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Question:
I had a problem with my teeth several years ago...the gums did not cover the back of the tooth on top in the back on each side, and those two teeth began to rot.
They were rebuilt using silver fillings. One is intact, half of one came out. The tooth does NOT hurt and does not bother me.
However, my dentist insists that I need a root canal and refuses to fill OR pull the tooth. Now, my gums on the outside next to that tooth are beginning to hurt.
Should I see a new dentist? Insist on having it filled? Insist on having it pulled? .... Visitor from MD
Answer:
Getting a 2nd opinion might be a sensible way to discover more options of treating the tooth.
Molar teeth however take a beating... compared to all other teeth. When molar teeth begin to have deep
fillings or "too much" filling, the risk for failure increases rapidly.
Getting a root canal on a molar can be questionable, depending on the overall health of the remaining tooth structure.
Obtaining a root canal with a new crown... which is costly treatment...that soon fails requires a complete retreatment with a brand new crown. The old crown in most cases cannot be used.
Remember, pain is never a reliable indicator of anything.
Ara Nazarian, D.D.S.
Michigan Reconstructive Implant Dentistry
1857 East Big Beaver Road
Troy, Michigan MI 48083
(248) 457-0500
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