Any dentists? Weighing up options...WWYD

[Dodgyteeth]

Hi all,

Just wondering if anyone here is a dentist/dental nurse and could provide any insight? Or if not dentally qualified, tell me WWYD?

I had a root canal back in 2019 on my first molar. The pain never went away and I mentioned it to two dentists at that practice - the first dentist who did the root canal told me it would "settle down", and the second dentist (got seen by him instead of usual dentist as she was running late) told me it "looked ok" but he didn't want to x-ray at the time as I was pregnant.

Anyway, I missed an appointment at that practice and got kicked off their NHS list. About three weeks ago I just felt something was 'off' (beyond my background levels of pain that I'm now used to) with my mouth so booked in privately to a new practice. A week after booking the appointment, half my root canal tooth cracked off at the back. Saw new dentist yesterday who took x rays and obviously did a general check up. X ray showed a root which hadn't actually ever been filled hence the pain.

So my options are to have the tooth removed, or dentist goes back in to try and find and fill the third root, then puts a filling over the cracked bit. I'm edging towards extraction as I feel I've had it with this tooth now and the fracture of said tooth makes me think it's weak now anyway so even if RC is successful I'm unlikely to have it last too long? Money is somewhat a factor also as cheaper to have extraction but I'm wondering if I need to give this poor tooth another chance and being too quick to dismiss the RC option...

If you got this far, thank you! What would you do?

Having had a failed root canal and extraction before Christmas, I would definitely try and keep the tooth.

Consider the position of a missing tooth with eating and the surrounding teeth.

I've had a successful root canal before but recently opted for extraction. Reason for this was that there was a high chance root canal would fail and by the time I'd paid for that and the crown it was going to be about £800 (or more). Extraction was free! I haven't missed the tooth, you can't see it when I smile and you just get used to it not being there. I may get an implant in the future but I'm not bothered at the moment.

The problem you might have is having enough of the tooth left to fit the crown to if it cracked off at the back?

I've had a cracked molar out. £125 and i never miss it

My back molar has been playing me up for almost a year now. Every so often the gum around it swells and a small abscess comes up although strangely not particularly painful. X-rays show that the root was only partially filled (I remember my previous dentist saying he had had problems when doing it). They now think the root filling has a crack in it. I've decided to have it out (but under sedation) as they can't guarantee they can save the tooth anyway. Probably going to cost around £500 but I need this sorting now. I've been warned that the top back tooth might start to drop so then might have to think about an implant.

They can out a crown but it does cost money... so really up to you, im so fed up with fixing my teeth I'd gladly take them all out if my dentist would agree... but why would they when im like a bank to them constantly going for filling after filling....

Thanks all for your replies... I'm leaning towards having it out as redoing a root canal just fills me with dread and is already fracturing four years after the original one anyway. Feels like I'd just be delaying the inevitable to have it redone.

It's just so frustrating. It's just that one tooth that I've ever had issues with and yet it's such a problematic one

Dentist here. Obviously having not seen you or your images I can only advise. I would guess that the root wasn’t filled at the time as it wasn’t possible to find access to that particular root canal. Now that half the tooth has fractured the long term prognosis is looking poor. You’d need a good outcome from a new root treatment, probably followed by some kind of crown.
Have you lost any other teeth?
Have you discussed the long term space with your current dentist?
Things to consider

Thank you for replying!

That was my guess re. The fracture and hence why I'm leaning towards extraction. I had to go private and need to really weigh up my options as finances are tight and I suspect I'll be paying out for more root canal and then end up needing the extraction anyway.

I haven't lost any other teeth, I have two tiny fillings in both wisdom teeth on the left side of my mouth that were needed during pregnancy. Other than that all good. Bone levels look good apparently, and I'll need a trip to the hygienist. Other than that all good 👍

We have discussed the long term space, too big for a bridge apparently but an implant would be an option. However, that would likely have to weight (probably a considerable time) due to finances

*wait!