Will the NHS repair a cracked tooth or just pull it?!

[toothcrackedow]

I have just discovered a cracked filling, called 111 and been told to call back in the morning in the hopes of getting me an emergency appointment.

The cracked tooth/filling is cracked at the very bottom of the tooth (as in where it makes contact with other teeth) and doesn’t seem to be crumbling. I have no idea how this happened 😭

Will they just pull it out? I’ve had one pulled before and really don’t want to go through that again. Please don’t berate me for having bad teeth - I know. It’s awful. But my local dentist keeps putting their prices up and I need to find a new one but they feel so unaffordable 😭

Anyone? I’m panicking 😭

Hi OP. Sorry, that's horrible for you ❤️

Slightly different but I cracked a back molar last year and the pain was something else, I do sympathise.

My dentist is private and she just said, sorry, that has to go, not fixable. It really wasn't too bad (and I'm an absolute wimp).

Best of luck.

I suppose it depends on how bad/deep the crack is? Maybe they can put a crown on it instead? I know I try to save my teeth if at all possible and touch wood, have managed to get to the age of 50 without any extractions (except for 2 wisdom teeth).

Depends on the dentist and the crack. DH has had a partial crown on a cracked filling but as above had to go private as no NHS dentist has space around us.

I don’t want to be the type of person who has multiple teeth missing. I genuinely don’t even know what happened, it was fine and then all of a sudden this evening I’ve found this hole 😭 I’m so, so sad. I’m hopeful it can be saved but I don’t know because of the filling that’s already in there

I’ll have to take a loan if it comes to that because I can’t afford anything private. I’ve enquired with a private dentist near me just in case, but 111 have said to call them back tomorrow morning. Will they fix it or what? I’m panicking

I know how awful it is to break a tooth and the panic you're feeling right now, I really sympathise. I've had so much dental treatment and the feeling when something goes wrong is so much worse than the actual treatment in my experience.

Which tooth? Are you in pain? For example, they could crown it but it may not be salvageable even by a private dentist. It would be a band 3 treatment if crowned so in the £300 range. I've had a seriously broken molar repaired, so it is possible, but that was private.

It’s three forward from my wisdom teeth.

im just so angry that dental care in this country is broken. It’s impossible to afford unless you’re a high earner. £400 for a filling is disgusting. It fills me with panic as I just can’t afford thousands of pounds on treatments, and taking a loan would be awful

Which tooth?
Sorry, but none of us can diagnose online without knowing the degree of damage. It might just need another filling, it might need root canal, if its a molar which isn't visible, removal might be best.

I’m really resistant to getting it removed because I would then have two teeth removed and I’m not okay with that.

it’s the third forward back tooth. I don’t know whoch One that is. I can feel a hole but the majority of the tooth is intact

Sometimes it’s saveable sometimes it isn’t. Depends how far the crack extends - if it’s superficial then fixable with filling or crown with or without a root canal or if it’s split down or across the middle then it won’t be.

if there is decay involved then it’s more complex.

therefore no one on the internet will be able to answer your question I’m afraid. The tooth needs a full assessment.

anything reasonable eg crown is available on the NHS. Make it clear to the 111 dentist that you would like to save it if at all possible.

I just have a horrible feeling they’ll pull it to save money

They should offer what's best treatment. That may be a crown, filling or extraction. I do know some dentists are reluctant to do certain work on NHS - but if they say you could have a crown privately dig your heels in.

My NHS dentist is amazing and will do everything possible. It took me a few attempts to find her though.

I’ve managed to find a private one near me with an emergency appointment tomorrow. £135, not withstanding any treatment required. £500 loan incoming to cover it 🙃

Whether you have a private or NHS dentist you still have to pay for treatment. If your tooth is pulled or capped there will still be a bill to pay.

I'm confused, do you have an NHS dentist or not?

Nope. I’ve no dentist. 111 said I could call back in the morning and might get an appointment, might not. I decided I’d rather just get one booked and get it done than sit and wait and worry about whether I’ll actually get it fixed or not. They said I’d have to approach my community dental centre if I didn’t get seen tomorrow and I’d rather just get it done.

Yes but the NHS prices aren’t the same extortionate prices as private dentists charge.

If it can be fixed an NHS dentist will repair it. I'm in my 60s now and after a lifetime without too many dental problems my teeth are suddenly falling to bits! I have a couple of back molars which have definitely been filled several times One back tooth is about 75% filling now!

A couple of weeks, ago half of the side of one of my back molars just broke off randomly just above the gum line despite being fine at my last check up . I have a temporary filling while waiting for a longer appointment. The dentist thinks he can fill it but if that doesn't work he's going to try a crown. No mention of an extraction 🤞

I've only ever seen NHS dentists, so yes they will absolutely repair it unless there is a clinical reason not to, or you actually want it out. In my experience they don't extract teeth that can be saved just because it is cheaper. Hope that helps and try not to worry!

They will save the tooth if they can.

How did you manage to get an NHS one?! The one I’m seeing tomorrow has a thing on their website saying they’ll take NHS patients if they have availability so I’m hoping that by being a private patient I can get NHS treatment eventually. If not hopefully they’ll offer some payment plan to let me get my teeth done

I've had both, a cracked tooth filled and 2 broken teeth removed, but the broken teeth were literally broken in half

I've had the same dentist for a really long time. I live in Scotland where it's still possible at least in some places to get an NHS dentist.

I was reading in a magazine recently that teeth and gums can be affected by lowering oestragen levels. i have a loose tooth near the front of my mouth at the bottom and its the first problem ive had since the age of eleven when i had to have a root canal. Im now almost fifty three. I did have a brace between the ages of fourteen and seventeen, and the loose tooth is the same one they wrapped solid metal around so whenever the brace was tightened it would pull forward. It was sitting way back from the other teeth at the time. Its also now slightly cracked at the top. Dreading what this is going to cost.

God you’re lucky. The state of it down here in England should be illegal.