Dental Problem!

Had an ache in a bottom tooth. Not a bad pain, but just sensitive if I bite down. Anyway, saw the dentist today and it turns out the tooth is fractured. He said that he could put a crown on it, but it might not last, best option is to pull the tooth. Need to see an oral surgeon to do this, so they made an appointment for next Tues. - for a consultation. Then I'll find out the options. My dentist said they coud do an implant -- but I know it's very expensive and I don't think my gums are good enough. Next is a partial! Never a dull moment. Because of the fracture he would rather have the oral surgeon do the extraction. I had hoped this would be a simple problem to a toothache but no such luck!

I have not gone for a cleaning in years let alone some cavities I badly need looked at as no insurance/money.  At least you were able to get in so soon.  25 yo Sister is looking at getting her teeth pulled and dentures if she can afford them as horrible issues last few years
 

My dentist never ever pulls a tooth unless he absolutely has to! I've had 2 cracked teeth that he fixed with crowns.  That was about 5 years ago and they are still going strong.

Yikes! Must be a bad fracture? I broke just the point of one tooth of a few years ago and my dentist was able to basically just fill over it.

Looks like the fracture is pretty bad. On the ex-rays I could see it went all the way down past the root. I hate to spend on a crown when it may or may not work and then I'll have to start all over. Will see what the oral surgeon says. My dentist said he feels that the best thing would be to pull the tooth. I'm sure it's going to be an expensive situation, but have no choice.

Yikes.  The dentist did tell me that if that tooth cracked again I'd need to have it removed.  I guess part of my problem is that my jaw is too small for my teeth so they were crowding.  After that point came off it seemed that I had more room between them.  Kind of nice I guess. 

kookycats said:

Looks like the fracture is pretty bad. On the ex-rays I could see it went all the way down past the root. I hate to spend on a crown when it may or may not work and then I'll have to start all over. Will see what the oral surgeon says. My dentist said he feels that the best thing would be to pull the tooth. I'm sure it's going to be an expensive situation, but have no choice.

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I can sympathize with you. I had oral surgery on a lot of teeth in the past several weeks.  Good luck on the situation.

That happened to me, too, Lana, and the tooth needed to be removed. Remember several years ago, my wisdom tooth started coming down? But it came down into the roots of the molar next to it and cracked the molar. He had to remove both the molar and the wisdom tooth that started the whole thing. I had to go to an oral surgeon as the dentist refused to do the extraction. The surgeon wrote out a prescription for Valium for me, to take one tablet the night before and the second tablet an hour before the procedure. (Remember I am scared to death of a dentist! Valium became my friend before all dentist appointments.) Anyway, a little bit of novocaine and I was good to go. My MIL took me to the appt and then she took me back home....because of taking Valium, they didn't want me to drive.

We have dental insurance. I don't, but Rick does. Thank goodness. As it is, we have spent a small fortune on my teeth.

Good luck! You'll be fine!

I guess the oral surgeon is the best way to go. At first I couldn't understand why the regular dentist couldn't do the extraction, but now I see from your comments that it is the way to go. The dentist mentioned something about an implant - but I know it's super expenisve and I'm sure my gums aren't strong enough for an implant. He said they could do a partial. So now I'll have a partial on top and then one on the bottom. Guess that comes with "age".

Pam thanks for reminding me about your extractions. Valium sounds good -- although I've never been afraid of dentists, but this sounds like something a lot more serious than regular dental treatments.
Appointment for the consultation is Tues at 11:30. Then we'll see what he says.

I inherited my father's bad teeth and mine have also cost a fortune between root canals, crowns, etc. An oral surgeon is definitely the way to go.

Good luck!