Tooth. What To Do..

[Patsy33]

Hi all, I had a bit of a filling about 3 weeks ago, on very back tooth at bottom. A side piece of tooth broke off. Most of the tooth is filled. Dentist said, if any more breaks off, I'll have to have a crown. Now, do I pay the £260 for it, or have it extracted?. Which will cost nearly £60. What would you do?? Any advice please?..

[bookbinder]

I'd have it extracted, then it can't give you any more grief. As it's well out of sight, your smile won't be affected. If you have a crown, there's always the risk that that will come off, sooner or later.

[Patsy33]

Thanks going under. I didn't think a crown could come off?

[Patsy33]

I typed bookbinder! :-)

[MWG14]

Yes, crowns do sometimes fall off.

[bookbinder]

Here's a reply from your favourite correspondent, known to one and all as 'going under'!
Anyway, my wife has just confirmed to me that she once had a crown that came off.

[KARL]

I have always had the policy that I will hold onto my own teeth, any part that will survive, including when the dentist recommended extraction because a crown could not be fitted - it provided trouble free but slightly limited chewing function for well over a decade. Years ago (according to my previous dentist, now long retired) it was apparently all the thing in my area for parents to give their kids false teeth as a 21st birthday present - perfectly good teeth were ripped out, "won't ever give you trouble" (he refused to and sent them elsewhere).

[Patsy33]

I've got a gold crown I had done years ago. That never came off. The one I 'might' have done would be a white cheaper version, dentist told me.

[Ryzen]

If you have other teeth missing in the same area then I would go for a composite filling...around £300. If surrounding teeth are good then you could save a few quid with an extraction.

[KARL]

Oh, I have had a crown for quite a few years now, my wife has had one for decades (same one). Crowns can fall out (keep it for refixing) and/or break - sometimes they can be repaired, sometimes not.

[Patsy33]

My other teeth are ok no other gaps. I'm worried if I have it taken out, the other tooth might move!

[nailit]

I had a similar problem with a 'problem tooth' many years ago. Ended up telling the dentist to just whip it out. No big loss and a lot less hassle in the long run. I still had another 30 teeth in my head to eat with :-)

[Patsy33]

It must feel weird though when you eat, Nailit? I suppose it's all according where the tooth is.

[nailit]

Back tooth (molar) Patsy. Had another removed since. As I said, no big loss. Except when I get a peanut or something similar stuck in the gap...
If I ever had another problem tooth, I wouldn't think twice about just having it removed anymore (if it was a back tooth that is...still like my front teeth for that lovely smile that I have, lol)

[Theland]

Still have my front teeth minus two.
A sort of acceptable grimace, and a smile when somebody buys me a beer.

Thinking if I lose another one, Mrs T may have to chew my food for me.

[Gizmonster]

The question that everyone is missing is, does the tooth bite on a tooth immediately above it??
I ask, as I was in the exact same position a few years ago. Dentist informed me that my back upper tooth needed to come out. I was mortified and asked if he could save it. He then informed me that there wasn't a tooth below it and as it wasn't actually biting on anything, it was useless anyway.

[Cloverjo]

I intend to keep my teeth for as long as possible. If you can afford it, I’d have the crown.

[Patsy33]

Thanks for all your helpful replies. I'll let you know my decision soon! Aren't teeth a darn problem as you get older?...

[nailit]

//I'll let you know my decision soon!//
Just promise to speak the tooth, the whole tooth, and nothing but the tooth!!

[nailit]

I'll get me coat ;-)

[Patsy33]

^^^^^
Lol!
I always tell the tooth Nailit..
Anyway, the tooth will out....(or not).... :-)