[pennye]

I have a lower left molar fracture, its all in tact, I was told the last check-up January, My question is do I have a chance in just getting a crown or is it likely the dentist will say root canal, the plan was just crown but what happens when the dentist removes the 35 yr old silver filling? I am not scare of a crown but I wont ever do a RC not after reading this site daily for a year. I would rather have dentures lol lol. How does a crown fix a fractured tooth? I am getting a tiny bit of pain not deep but also am wearing a mouth guard on the bottom and a few teeth hurt, its tight on the teeth.
Appreciate your time, thank you.

[Bryanna]

Hi pennye,

A crown may be able to support a fractured tooth but it really all depends on where and how large the fracture is in the tooth. The dentist may or may not be able to tell that information from an x-ray. He may have to remove the filling to get a better look at it.

Please make sure that your dentist follows the proper safety protocol when removing that mercury filling. Just drilling into it will cause the mercury to explode into zillions of pieces and it will get lodged in the tissue. Since mercury is toxic in any amount, it is imperative to go to a dentist who routinely performs the proper removal protocol. This includes using a rubber damn to isolate the tooth while it's being drilled on, high powered suction held over the tooth to reduce the off spray of mercury and oxygen via a nasal cannula on the patient. After the filling is removed and while the rubber damn in still in place, the treated area should be rinsed with copious amounts of water while the assistant hovers over the tooth with the high speed suction. All of these things are imperative to limit the exposure to the mercury vapors.

Root canals do not fix a fractured tooth. They do not make the tooth healthy again. So to do a root canal on a fractured tooth is just putting off the inevitable which is removal of the tooth.

Do not wear the night guard if it makes your teeth sore as that can cause irreversible irritation to the pulp and ligament. You need to have it adjusted.

Originally Posted by pennye

I have a lower left molar fracture, its all in tact, I was told the last check-up January, My question is do I have a chance in just getting a crown or is it likely the dentist will say root canal, the plan was just crown but what happens when the dentist removes the 35 yr old silver filling? I am not scare of a crown but I wont ever do a RC not after reading this site daily for a year. I would rather have dentures lol lol. How does a crown fix a fractured tooth? I am getting a tiny bit of pain not deep but also am wearing a mouth guard on the bottom and a few teeth hurt, its tight on the teeth.
Appreciate your time, thank you.

[pennye]

thank you for your quick reply, at what point does a dentist know if the filling is too deep and then he says oh you need a RC? The xray or when he romoves the filling, I am assuming the filling has to come out to do a crown? All a person has to do is see this procedure RC on youtube and forget about it, I will never have a RC. The fracture runs up and down when looking at the outside of the tooth where a crazy line might be. I didn't get the guard from a dentist went straight to a denturist not sure if he will adjust it, he did a mold of bottom teeth and then I went back in an hour and 50.00 later I have a guard. Another question, do missing teeth right after an extraction cause a person to smack there jaw? I don't grind I smack open and shut I am sure I have caused several cracked teeth, and one fracture and the last one was extracted because he wanted to do a RC and I refused. I was told needing 4 crowns. Thankfully I did because the tooth turned out to have several cracks and didn't know if it was in the root or not. It was a premolar. The filling material scares me now that you say so much precaution has to be done, it sounds like asbestos removal.

Originally Posted by Bryanna

Hi pennye,

A crown may be able to support a fractured tooth but it really all depends on where and how large the fracture is in the tooth. The dentist may or may not be able to tell that information from an x-ray. He may have to remove the filling to get a better look at it.

Please make sure that your dentist follows the proper safety protocol when removing that mercury filling. Just drilling into it will cause the mercury to explode into zillions of pieces and it will get lodged in the tissue. Since mercury is toxic in any amount, it is imperative to go to a dentist who routinely performs the proper removal protocol. This includes using a rubber damn to isolate the tooth while it's being drilled on, high powered suction held over the tooth to reduce the off spray of mercury and oxygen via a nasal cannula on the patient. After the filling is removed and while the rubber damn in still in place, the treated area should be rinsed with copious amounts of water while the assistant hovers over the tooth with the high speed suction. All of these things are imperative to limit the exposure to the mercury vapors.

Root canals do not fix a fractured tooth. They do not make the tooth healthy again. So to do a root canal on a fractured tooth is just putting off the inevitable which is removal of the tooth.

Do not wear the night guard if it makes your teeth sore as that can cause irreversible irritation to the pulp and ligament. You need to have it adjusted.

