[ED1968]

This is my first time ever to go about to experience an extraction, but before i go on with this, trying to find alternatives...and root canals i read aren't good for your health in the long run.will cause complications and also expensive and my insurance wont cover it.....so i was thinking maybe having the tooth being filled or a crown...idk what to do..... im concerned reading so many horror stories regarding about dry pockets etc,....my last molar # 16 upper left....cracked a couple of days ago....according to my first dentist is was decaying so it had to come out....i wanted a second opinion...so i went to a closer dentist to me....he looked at it said the same....but didnt have to now....so i waited...low and behold was eating potato chips the other day and i felt tiny pieces of my tooth in my mouth that molar cracked...with the potatoes chips i tried looking for the piece i couldn't find it maybe i swallowed it....so...i spoke to a holistic dentist as an emergency on the phone that night it broke, and she told me i should take it out....now next day i go to my near by dentist that i had switched from my first dentist because of distance and not doing all the work in one visit....he looked at it....and said it needs to come out there is a big hole....but it doesnt hurt....now my first dentist which is in the hospital has my original x-rays....before i left there i asked for copies and he printed the out for me.....i gave those copies to the closer dentist....he couldn't tell much with them....but it helped....but yesterday he took and x-ray of the broken molar.....so im suppose to go tomorrow to get a referral for a oral surgeon....not sure if im doing the right thing going to this dentist but i think the first may have had a better understanding....but im putting it off a few days to decide what im gonna do....with options......i need suggestions...and help...im scared for many things....like pain infection etc etc.....

[ginnie]

[If the tooth that cracked needs a RC, I definately would not do that. This is a proceedure that for the most part doesn't work. It allows you to "retain" the tooth for an unspecified period of time. In my own situation, I had the infected teeth out, rather than keeping an infected, dead tooth. Don't be afraid, there can be devices made that will restore your bite. Cheaper than the RC, thats for sure, and a lot safer for your overall health. Bryanna is tops about dentistry. Keep reading the posts on the dental forums about this. I wish you all the best. ginnie

[ED1968]

Thanks Ginnie, yes i will keep reading....any way here is the x-ray of my actual tooth before it cracked and the part more or less circled where it cracked that i got from the hospital...i wanted the actual x-rays or digitally but they gave me copies of them from their computer...though i looked closely i wonder if they could just fill it with something....

[ginnie]

Bryanna is best at reading the films. If you have this cracked tooth and it is infected, then consider not having the RC. That is really the issue. To retain bad tooth or not. Believe me I was terrible upset to loose two of mine. I cried over it in fact. I just didn't want RC proceedure as it isn't really good for my over all health condiditons. I have some auto immune problems. Ask Bryanna to take a peek, I am sure she will. I know all this dental stuff can be very upsetting, not to mention painful. What ever you choose, I hope it turns out OK for you. Talk to your dentist, and bring him your concerns and the knowledge you now have. For the most part a good dentist will listen and respond. Take care, ginnie

[Bryanna]

Hi Ed,

I am in the dental field and can try to help you here. Thanks for posting the xray If this xray is tooth #16 then you are missing a molar up there. Is that correct? Or is an xray of tooth #15??

Let me just say that if it is #16, then it is not wise to wait on having this tooth removed because it's obviously been decaying for awhile and tooth decay is actually infection. So the decay is going to continue to get deeper into the tooth and more pieces are going to break off. Irrelevant of whether you have symptoms or not, it is not healthy to hang on to an infected tooth for too long. You would need to see an oral surgeon for that extraction.

Also, the decay in this tooth could very well be into or near the pulp chamber which is where the main nerves branch out of. A root canal will not cure the problem as you said....it will only make things more complicated. You cannot fill or crown any tooth that has decay in or near the pulp.

I know you are scared.... but it really is more scary to hang onto an unhealthy tooth because the complications that can arise from that are not pleasant. Oral surgeons remove upper wisdom teeth very quickly and usually effortlessly. Dry sockets occur more so on lower teeth than upper teeth due to gravity which allows blood to flow more easily in the upper arch. Don't let the what ifs prevent you from getting this taken care of...

If you have any more questions... please ask!
Bryanna

Originally Posted by ED1968

This is my first time ever to go about to experience an extraction, but before i go on with this, trying to find alternatives...and root canals i read aren't good for your health in the long run.will cause complications and also expensive and my insurance wont cover it.....so i was thinking maybe having the tooth being filled or a crown...idk what to do..... im concerned reading so many horror stories regarding about dry pockets etc,....my last molar # 16 upper left....cracked a couple of days ago....according to my first dentist is was decaying so it had to come out....i wanted a second opinion...so i went to a closer dentist to me....he looked at it said the same....but didnt have to now....so i waited...low and behold was eating potato chips the other day and i felt tiny pieces of my tooth in my mouth that molar cracked...with the potatoes chips i tried looking for the piece i couldn't find it maybe i swallowed it....so...i spoke to a holistic dentist as an emergency on the phone that night it broke, and she told me i should take it out....now next day i go to my near by dentist that i had switched from my first dentist because of distance and not doing all the work in one visit....he looked at it....and said it needs to come out there is a big hole....but it doesnt hurt....now my first dentist which is in the hospital has my original x-rays....before i left there i asked for copies and he printed the out for me.....i gave those copies to the closer dentist....he couldn't tell much with them....but it helped....but yesterday he took and x-ray of the broken molar.....so im suppose to go tomorrow to get a referral for a oral surgeon....not sure if im doing the right thing going to this dentist but i think the first may have had a better understanding....but im putting it off a few days to decide what im gonna do....with options......i need suggestions...and help...im scared for many things....like pain infection etc etc.....

