my dentist says I need a root canal and a crown; after insurance its going to be $800 should I just pull it?

Question

it is the #19 tooth lower back left. #20 is already gone.

Answer 1

Tooth #19 is a major tooth in the chewing process. It's the largest tooth in your lower arch. It meets the largets tooth in the upper arch when you bite together and chew (#14). If you have the finances, i would recommend saving the tooth as opposed to pulling it. You are only given 1 set of permanent teeth. Once they are gone, they're gone forever. When performed properly, root canal therapy is nearly painless. Your tooth may be sore for a day or two afterwards, but it is a small price to pay for keeping such a vital tooth. Furthermore, a good crown is a fantastic restoration. If you take good care of it (brushing, flossing, and regular cleanings) it can provide years and years of service.

Answer 2

I have a crown on a tooth that had a root canal done on it when i was 13 , I am now ummmm 43,,,,, same crown that was put on then. Its worth the price to save your teeth. Onve you remove one you start to have other issues , you will end up paying more down the road for other work, a bridge , implants, reparing the teeth that move because they now dont have support . and in your case you already have one missing on that side. Best to keep what you have. its healthier . Root canals arent as bad as people think, just make sure you have a dentist that is good, and is good at pain managment. And one that has a good payment plan.

Answer 3

I'm stunned to see an "RN" suggesting pulling teeth as a good option!

Besides the shifting teeth and problems with dentures already mentioned, there are consequences to missing teeth. Your mouth was meant to function with all teeth present. If you're already missing #20 and then #19 goes, you will have a huge gap on the lower left. That means you will do most of the work of chewing on the right and those teeth can be compromised over time. Most people these days keep their teeth for their entire lives. We live longer, and stay far more active than generations past.

An investment of $800 now will save you time and misery over the rest of your life.

And for "RN", if you've had problems with your crowns, you need to find a new dentist.

Answer 4

It is always best to save the teeth that you have versus pulling them... When teeth are pulled, it leaves a space. (obviously), and the teeth on either side of the space and directly opposite, can shift around causing even more problems. This shifting doesn't occur overnight, but is more a gradual problem. You can end up loosing even more teeth because of this. Also, it's more expensive to replace a missing tooth in most cases rather than fixing the one you have. In my opinion, you should definitely have the root canal, build-up, and crown done. I know it's expensive, but later down the road you will thank yourself...

Answer 5

This is a very good question. Finance versus health. By the time you reach 80 years old you may have no teeth left anyway. Teeth are a real problem at times. You have nothing but trouble with them if you neglect them but they can caost you a fortune to service them regularly. The question you need to ask yourself is, "how much do I enjoy eating a steak?"
Can't do it without teeth, and false teeth are'nt real good with other things like nuts and hard fruits and vegetables like apples and carrots. In Sweeden you can get a set of stainless steel teeth and lower jaw inserted which will never need replacing or servicing. All teeth should be like that.
Pay the dollars and look and feel good. Or don't and be richer.

Answer 6

Id get the crown actually that is a resonable cost for one these days, ask for an FCC(Full cast crown, all metal) instead of a PFM(Porcelain fused to metal)! It may me cheaper and since it's in the back of your mouth who cares how it looks! Trust me when your older you will be thankful, you'll be less likely for gum and bone loss with getting a crown, and know that the average life of a crown is 13-20 years before it usually has to be replaced. So dont worry bout that angle! Good luck

Answer 7

I have a patient that did just that, pulled teeth instead of investing in himself to save the them. He came into our practice after having all molars in the lower jaw removed, except for the wisdom teeth. He tells us that he probably lost close to 20 pounds and now he's got to pay over $3200 to pay for a bridge to fill in ONE SIDE of his mouth.
If I were you and had the option, I'dsave the tooth. You'll be happy that you did when you're eating a big, fat steak.

Answer 8

If you pull it, you will lose some support for the bone and muscle in your jaw. As you grow older, you will be subject to collapse in that area, and it will probably cost you more then to add support to your mouth. I've had 6 crowns put in, all to maintain the healthy space and support in my mouth (and my vanity - I like my smile). Your own teeth, with some assistance from the crown, is healthier in the long run. Prosthadontics (dentures) are expensive, and they don't last forever.

Answer 9

In my life I have had ten root canals and crowns, and now all of the crowns have cracked or broken, the last crown I had put on was a gold one and the pain was so horrible that I swore, I will never have another root canal as long as I live, I will have the bad tooth pulled. Your choice, I think the cost is ridiculous and you cannot rely on the crowns for the long term.

Answer 10

YOU WILL NEVER REGRET INVESTING IN YOUR OWN HEALTH. HEALTH IN THE BODY BEGINS WITH A HEALTHY MOUTH.
AS EMMALUE WROTE, THE MISSING TEETH WOULD CAUSE THE OPPOSITE SIDE TO TAKE THE BULK OF THE CHEWING.
THERE ARE OTHER FACTORS THAT COME INTO PLAY WHEN TEETH ARE EXTRACTED.
IN YEARS FUTURE, IF YOU SAVE THIS TOOTH YOU WILL REALIZE IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.