[sickofit]

i have the same problem as you. a new dentist took out an old filling and filled the ENTIRE one side with filling and it was a deep filling (i have a fear of deep fillings and told him this because a dentist deep filled a wisdom down to the nerve and even after i told him that he still went ahead and gave me a deep filling) and he said 'see how that goes'!!! so i changed dentist and he went through every test he could to see why i was getting pain, as it started in one tooth and affected the two next to it so we weren't sure which one it was, we thought it could be either neuralgia or my wisdoms, but i know which tooth it is now and it does appear to be a fracture and am due to have this tooth pulled out, i hope, next week. i thought this new dentist would turn around and say he will give me a root canal but thankfully he agreed that it should come out. hope you get sorted.

[Bryanna]

Hi pennye,

When decay is very deep and has entered the pulp chamber then the options are to have a root canal or an extraction. Sometimes the pulpal exposure is minimum and a medicated filling is placed to see if the tooth rejuvenates itself over the pulp. If it does then the dentist can move forward with a permanent filling or crown. If the tooth becomes symptomatic or infection occurs then a filling or crown is not adequate as the tooth will continue to be a problem.

Sometimes an xray will show that the decay is in or near the pulp, but not always. Other times the dentist can't be sure until he drills the old filling and decay out. Yes, all of the filling material should be removed during the preparation for the crown to be sure that there is no decay hiding underneath the filling.

The fracture line could be a craze line... those are two different things. Fracture is deeper than a craze line.

Most night guards can be adjusted and they need to be as they are not going to fit perfectly until they are adjusted. Impressions of the teeth are only so accurate so when the appliance is put in the mouth it needs to be adjusted to your exact bite. Your night guard should not be too tight or too lose and it should not make any teeth feel sore.

I don't know what you mean by smack your jaw? Please explain that.

Mercury is just as toxic as asbestos if not more. But there is little to worry about about regarding the removal of the mercury filling so long as the dentist follows the proper removal protocol.

Originally Posted by pennye

thank you for your quick reply, at what point does a dentist know if the filling is too deep and then he says oh you need a RC? The xray or when he romoves the filling, I am assuming the filling has to come out to do a crown? All a person has to do is see this procedure RC on youtube and forget about it, I will never have a RC. The fracture runs up and down when looking at the outside of the tooth where a crazy line might be. I didn't get the guard from a dentist went straight to a denturist not sure if he will adjust it, he did a mold of bottom teeth and then I went back in an hour and 50.00 later I have a guard. Another question, do missing teeth right after an extraction cause a person to smack there jaw? I don't grind I smack open and shut I am sure I have caused several cracked teeth, and one fracture and the last one was extracted because he wanted to do a RC and I refused. I was told needing 4 crowns. Thankfully I did because the tooth turned out to have several cracks and didn't know if it was in the root or not. It was a premolar. The filling material scares me now that you say so much precaution has to be done, it sounds like asbestos removal.

[pennye]

Thank you for replying, I looked at his dental plan on this tooth were talking about, his plan was: Onlay.porc ceram 4cerec #19 MODB I was kinda happy to see its not a full crown his price is $809.00 it sounds nuts but my husband caught me doing it and I caught myself, I open my mouth and smack down really quick almost like a contraction, the next day I went to a denturist and had the mouth guard made, so much cheaper, only 50.00 compared to hundreds of dollars. The mouth guard is not a hard plastic but not a really pliable one either I kept it out the last 2 nights and omg pain again, upper jaw above the molars feels like someone punched my cheek bone I run it under hot water and try to stretch it a little bit I have to get this tooth #19 address quickly its starting to hurt but am a little skeptical with my dentist only used him for the extractions and I am now questioning if I like him, he seems a little short when wanting to ask him questions, I only wish I knew what to do, see him again or start fresh with another dentist on all of the crowns he wants he didn't say a word about a RC just said the fillings were huge and old and cracks, he said this particular tooth is fractured hence the new pain a week now. This exam was Feb 12, this year with a cleaning. I have been very very blessed I haven't had to have any work done as an adult 37 yrs only had cleanings and 2 premolar extractions, now looking at crown on 3, onlay on 31, onlay on 14, crown on 15, 2 partials, onlay on 19 and crown on front tooth 8. How the heck can I get my adult brain around the fact that I need dental work and to be able to afford it also to be able to trust these teeth to be good to me and not be told RC once these teeth fillings are dug out.

