain but having had healthy teeth all my life, the loss of a huge molar (which I can feel and which is affecting how I eat and drink right whilst it heals) is upsetting me in a way that I didn't foresee. I am now starting to question whether I was naive in just going along with what the dentist advised given that it's led to a tooth extraction and a huge dentist's bill. I'm also worried about the cost of an implant, whether one is even possible and how successful they are. I don't want a bridge as I have two healthy molars either side and I don't want to ruin them.
What's done is done now. The tooth is gone. I know that. Sorry if this thread is pointless and thanks for reading if you've made it this far! As I said, I suppose I'm partly looking for reassurance from anyone who has been in a similar situation and partly catharsis because (crazy as it sounds) I'm upset about the loss of a tooth and the huge gap in the back of mouth is a constant reminder!