...to ask for dental advice?

[Shakti]

I had all wisdom teeth removed at a young adult. Subsequently had root canal treatments in both lower 6s. I do not think they were very well done as I was never pain free, finally lost both lower 6s a few years ago, I am now mid fifties. I had long standing pain from one lower 7 but ignored it (I take a lot of pain killers anyway!), anyway ended up spending ten days in hospital with sepsis and they removed the 7 on the right. I now have only the 7 on left...but it hurts. Quite a bit sometimes, enough to wake me up. This is the last bottom molar I own.

Dentist has suggested trying root canal/crown or both. In order of crown first but root canal would be harder to do if needed after a crown. The tooth has a large crack front to back. I have never had tooth decay, all difficulties to do with cracking and breaking, both front top teeth are cracked top to bottom. I had oxytetracycline as a babe, all my teeth are revolting colours but are strong, but clearly brittle, I have long since given up granary bread. I suspect something to do with the antibiotic. Added issue is I have EDS, poor connective tissue and slow healing (although many ops and I have healed well, just slowly). And...I smoke. ☹️

I just do not know what to do. I have some bottom teeth dentures but they give me ulcers that take up to five weeks to heal. This is last molar for me to chew on. Just to add to it all I have just been changed from one benefit to another, so no longer get free dentistry, as I have been medically retired and draw a tiny pension - basically I am broke. My dentist has suggested implants but the cost!

I am going round in circles, arguably implants would cost little more than root canal, crown, rinse and repeat. I suppose I would get both 6s replaced with implants and ignore missing 7s. I could pay for it, but from pension payout which is small and the only savings I have. But then I would have to use that to pay for root canals etc etc. I live in SE so nothing is cheap! Any advice or help to make a decision? I have to see dentist tomorrow, this is really sore now despite resorting to oromorph and I do not want a repeat of last time.

Sorry OP to hear your difficulties, but as a dental professional I think you can get nothing useful from an internet forum. I suggest you make a list of your concerns and talk them over with your dentist, until you are satisfied.

Agree in principle, and my dentist whilst not very experienced seems really good. I changed after a failed extracted etc etc so have not known him long. My questions are, I think, about whether people have difficulties with top molars if no bottom molars present? How do they manage eating? All that kind of thing that if someone is in a similar position might be able to tell me about more than the best possible dentists. I am just finding it hard to weigh up pros and cons of different options. But yes, will not replace expert qualified advice 😀