Originally Posted by Bryanna

Hi pennye,

When decay is very deep and has entered the pulp chamber then the options are to have a root canal or an extraction. Sometimes the pulpal exposure is minimum and a medicated filling is placed to see if the tooth rejuvenates itself over the pulp. If it does then the dentist can move forward with a permanent filling or crown. If the tooth becomes symptomatic or infection occurs then a filling or crown is not adequate as the tooth will continue to be a problem.

Sometimes an xray will show that the decay is in or near the pulp, but not always. Other times the dentist can't be sure until he drills the old filling and decay out. Yes, all of the filling material should be removed during the preparation for the crown to be sure that there is no decay hiding underneath the filling.

The fracture line could be a craze line... those are two different things. Fracture is deeper than a craze line.

Most night guards can be adjusted and they need to be as they are not going to fit perfectly until they are adjusted. Impressions of the teeth are only so accurate so when the appliance is put in the mouth it needs to be adjusted to your exact bite. Your night guard should not be too tight or too lose and it should not make any teeth feel sore.

I don't know what you mean by smack your jaw? Please explain that.

Mercury is just as toxic as asbestos if not more. But there is little to worry about about regarding the removal of the mercury filling so long as the dentist follows the proper removal protocol.

[Bryanna]

Hi pennye,

I am going to repost some of your thread and reply in bold type.

<<<I looked at his dental plan on this tooth were talking about, his plan was: Onlay.porc ceram 4cerec #19 MODB I was kinda happy to see its not a full crown his price is $809.00>>>

THIS ONLAY IS BASICALLY A CROWN. THE ONLY SURFACE THAT IS MISSING IS THE LINGUAL SIDE WHICH IS ON THE TONGUE SIDE. FYI.. OFTEN THESE LARGE ONLAYS TURN INTO FULL COVERAGE CROWNS AFTER THE TOOTH IS PREPARED. THE DENTIST IS TRYING TO BE CONSERVATIVE AND KEEP WHAT HE FEELS IS STRONG ENOUGH TO REMAIN UNCOVERED. THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT APPROACH.

<<<it sounds nuts but my husband caught me doing it and I caught myself, I open my mouth and smack down really quick almost like a contraction>>>

DO YOU DO THIS ON PURPOSE? DO NOT HAVE CONTROL OVER CLOSING YOUR MOUTH?

<<<, the next day I went to a denturist and had the mouth guard made, so much cheaper, only 50.00 compared to hundreds of dollars. The mouth guard is not a hard plastic but not a really pliable one either>>>

IF YOU ARE GOING TO WEAR A NIGHTGUARD IT HAS TO BE SOMETHING THAT FITS YOU VERY WELL OR MORE PROBLEMS WILL ARISE. SO THE FEE OF $50 MAKES ME THINK THAT IT'S NOT A REAL GOOD ONE. THE MATERIAL THAT NIGHTGUARDS ARE MADE OUT OF SHOULD BE RIGID AND NOT FLEXIBLE.

<<< I kept it out the last 2 nights and omg pain again, upper jaw above the molars feels like someone punched my cheek bone>>>

YOU ARE OBVIOUSLY CLENCHING OR GRINDING YOUR TEETH IN YOUR SLEEP.

<< I run it under hot water and try to stretch it a little bit>>>

WHAT, THE NIGHTGUARD OR YOUR FACE?

<<< I have to get this tooth #19 address quickly its starting to hurt but am a little skeptical with my dentist only used him for the extractions and I am now questioning if I like him, he seems a little short when wanting to ask him questions, I only wish I knew what to do, see him again or start fresh with another dentist on all of the crowns he wants he didn't say a word about a RC just said the fillings were huge and old and cracks, he said this particular tooth is fractured hence the new pain a week now.>>>

YES, #19 NEEDS TO BE DONE SOONER THAN LATER.

<<< This exam was Feb 12, this year with a cleaning. I have been very very blessed I haven't had to have any work done as an adult 37 yrs only had cleanings and 2 premolar extractions,>>>

WERE YOU UNDER THE CARE OF THE SAME DENTIST MOST OF OF YOUR LIFE? WAS DENTAL WORK SUGGESTED TO YOU ON SOME OF THESE TEETH AT DIFFERENT TIMES BUT YOU PUT IT OFF?

<<<now looking at crown on 3, onlay on 31, onlay on 14, crown on 15, 2 partials, onlay on 19 and crown on front tooth 8. >>>

TWO PARTIALS.... THIS INDICATES THAT YOU HAVE MISSING TEETH ON BOTH ARCHES. ARE YOU CONGENITALLY MISSING TEETH? CROWN ON TOOTH #8 ... IS THIS A ROOT CANALED TOOTH?

