Can this tooth be saved? - Dental Health Message Board

Majin_Koenma · 06-27-2008, 02:06 PM

Last May part of the front of one of my teeth on the upper right side of my jaw next to my molars chipped off. My dentist patched it up, I went on my merry way, and that was that. Well, last night as I'm having a Taco Bell taco for dinner, part of the back of that same tooth broke off. What I think happened is that the filling came out, and took part of the tooth went with it. I immediately made an appointment with my dentist for Monday (the earliest they could see me), but what I'm afraid of is that my dentist will tell me that there isn't enough of the actual tooth left to save it, and it will have to come out. I had two teeth extracted in 2005,and I really don't want to loose another one. Is there a chance at all that this tooth can be saved, or is it likely that I will lose it? Thanks in advance to all who reply.

Thelma-Louise · 06-27-2008, 06:14 PM

Thers' a good chance it can be saved by crowning it - obviously it has become brittle either due to having a deep or large cavity, nutritional deficiencies or hereditary factors. Assuming there is no undelying bone or gum disease he should be able to crown the tooth - it may also need a root canal but that would have to be determined based on xrays and examination of the canals and nerve of the tooth. Most dentists prefer that a rc is done prior to doing a permanent crown to avoid dmaging the crown later on should a rc then become necessary. Also, depending on how much of the tooth has been lost, he might be able to rebuild it using composite which is much cheaper than a crown. But again it dpeends on how extensive the repair would have to be and the overall health and condition of the tooth - to prevent any further erosion it just might be better to crown it now.