Re: Difficult Root Canal versus Extraction (Back Molar)


"VoidBox" <falseaddress@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:d3miun$390$1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Hi again.
>
> I posted here about a week or two ago with a pain in my lower back molar.
> Some of you (Joel, StovePipe, Steven and, I believe I recall - though is
> post is not on Google - W_B) correctly diagnosed this as needing root
canal
> treatment. However, I now have a follow-on dilemma for which any advice
> would be very much appreciated.
>
> (Original post, but you probably don't need to read it:
>
>
http://groups.google.co.uk/groups?hl=en&lr=&threadm=d2qqts%24fqb%241%40newsg
3.svr.pol.co.uk&rnum=2&prev=/groups%3Fq%3Dvoidbox%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26selm%3
Dd2qqts%2524fqb%25241%2540newsg3.svr.pol.co.uk%26rnum%3D2 )
>
> When I saw my dentist he took some x-rays and confirmed that the tooth
> probably needed root canal treatment. He then referred me to a specialist.
I
> had the initial consultation today.
>
> The endodontist inspected the x-rays, had a close look and advised me that
> the tooth would be problematic to treat. The decay had started at the back
> (where the wisdom tooth was impacting and as such it would be difficult to
> ensure that the tooth was sealed). It would also be relatively difficult
to
> operate on. He said that the probability of success was probably about
80%.
> He also thought that it might need an amalgam filling as it would need to
be
> strong (although he did mention the possibility of crowning it). The other
> option worth considering, he said, would be extraction (as my other teeth
> are in reasonably good condition he thought this wouldn't impair me too
> much).
>
> I now need to make a decision as to what to do. I'll go back to consult
with
> my regular dentist as well, but ultimately I've got to make the choice.
I've
> tried to write down what I think are the advantages are of each approach.
> It'd be a great help if anyone here can tell me which of these I should
> really worry about and which are mistaken or trivial. Also, is there
> anything I've missed? I've kept cost out of it: the root canal will cost
> more, but I'm prepared to pay to do what's best for my health in the long
> run.
>
> REASONS FOR ROOT CANAL
> - extraction is final (can try root canal then extraction but not vice
> versa)
> - extraction would probably require me to take some time off work to
recover
> - extraction risks dry socket complications
> - extraction might result in other teeth (particularly top teeth)
> repositioning adversely
> - uncertainty over long-term viability of other back molar (tooth suffered
> similar decay - x-rays show no immediate need for root canal, but decay is
> quite deep).
>
> REASONS FOR EXTRACTION
> - root canal is uncomfortable surgery (not too worried about pain, but
> keeping mouth open for so long may be a struggle)
> - root canal might require an amalgam filing to be successful
> - root canal would require several x-rays
> - if the tooth will likely have to be extracted sometime maybe it's better
> to do it when I'm younger (I'm in my early thirties)
>
> TIA,
>
> Sam
>
>

If its a second molar with nothing behind it, you may not miss it much.
If its the first molar and will leave a gap, then it is more essential to
save it.

If it were my tooth I'd go for it and chalk it up to experience if it fails.

Joel



.

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