Toothaches

[Baz]

My dentist told me 2 checkup/cleanings ago I had a cracked tooth that was irreparable and needs to be pulled.

It's the 2nd pre-molar upper right side.

He also gave me an estimate on an implant - over $4K!

My oldest brother had the same tooth pulled and didn't do anything. I don't want to look like a meth head with teeth missing but I think it's far enough back it wouldn't make a difference.

Getting back to the cracked tooth.....yesterday it started hurting a little. It also feels a little loose. I called my dentist and booked an appointment for the extraction (May 25) and the front desk gal said she would get me in earlier because they always have cancellations. She also called in an antibiotic script which I picked up yesterday afternoon, along with some 20% benzocaine toothache medication...both of which has helped with the pain - essentially removing all pain (thank God!).

I found a YT vid by a dentist who has a 3-3-3 plan. 3 Advils - 3 times a day - for 3 days - to eliminate toothache pain. So I'm doing that too.

Anyway - wondering if anyone else has run into anything like this.

I've always had pretty decent teeth but now in my 60's it's just one more thing that seems to be experiencing shelf life issues.

[stevej37]

Your dentist is probably looking at how you can grind food up with that molar missing.
If it's difficult..your digestion will be affected.

[Scott Douglas]

I'm missing the first pre-molar upper right side Baz.
Been gone a number of years now. I think it caused me to have chronic sinus infections before being removed because it broke. Haven't missed it except when chewing a bad steak. They predicted my other teeth would start to move with it missing but they haven't. It doesn't show when I smile either so there is that too.
Personally I wouldn't do that 3-3-3 plan, but I've had a lot of tooth pain in my day what with having had braces as long as I did as a kid. My eye teeth were horizontal at one point in my life. Thanks for the braces Dad!

[Mark Howard]

Had the same issue, same tooth, recently. Dentist crowned it, worked for a bit but started hurting again. Had a root canal through the crown then the root canal hole filled. For both cost me about $2k but saved the tooth and now I have no pain. Root canal wasn’t bad at all and pain relief was immediate.

[rfuerst911sc]

Pffffft ......, 5 minute epoxy and good to go . This is after all a DIY forum ! 😁

[Baz]

Originally Posted by stevej37

Your dentist is probably looking at how you can grind food up with that molar missing.
If it's difficult..your digestion will be affected.

It's a pre-molar. The 2nd one. There are 2 of them side by side. Then come the molars. 2 of those also side by side.

I'm not sure it will affect my eating all that much. I think the aesthetics will be the main concern.

[Baz]

Originally Posted by Mark Howard

Had the same issue, same tooth, recently. Dentist crowned it, worked for a bit but started hurting again. Had a root canal through the crown then the root canal hole filled. For both cost me about $2k but saved the tooth and now I have no pain. Root canal wasn’t bad at all and pain relief was immediate.

Interesting! Thanks for the info, Mark. I will ask about doing something like that. Would love to save the tooth, if possible.

[Baz]

Originally Posted by rfuerst911sc

Pffffft ......, 5 minute epoxy and good to go . This is after all a DIY forum ! 😁

LOL....don't think I'm not tempted, buddy!

[Baz]

Originally Posted by Scott Douglas

I'm missing the first pre-molar upper right side Baz.
Been gone a number of years now. I think it caused me to have chronic sinus infections before being removed because it broke. Haven't missed it except when chewing a bad steak. They predicted my other teeth would start to move with it missing but they haven't. It doesn't show when I smile either so there is that too.
Personally I wouldn't do that 3-3-3 plan, but I've had a lot of tooth pain in my day what with having had braces as long as I did as a kid. My eye teeth were horizontal at one point in my life. Thanks for the braces Dad!

My brother said a missing tooth is not as bad when it's one of the uppers. Different if a bottom tooth. Can't remember the reasoning behind it. Something about what happens when they come together, I think.

[LEAKYSEALS951]

Go to NAPA. Buy smallest hose clamp available. Wrap around tooth. Tighten until it feels better. Chew away.

Don't sweat losing an upper tooth. Lower teeth can shift and fall over like dominos if there is one missing (over the course of years/decades). That can cause issues down the road.
Not so much on uppers. They 'generally' stay in place compared to lowers.

Missing molars, or premolars, or everything, you will not starve. This is America.

[Por_sha911]

The jaw is much harder bone and the teeth are more firmly embeded.
Had eye tooth and molar remove on my jaw. No regrets.

[Baz]

Originally Posted by LEAKYSEALS951

Go to NAPA. Buy smallest hose clamp available. Wrap around tooth. Tighten until it feels better. Chew away.

Don't sweat losing an upper tooth. Lower teeth can shift and fall over like dominos if there is one missing (over the course of years/decades). That can cause issues down the road.
Not so much on uppers. They 'generally' stay in place compared to lowers.

Missing molars, or premolars, or everything, you will not starve. This is America.

Originally Posted by Por_sha911

The jaw is much harder bone and the teeth are more firmly embedded.
Had eye tooth and molar remove on my jaw. No regrets.

Thanks for the advice and input, guys...really appreciate it!

[RNajarian]

Your dentist sounds like a straight shooter. 4K (USD) for an implant is a fair price. Hopefully that includes the crown.

Dentistry has advanced leaps and bounds since I graduated dental school in 1991.

Good luck pal

[wdfifteen]

Implants are expensive. If you just have it pulled your other teeth will migrate into the space. Depending on what is wrong with the tooth a crown might be a good solution.

[mattdavis11]

If you let that tooth go long enough to abscess, you are going to wish you hadn't. BTDT.

[thor66]

Baz - go see another dentist - find out what they say

[GH85Carrera]

Just remember, that tooth is just a inch or so from your brain. An infection can be bad pookie.

[Hugh R]

A couple of implants (2) have two more coming soon, already had the screws inserted, my dentist is going for around the same price $5,000 x two. I thought about letting it go and he said the teeth will move around to take up the space in ways you may not like.

When he tapped and screwed in the implants I think he used a 1/4" x 20 tap, like the craftsmen ones in my garage, it was HUGE.

[JackDidley]

I had the same tooth pulled back in the 80s. No effect on other teeth. If it was near the front I would do something about it but its not visible and Not worth replacing.

[pmax]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

Just remember, that tooth is just a inch or so from your brain. An infection can be bad pookie.

It's already infected

But no worries, the antibiotics will buy some time. But yes, have it taken out.