£3000 to save a tooth

[peanutbutterkid]

... at least I think it might cost that much. Would you? Should I?
I'm age mid50s & in good health otherwise, if that makes a difference.

Long version:
I got a root canal & crown in an upper molar about 15 years ago. The area persisted in being an annoying food trap. Dentist recently xrayed & said
. existing root canal has failed in part
. tooth behind still seems to be decay free, but is in danger from food trap area
. crowned tooth has some decay under the crown
. crowned tooth roots are near a big nerve and the area wouldn't be suitable for an implant
. the tooth behind won't move into the space vacated where crowned tooth is
. so if crowned tooth rots away, I'll end up with a big gap or complicatd bridge decisions

Dentist suggests one way forward is:

specialist company does a specialist root canal (£1200)
Dentist will cut then cut off existing crown, put a temporary one on (£400)
If temporary is stable (no pain) I'll get a permanent crown (£900)

That's if everything goes smoothy, no complications.

I'm on 2 month wait list to talk to the specialist root canal people.
I can afford £3k... but how do I know what is value for money?

I wouldn't do it if I were 80yo.

How visible would the gap be? I had a root canal that was about 20 years old. There was infection underneath it and it was all in a pretty poor state. I had it removed and it was the best and easiest thing by far. I'm 40 in case it makes a difference!

No I wouldn't do it. The first root canal already partially failed, you could spend all that and it could fail again.

I've finally got an appointment with an NHS dentist, first time in 10yrs. Your post terrifies me, OP. Those costs are ridiculous.

I'm sure I'll need all sorts of work but no way can I find ££££s. Maybe 50p!

I'd be tempted to get rid and be done. Unless it's cosmetic, then I'd be a bit unsure.

I had a crown 30yrs ago and it's still okay though. I was told at the time an extraction would be better, but here I am...

Wishing you luck and a happy outcome!

If it’s not hugely obvious when you smile etc I’d just have it pulled out and leave a gap - I’m 43 and have 4 back teeth missing, pulled out when I was late 20s for various reasons and the gaps haven’t caused me any issues at all and you can’t see them unless I’ve literally got my mouth wide open like I’m at the dentist.

I had a root canal fail, had it pulled with no issues. I certainly wouldn't pay 3k

hmm... thanks for replies.
It's my last molar before the wisdom tooth.
So not visible at all.
One option is to just leave it. It's not painful since roots dead. There is a risk that the rot will get to adjacent teeth, but so far that hasn't happened, and it could take many years to fall out.

I already have a gap since about 13 months ago, on other side, so not pleased about teeth disappearing.

Other people I know my age & older have

1. Lots of dosh for implants and dentists.
2. Dentures, teeth are long gone
3. Perfect teeth, no cavities ever, never have to make these decisions.

I could afford it, but it's almost a whole month of salary.

There are no guarantees that it will work. You could be wasting your money. If it's not a visible tooth, I don't think I'd spend that much on it but it's really down to whether it's worth it to you.

Dentist here!
Rot cannot ‘spread ‘ from one tooth to another, what can happen is the food trapping causes decay in the adjacent tooth. If you keep your diet very low in sugar, floss the gap twice a day, you minimise the risks of that happening.
The current’rot’ in the tooth in question will continue to worsen, even though you will get no pain as its root treated. However, this decay will eventually cause the tooth to break and you will definitely need it to be extracted, at this point the decay has usually progresssed so far that it makes for a very difficult and often traumatic extraction.

A back tooth? I would have it whipped out.

For a front tooth maybe. A molar? Not a chance. Extraction all the way.

how much Is the complicated bridge? Can you just have the extraction and if you really hate it look at that?

That seems a lot for a specialist root canal. DH had one done by a well recommended endodontist. It was £800 in 2021. That was two years ago; inflation has been high but not 50% high?

He managed to save a cracked tooth which his original dentist said couldn't be saved. The specialist implant dentist thought it might be savable and the endodontist agreed. It's been fine since.

If you can save it and can afford it, I'd try.

irk, this is difficult. :-(

I had a similar scenario about 10 years ago. It was my next to last back bottom molar. I had the root canal, the temp crown and then the permanent crown. Then a month later, I had a raging infection, the whole thing had failed, and I had it extracted.

I can't remember how much it was in total, but it was a complete waste of money.

I now have a gap you would never see unless you are my dentist. If you are super bothered by the gap, an implant would probably be cheaper.

I had the same ( 3rd tooth from my wisdom) my dentist gave me a mirror and told me to smile , it didn't really show the tooth and she said my teeth would spread a little with the tooth removed anyway.
I had it removed.

I would pay to try to save it.
I'm 60 and had an implant for a tooth that had to be extracted after it broke, the tooth had been crowned and had root canal decades before. The implant cost about 2.5k but worth every penny but I note you say an implant wouldn't be suitable.
I would and do pay whatever necessary to try to save my teeth, I never got the full 32 so try to keep all my teeth. I've had various root canal and crown treatments. I had a back molar extracted about 12 years ago which had been crowned but kept getting infections despite various treatments and extraction was recommended. The gap isn't noticeable when I smile but I do now wish I'd had an implant as you get bone loss with a gap.
I think you should try to save it.