Root Canal or not?

About 3 months ago I went to the dentists as an emergency (up until this point I had not been registered with a dentist for a VERY long time) as my tooth had suddenly started breaking down. A hole had developed in the centre of it, and while eating something one day, little pieces of tooth from the edges started breaking off too so I was left with the tooth still there, but with a hole in the middle and lowered edges (compared to the other teeth). The dentist said I could either have a root canal or have the tooth pulled, I opted for a root canal but ended up missing my appt. and have been too busy to make another.


Fast forward to now: I'm sitting here just finished a bowl of cereal for breakfast when I notice, with my tongue, that one corner of said tooth has broken down further, so that the outside ... side of my tooth is now sloping, and has a corner missing.





my question: as the tooth is so broken down now, is it worth going in for a root canal when there is so little to save?

Root Canal or not?
Hi, right now, i have the same problem as you do, with my tooth broken. Im thinking that it would be best just to have it pulled. If there was more to it, yea, save it, but whats the point if not much of the tooth is left. Im going to have mine pulled after the holidays. good luck and i hope you're not in too much pain cause of your tooth. Take care
Reply:The dentist will always opt for you to save the tooth. They will make more money by preforming a root canal and crown then extracting a tooth.





If the tooth in question is a very, very back molar, most likey no one will miss it and it sound not effect your bite on the opposite side too much. If its on another spot your DDS may recommend an dental implant that will cost $3500-$5500 dollars for just one, if you want to extract it.





Quite honestly (without trying to sound too insensitive) if you haven't been to DDS in a long time, and missed an very expensive appointment at your DDS expense, it sounds like you might have a fear of the dentist. This will only cause you more money and more time in the dental chair if you avoid going on a regular basis. Because really your tooth did not "suddenly break down" as you think, it may have been caught early on. Ask your DDS about a drug called Halcion which you can take before your appointment (u cannot drive while on this med) which will really relax you! Or the use of Nitous Oxide, these things can really help :-)