Tooth extraction or fillings?

[mk96]

Hi I need advice! I have a root canal that has gone bad, it's a hopeless tooth now and I've had it for at least 2 years. Dentist said it needs to be extracted and a) get an implant b) get a bridge or c) get a removable plastic denture.

I also have 2 cavities that need to be filled asap and other minor ones that don't need immediate attention.

I don't have great insurance. It covers 80% with a limit of 1000 CAD per year and I've used 560 for the first visit.

What would you advise I do? Get the extraction and be toothless while I wait till I can afford and implant or otherwise OR get as many teeth filled that I can to save them from potential root canals.

The dentist is saying the bad tooth needs to be extracted asap but I'm not sure if she understands my financial concerns even though I mentioned them. She just replied that there's a 6 month recovery period after the tooth is extracted anyway. But I doubt in 6 months that my finances would change greatly.

What should I do?

Extract the bad ones, fill the dodgy ones. Get an implant later.

Do you need to chose between the extraction and the fillings? If so I would have the extraction. In some ways it's short sighted (potential for the teeth that need fillings to later need further work) but right now the tooth that needs extracting could make you really ill. I know losing a tooth or teeth can seem like the end of the world, but an infection could be much worse, could spread into your jaw, cause nerve pain, or even septicaemia. If you can only do one thing please prioritise the extraction. After that I would prioritise getting as many fillings as you can afford in order of which tooth has the deepest hole/s. Again, for preventing infection risk. In the mean time, there are mouth rinses or saline rinses, and I would get a really gentle toothbrush to go over the area again after you've finished your usual routine to make sure it's really clean. Hopefully that should prevent things getting worse until your insurance renews.

@AnotherMurkyDay that's sound advice! Thank you! Yes I needed help choosing what's more important at this stage whilst I can't afford to get everything done. Learnt my lesson, anxiety visiting the dentist should be addressed or the consequences can be expensive

@Regain4men that's what I was thinking too but I wasn't sure if having an empty gap would be painful/destructive to gums if I don't get the implant right after the 6 months healing from the extraction. Let's say going a year or two with the gap..Any knowledge regarding that?

How much money will it cost?