root canal, extraction or implant

I've had 3 root canal treatments. Managed ok and I have the same problem as you with mouth and jaw. I agreed with the dentist that if holding my mouth open and any point was too much I could put my hand up for a little rest, only had to do it once. I've had one about 20 years and one 15 both going strong. One tooth did have to be removed after about 10. Having a tooth as others have said is quicker and cheaper but like you I have very few molars so am hanging on to the few I have like dear life. Good luck with whatever you decide.x

keepingquiet

Allira

keepingquiet

I'm surprised your dentist gave you the choice. They usually don't condone extractions until all over options have failed. It took me months to persuade my dentist to take a tooth out, after all options hadn't worked.

A dentist from the distant past asked me what I wanted to do when she was peering into my mouth and I could barely mumble. No explanation of the options.
She'd whipped out the tooth before I could think about it.

Things have changed! I had my first extraction when I was fifteen...!

They drilled out your teeth in those days and filled them with amalgam, even if there was only a tiny hole, just in case you had trouble later.

keepingquiet

Allira

keepingquiet

I'm surprised your dentist gave you the choice. They usually don't condone extractions until all over options have failed. It took me months to persuade my dentist to take a tooth out, after all options hadn't worked.

A dentist from the distant past asked me what I wanted to do when she was peering into my mouth and I could barely mumble. No explanation of the options.
She'd whipped out the tooth before I could think about it.

Things have changed! I had my first extraction when I was fifteen...!

I was in my 50s!
However, the subject came up the other day with my present dentist who is much more conversational and amenable.

Definitely extraction for me. Suffered with troublesome root canals and all but one now extracted eventually. I’m convinced these infections have been part of the reason for my heart issues too.. and I’m not very old!

crazyH

You are all very young or have very strong gums. I was told mine would not be able to take an implant

I was told the same in 2008 re: top left molars. I had a bone graft (think it may have been bovine) and then had 2 side by side implants. I’ve had no trouble from them.

Around the same time another dentist did a root canal filling in top right molar which is starting to cause problems.

Allira

keepingquiet

I'm surprised your dentist gave you the choice. They usually don't condone extractions until all over options have failed. It took me months to persuade my dentist to take a tooth out, after all options hadn't worked.

A dentist from the distant past asked me what I wanted to do when she was peering into my mouth and I could barely mumble. No explanation of the options.
She'd whipped out the tooth before I could think about it.

Things have changed! I had my first extraction when I was fifteen...!

I've had several root fillings and generally they have all been successful. One failed after about 15 years but my dentist sent me to a specialist who said he could have a go at repairing it but it may not last that long. It lasted 10 years, which I was happy with and the gap is bridged.

keepingquiet

I'm surprised your dentist gave you the choice. They usually don't condone extractions until all over options have failed. It took me months to persuade my dentist to take a tooth out, after all options hadn't worked.

A dentist from the distant past asked me what I wanted to do when she was peering into my mouth and I could barely mumble. No explanation of the options.
She'd whipped out the tooth before I could think about it.

I wish I hadn’t wasted £300 n odd for the plate & went for the implant straight away.

I'm surprised your dentist gave you the choice. They usually don't condone extractions until all over options have failed. It took me months to persuade my dentist to take a tooth out, after all options hadn't worked.

The problem with implants is they that sometimes the gum is not wide enough to take the implant and you would need grafts over several months beforehand. I had a tooth extracted thinking I’d have an implant but was then told the bone wasn’t wide enough. I couldn’t face the thought of grafts. And the time it takes so I’ve just left it as a gap. Ironically the tooth had a root canal and ordinary filling. I wish I’d explored having a crown fitted.

An implant is very expensive and, unless it was a front tooth which showed, I wouldn't bother.
Can you not have a crown fitted after the root canal filling! I broke a molar recently and had to make the decision between extraction, huge filling or crown and chose crown because a previous dentist had taken out an adjacent molar without much discussion. This one just shows, too.

Expensive but nowhere near the cost of an implant, unless of course, repeated infections might be a problem.

