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Original poster

Might lose my back tooth. Completely gutted

31 replies

imstilljenny2 · 02/12/2021 16:44

I’m a bit devastated. Just back from the dentist for my final root canal treatment on one of my molar teeth. I have a crack in this tooth which was next to my nerve and was causing intense pain. The plan was to get a porcelain overlay on my tooth to protect the crack from getting worse. However it’s got worse just in the few weeks since my last appointment so the dentist is kind of thinking the overlay won’t work. I might need to get my tooth taken out and a implant fitted. He has filled my tooth and wants to see me in a month to check how the root canal treatment has settled and to see if the crack has got any worse. If it has got worse there's no point getting the overlay.

I feel really sick and upset by it. It’s my back tooth but I’m still really gutted. I can’t help thinking that not seeing the dentist for 18 months in lockdown won’t have helped things.
Anyone ever had similar?

OP posts:

IAmHereForTheFood · 02/12/2021 17:14

I had root canal treatment 3 x on a front tooth -I even went to the dental hospital for 2 of the attempts. Regular dentist visits didn’t have any impact on the outcome for me.

I lost the tooth at age 27 and I have a bridge.

It bothers me a lot and I was mortified when a parent at DC’s school, who is in the dental profession, obviously noticed it and made a thinly veiled comment. I would be thrilled if it had been a molar instead.

I would be thrilled I had had the the funds for an implant for my front tooth!

I feel happier wearing a mask tbh.

RedCarsGoFaster · 02/12/2021 17:29

Honestly, after repeat root canals, you'll be glad to be shot of it. It's not visible which is important so don't think twice about it.

I've had faaaaar too many teeth out, but all have been molars. I'm dreading the day one of my front ones is lost, but due to ongoing issues with them, it's inevitable, I won't be having implants - the idea of them makes me nauseous and I'm recovering from a phobia of the dentist so that won't help. I was also unaware of how often they can fail until I started doing some digging into the details, which was horrifying.

Original poster

imstilljenny2 · 02/12/2021 17:37

The idea of implants makes me feel sick too but I think that might be my best option. I think! I don't know. If I just lose my molar will my face collapse on that side?

OP posts:

NavigatingAdolescence · 02/12/2021 17:39

Had an implant fitted having lost my (only) back molar a few months back. (I congenitally don’t have enough teeth as it is. Only 1 molar each side at the back. This one had been crowned but sadly the tooth cracked below the gum line and couldn’t be saved.)

I have the best dentists who looked after me brilliantly and who promise the implant will outlive me.

Original poster

imstilljenny2 · 02/12/2021 17:40

@NavigatingAdolescence really? That makes me feel a little better. Was it an awful experience getting the implant fitted?

OP posts:

NotMyCat · 02/12/2021 17:41

I've lost my third tooth from the back (not sure if that's a pre molar?!) never had any issues and no face collapsing

NeverDropYourMoonCup · 02/12/2021 17:42

@imstilljenny2

The idea of implants makes me feel sick too but I think that might be my best option. I think! I don't know. If I just lose my molar will my face collapse on that side?

No, it won't.

NotMyCat · 02/12/2021 17:43

Number 14 (upper) is the one I don't have now

Might lose my back tooth. Completely gutted

NavigatingAdolescence · 02/12/2021 17:48

Best dental experience I’ve had, to be honest.

By way of history, I was very poorly as a young child and had continuous antibiotics for 4-5 years which didn’t just rot my teeth but weakened the enamel on my adult teeth. That’s on top of only having 23 adult teeth in my head. I still have a baby tooth because there was nothing to replace it. (My sad had a whole third set of teeth that had to be removed and my younger sister had about 8 additional teeth which she also had removed.)

So huge efforts were made when my adult teeth came through to strengthen the enamel and ensure they had the best chance of survival. I’d never had an adult tooth removed before this one. Back ones were 80% filling but they were still there.

Psychologically having the molar removed when it failed was hard, but after a massive mouth infection and multiple appts during lockdown it was the best thing.

There was a 5-6 month period to allow the jaw to heal and then their implantologist took over. It was phenomenally easy. Apart from the first spot where there gum was cut and stitches put in there was zero discomfort. I was amazed. And the tooth looks amazing. I’m thrilled.

whysotriggered · 02/12/2021 17:49

I have lost a molar in very similar circumstances. And will eventually have an implant. If it makes you feel better, I had the overlay and all it did was delay the inevitable. I got about 18/20 months extra with that tooth and then it eventually become too weak and came out anyway! I ummed and aahed about getting an implant and by the time I decided yes (pre-covid), the rest of my teeth had moved and I needed braces first to move them back which is where I currently am! I'm in my mid 40s and I have braces! I think I probably have another 2-4 months of them and then I will get the implant and I actually can't wait as it will hopefully spell the end of a very long tooth saga! Good luck whatever you decide.

DidgeDoolittle · 02/12/2021 17:51

I had this happen to me.
Number 2 tooth ( according to that chart) had a crack in it that was very painful. In September my dentist did a root canal filling. This was fine until a couple of weeks ago. The pain returned with a vengeance.
I had the tooth taken out last Monday and have no regrets. I've no plans to have an implant.
I had the same back tooth on the other side taken out about 5 years ago. My face hasn't collapsed.
I'm 60, if that makes any difference.