[ED1968]

Hello Bryanna, thanks for your reply and advise... yes i think the x-rays them selves seem a bit confusing number wise but i think i figured it out how they did it... but your right there should of been one more you know more what they look like.......as i count my teeth on my left side...starting from the front tooth its the 8 tooth or molar which i believe is # 16 that has cracked...i posted up two more of my x-ray pages...one is missing i gotta get that one back from the new dentist which i left it with him and forgot to scan that one in a rush for the appointment that day...but it should be the 14-17 slide...with the molar that sticks out from the back....i put one of that slide by itself and circled the part cracked

[Bryanna]

Hi Ed,

Okay, these new xrays show the whole story. I know you are nervous about this situation and there is no question that tooth needs to come out. However, you also have other dental problems. Are you aware of them?

Yes, it is #16 that broke. That tooth has several areas of deep decay. It is also supra erupted which means it has dropped down from it's original place in the bone. It most likely has deep pocketing also. This is a very unhealthy tooth. So the sooner you get it removed, the better.

It is also apparent that you have areas of decay in other teeth and some generalized bone loss. I assume you are not having regular dental care? After you have this tooth removed, it would be recommended that you see a dentist to take care of those other cavities before they become too deep.

Also, to prevent cavities in between the teeth (this where your other ones are) you should floss every day to remove the food debris. Flossing can prevent cavities 100%!

I know you are scared, but I'm pretty certain that this tooth will come out easily for the oral surgeon. However, he needs to take another xray prior to extracting it because the xray that you have here is called a bitewing and it does not show the roots or the sinus area.

Keep us posted on how you're doing
Bryanna

Originally Posted by ED1968

Hello Bryanna, thanks for your reply and advise... yes i think the x-rays them selves seem a bit confusing number wise but i think i figured it out how they did it... but your right there should of been one more you know more what they look like.......as i count my teeth on my left side...starting from the front tooth its the 8 tooth or molar which i believe is # 16 that has cracked...i posted up two more of my x-ray pages...one is missing i gotta get that one back from the new dentist which i left it with him and forgot to scan that one in a rush for the appointment that day...but it should be the 14-17 slide...with the molar that sticks out from the back....i put one of that slide by itself and circled the part cracked

[ED1968]

Hi, Bryanna,...Yes its been over 10 years i haven't been to the dentist until recently i decided to get a cleaning then i got the bad news from the dentist about the tooth haven to be pulled out before it broke...i do have gingivitus problems...always have though my dentist ten years ago did a big job in cleaning my gums and was very effective....but with my recent cleaning at the hospital which was short because the dentist said it was too much to do in one day and that i bled too much..its one thing i didn't like at the hospital because they kept giving me dates to flow up in there schedule like weeks apart even with in a month but i do know they have so many people to treat but i needed help right away...thats why i got a bit upset at that so i decided to go to another dentist much closer at that....i do floss and flossed allot especially on that broken tooth before it broke...because allot food would get stuck in there..........sometimes my teeth bleed, sometimes they wouldn't when flossing or brushing...i do however have it under control with supplements....like ubiquinol, and vitamin D....but my gums are swollen on the front....i wanted to do some "oil pulling therapy on my gums i was reading about that, seems very good for problems like this....but what i was worried about taking x-rays again with another dentist due to radiation exposure and so soon as well.....its been three months since the x-rays....and now few days ago with the one broken tooth he took of only that tooth....so i was worried about that also....to wait...though it would be nice to get some x-rays again to look at of my teeth in a full spectrum x-rays nasal cavity as you mentioned....and in digital format....

[Bryanna]

Hi Ed,

I am going to copy some of your post and answer in bold type.

<<<i do have gingivitus problems...always have though my dentist ten years ago did a big job in cleaning my gums and was very effective....but with my recent cleaning at the hospital which was short because the dentist said it was too much to do in one day and that i bled too much.>>>

WHEN A DEEP CLEANING IS DONE, IT IS IMPERATIVE TO HAVE EXCELLENT ORAL HYGIENE AFTERWARDS. IF YOU SLACK OFF FOR JUST A FEW DAYS, THE GINGIVITIS WILL BE BACK AND IT PROGRESSES TO PERIODONTAL DISEASE RATHER QUICKLY IF THE HYGIENE DOES NOT IMPROVE.

