[Leica] Cracked tooth - options?

[rdandcb at home.netspeed.com.au (Rick Dykstra)]

Thanks for outing yerself and providing this info Phil.  Much  
appreciated.

As I'd predicted my dentist voted for extraction this afternoon.  I  
asked about the chances of root work, but he said it'd fail, without  
providing the detail you did.  So I'm booked in for a free initial  
consultation next week with his friend a couple of floors down, a  
specialist in more difficult tooth doctoring it seems.  I'm on  
amoxycillin and ibuprofen in the mean time.

Hmmm?  I could have a nice man drill a titanium stud into my jaw bone  
(with a smile) and be able to eat properly, or, get an M8 and have  
smile all of my own (minus a tooth).  Decisions, decisions.

Thanks Phil.  The LUG comes through again.

All I need now is a kitten suit, some arm dragging lessons and a few  
moments of Kyle's time.  :-)

Rick.

n 01/11/2006, at 2:39 PM, Phil Swango wrote:

> Rick Dykstra wrote:
> A friend at work says that her dentist offered to do a root canal  on
>>> her cracked molar, though she had it extracted at the time (it   
>>> was a
>>> wizzy).  So the question is, is doing a root canal on a  cracked
>>> molar like mine generally an option, or not?  Perhaps my  dentist is
>>> a little conservative. ??
>>>
>
> OK, I'll out myself as a dentist, although more research than  
> clinical.  The
> basic idea here is that if the crack extends into the pulp chamber  
> or the
> root canal(s), then the canals can never be sealed, and a  
> traditional root
> canal filling won't work.  If the crack is superficial or glancing and
> doesn't involve the pulp chamber, a root canal might work, but  
> you'd want to
> put a crown (cap) on the tooth to keep the crack from getting  
> worse.  Even
> then there might be some risk of failure.
>
> Without seeing the actual tooth or xray, I would venture a guess that
> extraction is the only option.  Since the tooth you describe is the  
> first
> molar (3rd from the back), it's a pretty important one from the  
> standpoint
> of chewing, etc.  If it were me I'd go for a replacement either by  
> bridge or
> implant.  Either one will cost you a bundle, so if you were  
> planning on
> ordering that M8, think again ;-).  I have several implants myself  
> and they
> are quite a good solution.  But they are expensive, at least in the  
> USA
> ($3-4000).
>
> And Walt, put down that tube of Superglue because it won't work ;-).
>
> -- 
> Phil Swango
> 307 Aliso Dr SE
> Albuquerque, NM 87108
> 505-262-4085
>
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