Dental Advice needed

[MS Fowler]

I have a mild tooth ache that comes and goes. It is never so severe that it keeps me from sleeping or eating. Ibuprophen removes the pain---for now.
I went to my Dentist, and he looked at it, and took an X ray. He gave me the film and wants me to see and Endodontist. My Dentists thinks it needs a root canal and a cap. He says there is a black spot at the tip of one of the roots.
His fee for a cap would be $950, and figure another $500 for the root canal. Thats $1500 that my dental plan does not cover, so its all out-of pocket.

The tooth in question is the next to last tooth on the lower, right side.

I am considering just having him pull it. The problem is, and what I need advice regarding from people who may have some experience is this--That would leave a single tooth, isolated at the rear of my mouth. Is that a problem just waiting to happen? Is that tooth more likely to break becasue it no longer has the support of a neighboring tooth. I am not worried about appearances--the tooth is too far back to be seen. But I do wonder if that isolated tooth might just be too distracting to live with.

Have any of you have this?
What other options might I have that I do not see?

[Designo_E320]

Its inevitable. You are going to really need to do something about it sooner or later. I would do it sooner before it becomes unbearable. Fix it or pull it? Well that's your choice and your money but as we get older we will loose teeth left and right anyways so why not try to save it and enjoy it as much as you can. I personally would have it fixed unless money was a major concern.

[kerry]

Faced a similar situation, although I had partial insurance. Got a root canal and a cap. Buy some better insurance and wait until it kicks in before getting the work done.
Shop around, maybe you might be able to get a better price.
The longer you wait the more likely it is all the nerves there will be dead. Not necessarily a bad thing. I had a nightmarish experience with a lower root canal.

[TheDon]

cha, I agree on the better insurance deal. Wait and get something better.. 1500$ can be spent on something better.. like retirement .. or tools... yea tools... Get some nice vice grips and crack... write a DIY when your done

[Brian Carlton]

BTDT several times.

There really is no good way out other than the root canal and the cap. You can remove the tooth, but, the adjacent teeth will then begin to migrate into the space over time and all kinds of bite problems will develop.

Be thankful that the tooth can have the root canal and cap. In my case, two of them fractured and there was no way to put a cap on them. So, the result is a bridge.......two caps and one fake tooth in the middle. When done properly, they are not distinguishable from the regular teeth and there is no difference in feel. But, I don't want to tell you the cost.............

[TheDon]

Originally Posted by Brian Carlton

But, I don't want to tell you the cost.............

I'm guessing the same amount that Hatty spends on his SDL a year

[Brian Carlton]

Originally Posted by TheDon

I'm guessing the same amount that Hatty spends on his SDL a year

.......yep.........about that much........

[kip Foss]

I have had a couple of root canals and caps. Two things I would recommend:

1. Don't get the tooth pulled just because it is cheaper. If you have other teeth problems later you might need this tooth as an anchor for bridge work.

2. Since you are paying cash you can bargain with the dentist. He/she might let you pay on a time plan. Medical people will cut you some good deals just so they do not have to mess with insurance. Try bartering. My next door neighbor did a lot of house repairs for the dentist that owned the place in order to get teeth implants. It never hurts to ask.

[Designo_E320]

Originally Posted by kip Foss

Medical people will cut you some good deals just so they do not have to mess with insurance. .

I give 'em 15% off if they pay in full

[rickg]

I had a tooth pulled almost 3 years ago, second molar from the upper rear. Had the graft put in for a false tooth to be put in, and all. Then I moved, changed jobs, changed insurance, blah, blah, blah. I still have that "hole" between my teeth up there. It was pretty annoying for awhile, but I hardly notice it anymore. But yeah, it's probably going to be a mess for the dentist when I finally get around to having the false tooth put in.
Why'd you have to remind me of this?

[GermanStar]

It's only $1500, unless you're very old and you still have almost all of your teeth, I'd have it fixed. BTW, the crown should cost around $750, and the root canal about the same.

[Mistress]

ignore your teeth and eventually they will go away. Repair the tooth, don't just pull it and leave the socket empty, you'll end up with shifting problems and the upper teeth drifting downward because there isn't an opposing tooth to bite down on.

[MS Fowler]

Thanks all,
That is the sort of good advice I have come to expect from my friends here at mercedesshop.com.

[Larry Delor]

Get the rootcanal. Double check with the insurance company. Mine didn't cover everything...somethings only 50%, but the way it was broken down, I would guess that about 70% was covered, which wasn't so bad.

[Hatterasguy]

Originally Posted by TheDon

I'm guessing the same amount that Hatty spends on his SDL a year

I just spit milk all over my computer!