Options for cracked root filled tooth?

[Banderchang]

Just wondering whether anyone has opinions on the best option for a cracked root filled tooth? I had a root filling 3 years ago and now that tooth has a small crack. It doesn't particularly ache, but sometimes I get a sudden pain when I'm chewing (maybe once a day). My dentist is going to Xray me in a couple of weeks, but he said this wouldn't necessarily tell him much as the crack will not be where the Xray shows.

So from google searches it seems that the options are bridge or implant if the tooth needs extracting. Or maybe it can be crowned and avoid extraction? I understand that bridging involves shaping the surrounding teeth which might cause other problems, but implants are expensive.

Just wondering if anyone else had had the same problem and what you did? Also, is it best to treat the tooth while it's still just a bit sore or wait until it gets worse?

TIA

I had a root filled tooth that disintegrated leaving a crumbling shell , with 2/3rds of it missing

My (fabulous) dentist said I had a small chronic infection right at the bottom of the (badly) filled root canal , work doneby a precious dentist.

It gives me no pain however, so instead of having invasive expensive extra root canal treatment he's popped a Cerac crown on it which looks so amazing. It wasn't cheap, about £400 but I can pay in installments.

I wish I could do a before an after shot

Thanks, cybbo. I'm hoping a crown is an option for me, as I don't like the idea of bridging and the implants seem to be £££!

Probably not much help but I have to have an upper tooth out soon .

The dental hospital said a bridge wouldn't work for me because I didn't have similar on other side - I didn't really understand that bit .

Also said that an implant would be tricky because my sinus is very close to teeth and would have to be repositioned first .

Just mentioning this because I hadn't known it was so complicated and maybe the info will help you or others .

Blimey, gingeroots repositioning a sinus sounds terrifying! So if you can't have a bridge or an implant, what are you having - just an extraction?

I had a cracked root filled tooth. The tooth looked perfect in X rays but I was getting repeated infections at the bottom of the root canal.

I ended up being sent to the Dental Hospital for a 3D scan which showed it was cracked right down the centre of the tooth (although the outer tooth was perfect).

As it was a back tooth, the dentist advised me to have an extraction.

I have both of my front teeth crowned (following an accident as a child). One of them is root filled, and is crowned using a post. So, there is no tooth visible above the gumline, but the root has had the nerve removed, and root canal filling - with a metal post inserted into it and the crown attached to that. The tooth next to it is just filed to a point witha crown slipped over the top of it. So I have both types.

it depends on how badly the crack in your tooth is. It doesn't sound that bad if it is only intermittently giving you pain?

I am an ex dental nurse, but many years ago - so have seen a few different styles of repairs.

Shrimponastick do you know if I would need to have my root canal filling out if the tooth is extracted? Or can they leave it in once the tooth is gone? I had to have it done privately and it was really expensive, but my (NHS) dentist said because I have hooked canals I had to see an endodontic specialist to have the root canal. I'm guessing it would have to be the specialist again to remove it, so I'm hoping to avoid that!

Maat, if you've had an extraction what do you have in the gap now (if anything)? Interesting that 3D scans are possible - thanks for that info. Makes it all a bit less like guesswork!

I just have a gap

It took a bit of getting used to but it's not visible at all. To be honest, after suffering from the repeated infections over the years, I was just glad to see the back of it.

I think my option is a gap .
Moving the sinuses does sound rather mega .... but dentist was at whizzy all new 37 floors up Guys dental hospital and made it sound not impossible .
I suspect her of thinking she could carry out tricky procedures ,why couldn't everyone .
If that makes sense .
No way I'm considering it .