Some of you may remember the ongoing saga I’ve had with two teeth that started about three years ago. I went to the dentist for a crown and I’m not sure what happened but I got two. The temporary crowns were ok but when he put the permanent crowns on, those two teeth were sensitive to touch and I could not bite down. They fit very poorly and forget about trying to chew on that side. I kept going back and never got any relief so I changed dentists. Of course, the new dentist wasn’t going to say “these crowns are awful” but he “adjusted” them — filed something here and there, made it a little better but in the end, he sent me to San Angelo to have root canals on both teeth . . through the crowns. Actually, after having the root canals, I had more pain so the endodontist in San Angelo said “maybe I missed something but I don’t think I did” and he re-did the two root canals. That changed nothing except I’ve now had four root canals on two teeth that didn’t need root canals til the first dentist put those two crowns on.
Somewhere along the way, I had one of those teeth pulled because nothing the good dentist did would relieve the discomfort.
I go twice a year for cleaning and I always tell my hygienist . . do NOT touch that back tooth. When I was there a month or so ago, she and I about hog tied the dentist and demanded he do something. He didn’t want to pull that tooth because he said I wouldn’t be able to chew on that side. Heck .. I can’t chew on that side now! I suggested . . take off the bad crown; see if you see any obvious reason why we can’t save the tooth, put on a temporary crown and see how that works. If I can chew on that side with no pain, we’ll put on a permanent crown. Of course, now I have no dental insurance but even if he had done it in the beginning, my insurance would not have paid because they only pay for crown replacement every five years – doesn’t matter if it’s a bad crown or not.
Today I went and he removed the old crown, did a bit of work on the piece of tooth that’s left, put on a temporary crown. He hardly deadened it at all – it’s had TWO root canals. It’s awake now. Vince and I just ate lunch. I didn’t chew on that side but I can close my teeth together without feeling like there’s an oversized crown in my mouth.
I am pretty happy to be rid of that awful crown!
Linda in NE says
All I can say is that second tooth would have been pulled a while back if it was mine. If you haven’t been able to chew on that side anyway what was the point of saving it? It’s been years since I had molars on the bottom on one side and have gotten along just fine. Tooth pain is just the worst! Hope this time around the crown works for you.
Judy Laquidara says
He’s hoping to get it back to the point where I can chew on it. I’d rather do almost anything than give up a tooth. If the temporary crown is also painful, he will pull the tooth.
vivoaks says
I’m already missing 9 teeth after root canals and crowns, but I still only chew on one side. The side I use has two teeth missing on the top and 3 on the bottom… Obviously it’s possible to chew without all your teeth. I’ve already decided that if any more teeth get infected they are getting pulled. I’ve had enough tooth pain for two lifetimes and am not going to suffer for days on end anymore. Every dentist has refused to pull them all, and I ‘m tired of being nice about it!
Teri says
I know they are expensive, but implants are the way to go…..tooth pain I awful….
Judy Laquidara says
To each his own but I’m not implanting anything in my body if I can help it. Almost everything that has been considered safe, at some point has proven not to be safe. My teeth problems are far in the back. If I lost one in the front, I’d be singing a different song but, for now, I don’t see me having any implants.
Nelle Coursey says
I remember your pain!! So glad you are getting it fixed……….finally! Sometimes you just have to put your foot down and demand they do something!
dezertsuz says
If you lose front ones, get a partial. They are so easy! But they do need something to anchor to toward the back. =)
Dorothy Matheson says
I hear your pain and know it. I actually was missing an adult tooth and the baby tooth made it to 30 so I got a bridge as it is in the front. I had the same tooth on the other side split and pulled and every time I went toward getting an implant it was a couple hundred more dollars. So I canceled that and went with out even though it was a little visible tooth behind the eye tooth. 10 years later I got a bridge and the replacement tooth was way way too big.
i thought about it as I was walking out and complained (nicely) to the lady at the front desk. I had been going there for a good while so she talked to the dentist and he did grind down the tooth to a better sixe. Still took a while to get used to and is still a bit too white to mix with the rest of the teeth.
I like the dentist but he has retired so now have to get used to a new one.