Divebar2021 · 02/12/2021 17:52

I’ve just had my left lower wisdom tooth out and that was next to a gap where I had a molar out about 15 years ago. On top of that I had root canal on a different tooth today.. It’s not been a great week for teeth but I’m not quite sure what you’re so devastated by. ( other than the money obviously). My extraction was done at the hospital and took about 30 mins max.

CarrotSticks19 · 02/12/2021 17:59

Do you need an implant? It's a back tooth and you won't be able to see it, it won't affect your chewing and your face won't cave in. I wouldn't panic too much about getting an implant just yet

Dentists were only closed for 4 months in the first lockdown, and a cracked tooth isn't really something you can prevent unfortunately, it's just one of those things. Most of the time they only make themselves known once they've started causing pain as they aren't visible to the naked eye, and you can only tell the extent once you open the tooth up

Honestly OP losing one tooth isn't the end of the world. I would see how you get on, if you need the tooth out see how you get on for a couple of months before thinking of an implant. Implants can be great but they aren't always necessary and can be expensive as they won't always last for life. Wait and see how you feel first

Original poster

imstilljenny2 · 02/12/2021 18:00

@whysotriggered interesting! So the overlay might not be a permanent fix then? That does make me feel a little better. It's the turn in position 15 according to that chart. And I had braces in my bottom teeth when I was 45! I'm 47 now. Don't see the point of giving up just because I'm over 40 😂

OP posts:

FolornLawn · 02/12/2021 18:03

I have an implant, and it was much less awful than a root canal.

Original poster

imstilljenny2 · 02/12/2021 18:03

@CarrotSticks19 yeah you're probably right. I have a thing about teeth I think. I have a recurring nightmare that I lose my front teeth. I feel really sick about the thought of losing teeth. I can't really explain why. I just asked the dentist today what my options were if I had to have my tooth removed and he mentioned an implant. I've not really had time to process things yet and I'm probably panicking over nothing.

OP posts:

NavigatingAdolescence · 02/12/2021 18:04

@CarrotSticks19

Do you need an implant? It's a back tooth and you won't be able to see it, it won't affect your chewing and your face won't cave in. I wouldn't panic too much about getting an implant just yet

It was for me. I only have/had one back molar each side so was vital to have the implant because when the other side fails (being 80-90% filling) I wouldn’t be able to chew.

One lost tooth is no big deal when you have 32 of them. I started with 23 and one baby tooth. :-/

NavigatingAdolescence · 02/12/2021 18:05

My top teeth had started to pronate in just a few months after my extraction. That would eventually have impacted on my facial structure.

Fet2021duejuly2022 · 02/12/2021 18:08

I’ve got a missing front tooth from an accident. It’s a bit upsetting as it’s right in the middle of my face. I’ve just had a bridge fitted and I’m so happy with it. Looks and feels just like a normal tooth. I decided against an implant although I believe they’re great too. It’s shit but once it’s sorted you’ll feel great I promise XX

JudyGemstone · 02/12/2021 18:09

My back molar is slightly at an angle and turns into the inside of my cheek which is super annoying, it also has a big gap between the next tooth and I’m always getting food stuck in it.

I’ve just noticed it seems a bit wobbly, no pain or crack or anything though. Was kind of hoping they might just get rid of it. I hope my cheek won’t cave in, is that really a thing?!

Original poster

imstilljenny2 · 02/12/2021 18:14

@Fet2021duejuly2022 glad things have worked out well for you

OP posts:

DidgeDoolittle · 02/12/2021 18:15

@JudyGemstone

My back molar is slightly at an angle and turns into the inside of my cheek which is super annoying, it also has a big gap between the next tooth and I’m always getting food stuck in it.

I’ve just noticed it seems a bit wobbly, no pain or crack or anything though. Was kind of hoping they might just get rid of it. I hope my cheek won’t cave in, is that really a thing?!

That's why I had my back tooth out about 5 years ago. It was a complete pain. My gum was always sore due to food getting stuck etc. Dentist tried everything. We decided to take it out in the end. No regrets.

ExPatHereForAChat · 02/12/2021 18:19

I have number 19 (from PPs diagram) removed when I was a teenager and it doesn't affect me in any way. The gap has actually gotten really small as my teeth slowly filled the gap. I think it's pretty standard for people to have an adult tooth or two missing.

Soontobe60 · 02/12/2021 18:21

@imstilljenny2

The idea of implants makes me feel sick too but I think that might be my best option. I think! I don't know. If I just lose my molar will my face collapse on that side?

No, unless it was a bloody massive tooth! I had a back tooth removed about 3 years ago as it was too badly damaged to fill or crown. I started saving up for an implant. I’ve never noticed that it’s missing once it healed, so spent the implant money on a car deposit 🤣

ShatteredDream · 02/12/2021 18:32

I don’t think your face will change, I’ve had 3 teeth out in adulthood, from the pp’s photo number 14 as it cracked and became so infected it had to be pulled.
I’ve also had 29 and 20 removed for orthodontic work.
The upper gap has completely closed with the other teeth, my face hasn’t changed, other than normal ageing sadly!

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