Root Canal/Cracked Tooth. - Dental Health Message Board

HiHwRu · 12-21-2008, 10:04 AM

4 years ago had a root canal done on one of my molars... but never got a crown put on... the tooth has a few little chips around it... changed colour around the tooth to black... the tooth feels ok and there is no sensitivity... top left side of the tooth has a slight gap between teeth and filling... can i still get a crown put on it or does it have to be extracted or re-done?

2nd question... one of my bottom wisdom tooth fractured frm the gum line...due to cavaties... the tooth would hurt from time to time esp at nights.. but a few weeks after that a chunk on the tooth came out and the pain stopped and has not returned. knw there is a big hole... funny to say but the tooth isnt sensitve to hot or cold... the only time it hurts is when i eat..aprt from food getting stuck in the hole but the gum getting hit by food while eating... where the broken tooth had come off from.... could i get that fixed or does it need to be extracted....thanks

ms_mod · 12-21-2008, 10:36 AM

Please note that your thread has been moved here to the Dental Problems Board.

Ms_Mod

Jan M · 12-24-2008, 07:06 AM

I had a root canal last year in April on a back tooth, but never went back to get a crown placed. The tooth was cracked and started giving me problems, soreness around the gum area. I went to a dentist who did tell me he could save the tooth and not have to extract it. I now have a temporary crown on the tooth, and I'm waiting a few weeks before going back for the permanent crown, I want to see how the tooth reacts first. Right now I'm experiencing a metal and awful taste in my mouth. I'm not quite sure if this is coming from that tooth or if I've stirred up other problems. I read a previous post from that stated that taste I'm experiencing might be from bacteria or decay. Any suggestions before going back to get a permanent crown put on the tooth?

Chele60 · 12-24-2008, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HiHwRu

4 years ago had a root canal done on one of my molars... but never got a crown put on... the tooth has a few little chips around it... changed colour around the tooth to black... the tooth feels ok and there is no sensitivity... top left side of the tooth has a slight gap between teeth and filling... can i still get a crown put on it or does it have to be extracted or re-done?

2nd question... one of my bottom wisdom tooth fractured frm the gum line...due to cavaties... the tooth would hurt from time to time esp at nights.. but a few weeks after that a chunk on the tooth came out and the pain stopped and has not returned. knw there is a big hole... funny to say but the tooth isnt sensitve to hot or cold... the only time it hurts is when i eat..aprt from food getting stuck in the hole but the gum getting hit by food while eating... where the broken tooth had come off from.... could i get that fixed or does it need to be extracted....thanks

To your first question: As the color of the tooth has changed color to black, that might indicate decay. Really, only a dentist would know. They can do amazing things now with dental technology, and most will attempt to save teeth whenever and wherever they can. I wouldn't delay.

To your second question: I've had this happen with teeth that had old fillings that fell out - a few, actually. One tooth was too far gone to save and needed to be extracted. (I had waited to too long and there simply wasn't enough tooth left to save) Two other teeth required root canals and the requesite crowns. And one did not need a root canal or to be extracted, but there wasn't much left, so the dentist drilled it down and placed a crown over it. I doubt your tooth will need to be extracted - dentists do try to avoid that - but it may require a root canal, depending on the amount of damage and decay that has occurred. Only a consultation with a dentist can tell you what to do.

Chele60 · 12-24-2008, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jan M

I had a root canal last year in April on a back tooth, but never went back to get a crown placed. The tooth was cracked and started giving me problems, soreness around the gum area. I went to a dentist who did tell me he could save the tooth and not have to extract it. I now have a temporary crown on the tooth, and I'm waiting a few weeks before going back for the permanent crown, I want to see how the tooth reacts first. Right now I'm experiencing a metal and awful taste in my mouth. I'm not quite sure if this is coming from that tooth or if I've stirred up other problems. I read a previous post from that stated that taste I'm experiencing might be from bacteria or decay. Any suggestions before going back to get a permanent crown put on the tooth?

The dentist should have cleaned out any decay before s/he placed the temporary crown. I do know when I've had temporary crowns placed there is a metallic taste in my mouth, but it comes from the temporary. Remember, it is temporary - it's usually only meant to be used for one week, a week and a half at the most. And, since this a back tooth, I would be willing to guess the temporary is probably silver in color? Your permanent crown is usually porcelain fused to precious metal, which decreases the metallic taste.

I'm not sure what you mean when you state "I want to see how the tooth reacts first." If the dentist cleaned the tooth up, and there is no pain, normally you return in a week or so and dentist will look at the tooth to make sure all is still okay and then pop on the permanent crown, and you're good to go!