<<< How the heck can I get my adult brain around the fact that I need dental work and to be able to afford it also to be able to trust these teeth to be good to me and not be told RC once these teeth fillings are dug out.>>>

THERE ARE NO GUARANTEES THAT YOUR TEETH ARE PRESENTLY HEALTHY OR WILL REMAIN HEALTHY AFTER THE DENTAL WORK. YOU NEED TO HAVE TRUST IN YOUR DENTIST. YOU NEED TO FEEL THAT YOU CAN ASK HIM QUESTIONS FREELY WITHOUT HIM GETTING ANNOYED OR PUT OFF.

YOU NEED TO DECIDE WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT AND MOST COMFORTABLE TO YOU. SOME OF THOSE THINGS CAN BE.....

1) GO ALONG WITH WHATEVER YOUR DENTISTS DECIDES TO DO. KEEP YOUR TEETH NO MATTER WHAT WHICH MEANS YOU ARE OKAY WITH HAVING ROOT CANALS. NOT BE TOO CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE REMOVAL OF MERCURY FILLINGS OR THE TOXICITY OF THE OTHER MATERIALS THAT THE DENTIST USES.

2) YOUR OVERALL HEALTH IS THE MOST IMPORTANT TO YOU WHICH MEANS YOU WOULD CONSIDER EXTRACTION OVER HAVING ROOT CANALS. YOU WANT YOUR DENTIST TO FOLLOW THE PROPER MERCURY REMOVAL PROTOCOL AND WANT TO FEEL CONFIDENT THAT HE HAS YOUR BEST AND HEALTHIEST INTEREST IN MIND.

Everyone is different. Only you can decide what is most important to you and then find someone who agrees with you or is open minded to what is important to you.

[pennye]

Originally Posted by Bryanna

Hi pennye,

I am going to repost some of your thread and reply in bold type.

<<<I looked at his dental plan on this tooth were talking about, his plan was: Onlay.porc ceram 4cerec #19 MODB I was kinda happy to see its not a full crown his price is $809.00>>>

THIS ONLAY IS BASICALLY A CROWN. THE ONLY SURFACE THAT IS MISSING IS THE LINGUAL SIDE WHICH IS ON THE TONGUE SIDE. FYI.. OFTEN THESE LARGE ONLAYS TURN INTO FULL COVERAGE CROWNS AFTER THE TOOTH IS PREPARED. THE DENTIST IS TRYING TO BE CONSERVATIVE AND KEEP WHAT HE FEELS IS STRONG ENOUGH TO REMAIN UNCOVERED. THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT APPROACH.

<<<it sounds nuts but my husband caught me doing it and I caught myself, I open my mouth and smack down really quick almost like a contraction>>>

DO YOU DO THIS ON PURPOSE? DO NOT HAVE CONTROL OVER CLOSING YOUR MOUTH?

<<<, the next day I went to a denturist and had the mouth guard made, so much cheaper, only 50.00 compared to hundreds of dollars. The mouth guard is not a hard plastic but not a really pliable one either>>>

IF YOU ARE GOING TO WEAR A NIGHTGUARD IT HAS TO BE SOMETHING THAT FITS YOU VERY WELL OR MORE PROBLEMS WILL ARISE. SO THE FEE OF $50 MAKES ME THINK THAT IT'S NOT A REAL GOOD ONE. THE MATERIAL THAT NIGHTGUARDS ARE MADE OUT OF SHOULD BE RIGID AND NOT FLEXIBLE.

<<< I kept it out the last 2 nights and omg pain again, upper jaw above the molars feels like someone punched my cheek bone>>>

YOU ARE OBVIOUSLY CLENCHING OR GRINDING YOUR TEETH IN YOUR SLEEP.
My smacking of the jaw is uncontrollable in my sleep, I caught it while I was starting to fall asleep a nap and felt what I was doing it was really fast like chomping down really quick, not grinding the mouth went back to position on its own it either started a year ago after the first extraction or prior to a year ago with no teeth problems but I had no symptoms I took the guard out to see if the familiar pain would come back and it definitely did it takes 2 days to calm back down after wearing the guard again, the guard is a hard not flexible but not acrylic hard

<< I run it under hot water and try to stretch it a little bit>>>

WHAT, THE NIGHTGUARD OR YOUR FACE?
I tried to warm up the guard and stretch it on the one tooth that hurts in the morning.