Primrose53

In my experience root canal treatment is often unsuccessful and you end up having an extraction anyway.
Personally, I would just have the back molar removed.
Good luck - toothache is awful.

Yes agree! I had a lot of root canal treatment to save one tooth, quite costly an ultimately futile, ended up have an extraction and a subsequent bridge.

I also think that my gums have never been quite the same after all the root canal work I had done, although my dentist assures me they're fine.

butterandjam your experience is what put me off having the molar holding a bridge root canal filled although all my other root canal fillings have been successful.
crazyH , I’m 83 and my implantologist carried out various xray procedures to determine if I have enough bone. If not, the bone can be supplemented with synthetic or animal substitute.

My dentist did a root canal on a much -repaired back molar, preparatory to crowning it. It was painless but also the longest dental treatment I've ever had in my life. It was an complex root.

After the root canal filling had "settled", xray showed it had a small spot of infection at the very top end, and he would not proceed with the crown until the infection resolved. It never did :-( and about a year in the infected site was beginning to feel a bit of intermittent sensitivity in the top of that gum .

So last week I had the whole thing extracted (no pain, but took a while and pretty difficult/stressful. He found an infected cyst right at the far end of it, which drained messily for 24 hours. It left the biggest messiest extraction cavity I've ever had; sent home with instructions for salt water rinses, and two weeks of soft food only. One week in and I'm longing for something chewy. But the cavity has closed well and I can tell there's no trace of tenderness where the infected spot used to be.

Dentists suggestion for next move is an implant; but after this experience of infection I'm not going to risk another failure. .

The other option is to get an additional tooth on my dental plate.For that, he wants to wait 6 months until my jawbone adjusts to the gap.

So, sorry to tell you, not a good experience of root canal and it's put me off ever doing one again. Another time I'd prefer simple extraction of ancient tooth right away.

I've had three successful root canal's, they've all worked out fine. I'd start with that & if it doesn't work you can still take a next step.

I am in the same position OP. I have a back molar with a deep filling which has cracked.
So I will choose an extraction and my bottom jaw will then mirror the other side where I had a badly infected back molar extracted some 10 years ago. I dont want an implant and dont want another big filling.

I also have TMJ disorder on thst side. So keeping my mouth open for a long filling will be very uncomfortable and could trigger my, at the moment, quiet TmJ.

I have a very kind and competent private dentist who is always reluctant to extract, but will do if thats what I want. The extra problem is that I have been on .Alendeonic acid tablets albeit for a very short time and it may be because of that the extraction could have to be in hospital.
I can understand why in the past people had all their teeth extracted and were fittrd with false ones. A bit brutal, but no teeth problems in old age.

I had a successful expensive visible root canal Dentist advised another one on a cracked molar but as it is out of view I opted for extraction.

I have two implants. About 10 years apart. Both excellent.
But I've also had success with root canal work.

I have inherited teeth with very little enamel (from my father). My bone anx gums are good so I suppose that's useful!

What would your dentist do if they were you?

You are all very young or have very strong gums. I was told mine would not be able to take an implant

truman I’ve had that dilemma recently as a lower back molar holding a four tooth bridge had an infection beneath it. In the past I’ve had many root canal fillings which have been successful and could have opted for this but declined as my dentist said the root was narrow and hidden so it would be complicated. Instead I’ve opted for extraction and two implants which will hold a bridge. Last year I had three implants in my upper jaw which are fine. Be guided by your dentist. The implant procedure is lengthy but painless apart from the effect on your wallet!

I have lived without lower back molars (left) for years and managed very well.

If it’s at the very back I wouldn’t bother.
Root canal didn’t work for me, tooth next to canine. So ended up with a plate which I can’t stand to wear.
Now saving for a dental implant.

I've recently had a root canal, didn't hurt and was very effective. I have a brilliant kind dentist, who I have absolute faith in, if you have the same,be guided by what they advise.

truman I notice you said you have a small mouth, as do I so I took that into account with my reply.

A dentist told me that because of my small mouth it was like trying to wallpaper the hall through the letterbox! That still makes me laugh. But seriously, because my mouth is small it is also very painful keeping it open for very long.