<<<i do floss and flossed allot especially on that broken tooth before it broke...because allot food would get stuck in there..........sometimes my teeth bleed, sometimes they wouldn't when flossing or brushing...i do however have it under control with supplements....like ubiquinol, and vitamin D....but my gums are swollen on the front.>>>

IF YOUR GUM DISEASE WAS UNDER CONTROL, YOU WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN BLEEDING DURING THE SCALING APPOINTMENT AND YOUR GUMS WOULD NOT BE SWOLLEN. NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS CAN BE VERY THERAPEUTIC FOR THE HEALTH OF THE GUMS BUT ONLY AFTER THE HARDENED CALCULUS HAS BEEN REMOVED. THE CALCULUS IS VERY IRRITATING TO THE TISSUE AND CAUSES THE GUMS TO SWELL AND PULL AWAY FROM THE TOOTH. THE ACCUMULATION OF PLAQUE IS WHAT BECOMES THE HARDENED CALCULUS. THE COMBINATION OF THE TWO CAUSES A BACTERIAL INFECTION. THE MOST HELPFUL SUPPLEMENT FOR THE HEALTH OF THE GUMS IS VITAMIN C. BUT AGAIN THE IRRITANTS NEED TO BE REMOVED IN ORDER FOR THE SUPPLEMENTS TO BE TRULY EFFECTIVE.

<<<i wanted to do some "oil pulling therapy on my gums i was reading about that, seems very good for problems like this....>>>

OIL PULLING IS ACTUALLY AN ANCIENT AYURVEDIC METHOD AND CAN BE VERY THERAPEUTIC. BUT AGAIN, THE IRRITANTS NEED TO BE REMOVED FIRST AND THE PLAQUE NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT UNDER CONTROL ON A CONTINUAL BASIS.

<<<but what i was worried about taking x-rays again with another dentist due to radiation exposure and so soon as well.....its been three months since the x-rays....and now few days ago with the one broken tooth he took of only that tooth....so i was worried about that also....to wait...though it would be nice to get some x-rays again to look at of my teeth in a full spectrum x-rays nasal cavity as you mentioned....and in digital format....>>>

DENTAL XRAYS HAVE VERY LIMITED RADIATION. YOU WOULD HAVE TO HAVE MANY HUNDREDS OF THEM WITHIN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME TO WARRANT ANY CONCERN. UNLESS YOU HAVE UNDERGONE SPECIFIC RADIATION THERAPY FOR SOMETHING ELSE OR HAVE HAD MANY BODY SCANS WITHIN THE LAST FEW YEARS, THERE IS NO NEED TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE RADIATION EXPOSURE YOU HAVE HAD TO THESE FEW XRAYS. A PANORAMIC RADIOGRAPH WOULD BE ACTUALLY BE BENEFICIAL BECAUSE IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY YOU HAVE IMPACTED WISDOM TEETH WHICH CAN ONLY BE SEEN ON A PANORAMIC FILM.

I hope this information has been helpful to you.

Bryanna

Originally Posted by ED1968

Hi, Bryanna,...Yes its been over 10 years i haven't been to the dentist until recently i decided to get a cleaning then i got the bad news from the dentist about the tooth haven to be pulled out before it broke...i do have gingivitus problems...always have though my dentist ten years ago did a big job in cleaning my gums and was very effective....but with my recent cleaning at the hospital which was short because the dentist said it was too much to do in one day and that i bled too much..its one thing i didn't like at the hospital because they kept giving me dates to flow up in there schedule like weeks apart even with in a month but i do know they have so many people to treat but i needed help right away...thats why i got a bit upset at that so i decided to go to another dentist much closer at that....i do floss and flossed allot especially on that broken tooth before it broke...because allot food would get stuck in there..........sometimes my teeth bleed, sometimes they wouldn't when flossing or brushing...i do however have it under control with supplements....like ubiquinol, and vitamin D....but my gums are swollen on the front....i wanted to do some "oil pulling therapy on my gums i was reading about that, seems very good for problems like this....but what i was worried about taking x-rays again with another dentist due to radiation exposure and so soon as well.....its been three months since the x-rays....and now few days ago with the one broken tooth he took of only that tooth....so i was worried about that also....to wait...though it would be nice to get some x-rays again to look at of my teeth in a full spectrum x-rays nasal cavity as you mentioned....and in digital format....

[ED1968]

Hi, Bryanna wow.....just saw a pic of one and i never knew they take x-rays like that, and looks interesting and more detailed i think i will look for another dentist that take panoramic radiographs....

This Friday on the 5th.. i went to my dentist for a referral for a surgeon for the extraction for the very next day early morning which was yesterday...i didn't go because i needed to go to the ER for some blood work and i was there all night waiting....i was tired to go the next day to go so early...plus i'm still bit afraid and still think i could save the tooth somehow maybe...if not then i guess i might have to...

yes all your info has been very informative and helpful......and thanks for breaking down what i wrote to explain.....now i found a dentist that does take those x-rays...will call tomorrow for an appointment...

-ED