<<< I have to get this tooth #19 address quickly its starting to hurt but am a little skeptical with my dentist only used him for the extractions and I am now questioning if I like him, he seems a little short when wanting to ask him questions, I only wish I knew what to do, see him again or start fresh with another dentist on all of the crowns he wants he didn't say a word about a RC just said the fillings were huge and old and cracks, he said this particular tooth is fractured hence the new pain a week now.>>>

YES, #19 NEEDS TO BE DONE SOONER THAN LATER.

<<< This exam was Feb 12, this year with a cleaning. I have been very very blessed I haven't had to have any work done as an adult 37 yrs only had cleanings and 2 premolar extractions,>>>

WERE YOU UNDER THE CARE OF THE SAME DENTIST MOST OF OF YOUR LIFE? WAS DENTAL WORK SUGGESTED TO YOU ON SOME OF THESE TEETH AT DIFFERENT TIMES BUT YOU PUT IT OFF?
The last I had to use this dentist was in 1994, (This year twice for two premolar teeth removals because I refused RC) I had the furthest back molar break and he put what looks like a silver cover over it but not a crown, the balance of the tooth was sanded down and covered up.
I went to get cleanings where I could get it cheap didn't have a regular dentist needing to do any work clean bill of health after cleanings, mind you was not regular cleanings once I went 3 yrs. without a cleaning but did floss and brush during this time didn't know just how imperative cleanings were have been the last 5 years once a year and with the exams no work was ever suggested.
<<<now looking at crown on 3, onlay on 31, onlay on 14, crown on 15, 2 partials, onlay on 19 and crown on front tooth 8. >>>

TWO PARTIALS.... THIS INDICATES THAT YOU HAVE MISSING TEETH ON BOTH ARCHES. ARE YOU CONGENITALLY MISSING TEETH? CROWN ON TOOTH #8 ... IS THIS A ROOT CANALED TOOTH?
Yes, this front tooth has a RC that was done in 1986 no crown he wants to crown this front tooth and it is discolored but omg front tooth down to a stub I cant even handle the thought of doing this tooth I don't chew near this tooth ever, only soft soft food goes near this front tooth I know it is fragile.
<<< How the heck can I get my adult brain around the fact that I need dental work and to be able to afford it also to be able to trust these teeth to be good to me and not be told RC once these teeth fillings are dug out.>>>

THERE ARE NO GUARANTEES THAT YOUR TEETH ARE PRESENTLY HEALTHY OR WILL REMAIN HEALTHY AFTER THE DENTAL WORK. YOU NEED TO HAVE TRUST IN YOUR DENTIST. YOU NEED TO FEEL THAT YOU CAN ASK HIM QUESTIONS FREELY WITHOUT HIM GETTING ANNOYED OR PUT OFF.

YOU NEED TO DECIDE WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT AND MOST COMFORTABLE TO YOU. SOME OF THOSE THINGS CAN BE.....

1) GO ALONG WITH WHATEVER YOUR DENTISTS DECIDES TO DO. KEEP YOUR TEETH NO MATTER WHAT WHICH MEANS YOU ARE OKAY WITH HAVING ROOT CANALS. NOT BE TOO CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE REMOVAL OF MERCURY FILLINGS OR THE TOXICITY OF THE OTHER MATERIALS THAT THE DENTIST USES.

2) YOUR OVERALL HEALTH IS THE MOST IMPORTANT TO YOU WHICH MEANS YOU WOULD CONSIDER EXTRACTION OVER HAVING ROOT CANALS. YOU WANT YOUR DENTIST TO FOLLOW THE PROPER MERCURY REMOVAL PROTOCOL AND WANT TO FEEL CONFIDENT THAT HE HAS YOUR BEST AND HEALTHIEST INTEREST IN MIND.

Everyone is different. Only you can decide what is most important to you and then find someone who agrees with you or is open minded to what is important to you.

Thanks Bryanna I am falling into a deep depression over this I am scared to death and I am broke, I am thinking about selling my car and getting the work started I am scared my teeth are going to all break I lost massive weight I don't want them to break so I don't eat my usual amount of calories just enough to survive. I had a eating disorder when I was younger, the old habits are starting to come back but for different reasons, this time I don't want to eat because I don't want to break my teeth even a piece of French bread and the tooth can break. I don't want RC teeth, which is basically losing your teeth if you don't get one.