Quote:
Originally Posted by Nickshu
Depends on how extensive the fracture is. Your endodontist may be able to see the extent down the microscope but would have to be actually doing the root canal to see it. Cone beam CT may show it (I have one in my office) but I find it does not always show up clearly unless there is alot of bone loss around the fracture. Vertical fractures can show clinically as an isolated periodontal defect on an otherwise periodontally healthy tooth. Overall early root fractures can be very difficult to correctly diagnose. I would get the endodontist opinion and go from there. For me, these days, if there is a long term prognosis question then you're better off to consider an implant replacement now rather than after spending $$$ for a root canal and crown only to find out in a year or two that the tooth was fractured in the first place.
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Nick you seem to know what you are talking about and I do appreciate that. Because it is the bottom left tooth and it is tucked way in the back of the mouth my thinking is to let the endodontist do his initial exam only and then get the tooth extracted by my regular dentist. I understand the specialists want to save teeth but to go through all that discomfort and $$$ I don't think it is worth it.
Thanks Nick.
