Is it possible to do a root canal and crown on a tooth that is pretty much gone? The tooth broke a while ago and since then has broken little by little. And now is really bad. You can barely see any tooth at all. Is it possible to do a root canal on a tooth like this and put a crown on?
2007-05-04 05:04:20 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Dental
A tooth has both a crown and a root. The visible part (the crown) can be mostly gone and the tooth can be still salvagable. As a dentist I can tell you that the determining factor on whether a tooth is hopeless or can be saved with a root canal is crown to root ratio. After removal of decay and the root canal and placement of crown...if more tooth is in bone rather than out of it...the tooth can salvaged. If more tooth is outside of the bone (ie the decay is so deep that it goes well below the gumline) then the tooth is heading toward hopeless. I know this sounds complicated, but a dentist would make this call off the radiograph (x-ray). Often the visible part of the tooth actually makes up 50% or less of the entire tooth...so you may be missing quite a bit of the tooth and yet it can still be salvaged.
The better question is...Do you want to save it?...Root canals and crowns are very expensive and the tooth got to where it is most likely due to decay..which means it could likely decay again (they can still decay after a root canal and crown).
Good Luck
2007-05-04 05:33:49 · answer #1 · answered by nighttrain551 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
From the sounds of it, consult with your dentist, but I would have it extracted.
Ask about treatment options. One I would suggest asking about are dental implants. They are worth it! It is costly, about $3000 per tooth, but they functions and looks like real teeth. If you have the money and patience, and of course you need proper bone levels to hold the implant, go for it!
They clean out the socket and implant a titanium post that is screwed into the jaw bone. They wait a few months to make sure the post interacts well and is not rejected by your body. They usually fit you with a temporary tooth, so you don't walk around with a big hole, or if yor comfortable with the hole, they will just leave it. About 3-9 months later, they bring you back and fit you with your new tooth.
The most painful part of the procedure is the extraction (which you have already had done!) and shortly after, they surgically implant the titanium post. Pain meds will be prescribed if you need them.
Titanium is used because it doesn't rust and is generally well accepted by your body.
Hope that helps!
2007-05-04 05:53:27 · answer #2 · answered by RogueLeBeau 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
HELLO,
A JUDGEMENT HAS TO BE MADE AS TO THE WORTH/VALUE OF THIS TOOTH AS TO WHETHER OR NOT ITS WORTH INVESTING IN, IN ORDER TO BE SAVED.
YOU CAN SPEND MONEY TOWARD A ROOT CANAL, A POST, CORE, AND CROWN. MAYBE SOME LOCAL SURGERY IS NEEDED TO PLACE THE CROWN (CROWN-LENGTHENING).
A TOOTH CAN BE RESTORED EVEN IF ITS BROKEN TO THE GUM-LINE, BUT IT WILL REQUIRE AN INVESTMENT.
ANOTHER OPTION IS TO EXTRACT, AND DO A BRIDGE.
2007-05-04 05:46:27 · answer #3 · answered by Dr. Albert, DDS, (USA) 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They do the root canal then a bridge. Mucho big bucks...hope you have dental and call around for good pricing.
2007-05-04 05:17:04 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends on how much solid tooth structure is present.
2007-05-04 05:21:29 · answer #5 · answered by Sam G 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