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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To expect a crown after Root Canal treatment?

54 replies

BoyMeetsWorld · 02/10/2012 09:54

Ok, apologies to any dentistry industry types I offended recently with my rant about dentists - I was in major pain (abscessed tooth) & meant MY experience of dentists really, not every dentists without exception.

Today I finally got my root canal treatment & to be fair my dentist was great - it was quick & almost pain free.

However, he's put a filling over it which to my surprise he said is permanent. From everything I have heard / read you need a crown on a root canal ASAP or you have a big risk of losing the tooth. He is telling me the filling & a bite guard at night will suffice. (ice already paid upfront for NHS Band 3 Crown). When I said I would like the crown really he suddenly said there isn't very much of the tooth left to put a crown on.

What do you think? Is he just fobbing me off do ive paid for a crown but just got a filling? Will a filling actually be enough? & does it sound like I'm going to lose the tooth now anyway (which I was at no point advised)??

OP posts:

Inneedofbrandy · 02/10/2012 09:56

Ive recently had a root canal, been twice and the third time this week for a crown, have a temp filling in ATM.

I guess it depends if you trust your dentist? I would want to double check it doesn't sound right.

flutesgolden · 02/10/2012 09:59

I had root canal and no crown. I did not know about this. I hope you get it sorted OP x

Liketochat1 · 02/10/2012 10:06

I don't remember having a crown when I had my root canal.

Original poster

BoyMeetsWorld · 02/10/2012 10:09

Thank you for replies! flutesgolden & liketochat how have your teeth been after root canal with just a filling?? Have you still got them?

I'm really worried...

OP posts:

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 02/10/2012 10:12

You don't routinely require a crown on a root treated tooth unless its a molar that's doing a lot of chewing, I have a root filled front tooth with a filling.

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 02/10/2012 10:13

I also work for a dentist but I try not to be a twat

GlesgaRocket · 02/10/2012 10:14

I had a root canal treatment and a filling a few years back. Again, i didn't know anything about having a crown. Interestingly (or not), i did eventually lose the tooth. But, that's probably due to the fact i was trying to open a bottle top with my teeth (stupid) and the tooth literally just snapped off.

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 02/10/2012 10:14

If it is a molar then he is not necessarily conning you by saying he can't crown it, its.not as if he wouldn't want to if it needed it.

Skivvytomany · 02/10/2012 10:17

I've had two root canals on different teeth. One got a crown and the other a filling. The one with the filling ended up with a veneer on it as my tooth ended up quite discoloured, the dentist said it was something to do with the tooth being dead or something and the way my teeth overlapped, can't remember what exactly but i had had never had any other problems or infection with the filling though.
On the other hand the one with the crown ended up as a bridge cos it kept breaking off.
I do have rubbish teeth in general though.

spoonsspoonsspoons · 02/10/2012 10:17

i had a filling after a root canal a few years ago, not had any problems since

AliceHurled · 02/10/2012 10:17

I have root canal with no crown. Dentist said it was something to consider having in next few years but no rush. And I trust my dentist totally. It's a mid back tooth.

Original poster

BoyMeetsWorld · 02/10/2012 10:17

Lol I'm sorry fanjo - I really didn't mean to insult anyone! I was having a horrible time of it & shouldn't have generalised.

Thanks so much for your advice, it's good to hear that from someone who works in dentistry. It's the fourth tooth from the front (the sort of fangy shaped one) - does that sound ok? It's very visible when I smile so I'm really scared of losing it / it snapping.

What he's done at the moment with the filling does look good. Can teeth last ages still after root canal with just a filling? (I'm going to religiously look after it & try to avoid crunchy things on that side!)

& should I get part of my £209 refunded if just had root canal with a filling?

OP posts:

flutesgolden · 02/10/2012 10:19

Having a root canal makes the tooth more brittle. Your dentist should look at it next time to see how its doing. But get a second opinion if you want to put your mind at rest. I must say my tooth does feel a little more fragile than the rest xx

Original poster

BoyMeetsWorld · 02/10/2012 10:23

Thanks all so much. skivvytomany - when you say discoloured do you mean it literally went black or just very yellow?

He has said he'd give me the bite guard for night. Which I hate the idea of but maybe it will help it last longer? (I grind my teeth in my sleep)

OP posts:

Tuttutitlookslikerain · 02/10/2012 10:25

I worked, and qualified as a Dental Nurse. He could do a crown, if there is not a lot of tooth surface he can put a post into the root canal, with a metal core and attach the crown to it. It would be stronger and potentially last longer. Root filled teeth are more brittle.

However, he could well be being sensible in making sure the tooth settles and the abscess clears up completely before you spend that sort of money on the tooth. If he is not going to do a Band 3 treatment, then I would say you are due a refund.

Original poster

BoyMeetsWorld · 02/10/2012 10:30

Thanks tuttut . I just feel uneasy that I was charged the Band 3 price, given absolutely no mention of a refund and only when I pushed for a crown was I told there was hardly any tooth left I feel a bit like I'm being conned for the difference but obviously I'm not an expert & he may have very good reason for thinking a filling & bite guard will suffice. Just really don't want to lose the tooth...

OP posts:

Skivvytomany · 02/10/2012 10:31

Lol, no it never went black. Maybe about a quarter of it went a light brown colour where my front two teeth overlapped. I've just remembered that dentist done sone sort of white filling thing there too though when it went brown and then it was another five years later that more if my tooth went brown again and got veneered.
It was noticeable close up but not really manky looking if that makes sense.

SammyTheSwedishSquirrel · 02/10/2012 10:34

I have one of each. The one with the filling was because the dentist felt there was still enough tooth left following the break to make it work. Both have been fine, although the crown took more getting used to as it felt sort of funny for a few months.

Original poster

BoyMeetsWorld · 02/10/2012 10:35

Ahh I get you. Mine's at the top so does the overlapping rather than being overlapped....fingers crossed!

OP posts:

Allalonenow · 02/10/2012 10:43

You mention a bite guard BoyMW, if you are having a custom made one, that would take you into Band 3 fee.

Original poster

BoyMeetsWorld · 02/10/2012 10:44

Ahhh ok! I presume it would be custom made? Fair enough...

OP posts:

geegee888 · 02/10/2012 12:19

I suspect he is monitoring the tooth to see if it needs any further treatment, and consider a crown at this stage detrimental to this. If it settles down and causes no further problems, you can always have a crown later. If the filling is satisfactory and it isn't a chewing molar, it should suffice. Query the charges though.

pumpkinsweetie · 02/10/2012 12:23

I have had two root canals, one of which was filled, got re-infected and subseqently extracted & the other one was done over a year ago, just filled in and is still going strong.
I didn't know they required a crown, but they shouldn't have charged you with band3 !!!
Definetly ask them to refund then difference.

Calabria · 02/10/2012 19:11

I also had a root canal treatment and just had a filling afterwards. There was plenty of tooth left to eat with.

I also qualified and worked as a dental nurse for over twenty years and sometimes a crown just wasn't necessary.

Squeegle · 02/10/2012 19:17

I have had two root canals. Both without crowns. Both because the dentist said the remaining tooth would not support crowns.

He also warned me they may not last as I have more filling than tooth in those two. Thank goodness one of them has lasted over 15 years so far!!! So am keeping my fingers crossed!

I think it is always a bit of a gamble if you don't have much tooth left.

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