AIBU to think that tooth extraction is OTT?

[Zigzag11]

I've just been to see my dentist as a unfortunately a large piece of one of my back molars has broken off.
It doesn't hurt at the moment, it has a large amalgam filling but otherwise healthy root.
He had a look and did an X-ray and said he cannot save it because the break goes below the gum line.
I've also seen the x-ray, and yes it does go a very tiny bit below the gum line but it's nowhere near the roots and there the majority of the tooth is still there, basically one corner of it broke off.

I'm very upset and I've just walked into another dental practice in the town (private) and explained the situation and made an appointment to get a second opinion.
AIBU to think that there are no other ways to save a broken tooth?
Because if this tooth is taken out I will need either a bridge or an implant. I am just desperate to save the tooth.

Has anybody gone through similar? Any advice would be appreciated.

Why will you need an implant or bridge for a molar? I have had 3 molars taken out as a teen- 1 top, 2 bottom either side. It’s never caused me any problems, and no one knows unless I show them, as you can not see them.

I had a molar break in half. Dentist did a cement half tooth (no idea what the technical term is). That lasted about 10years then the tooth cracked more and abscessed and got pulled out. I would think the crack below gum line will allow bacteria to fester and turn into an abscess.

My tooth had a large filling too. Basically it self destructed and the gum grew up inside, which is what made it crack.

The dentist said that I would need an implant or a bridge as it would leave a huge gap.
I already have a missing tooth next to this one.