topic Re: Dental Question in Wellness

Dental Question

jubilant — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 16:48:47 GMT

I have a root canal that has gone bad after many years. I can have another one or my dentist says they can just get rid of the decay and put a crown on the tooth and that I may never need another root canal for that tooth. I've never heard of this...have you???

Re: Dental Question

manny2 — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 16:58:44 GMT

I have heard of that. If the new decay hasn’t reached the old root‑canal filling and the seal is still intact, some dentists will remove the decay and place a new crown without doing another root canal. It’s not the most common situation, but it is a legitimate option when the canal itself isn’t reinfected. I would do it.

Re: Dental Question

Janey2 — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 16:59:28 GMT

If you are questioning your dentist get a second opinion.

Re: Dental Question

Skyegirl21 — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 17:20:20 GMT

Not sure what is meant by "gone bad". The initial procedure drills out the nerve and fills the canal with specific stuff they use called "gutta-percha". So it depends on your situation. All my root canal procedures required a cap right away-
Once I had a root canal, where the nerve was so intricate, the initial procedure did not get it all out, and they had to go back a 2nd time- That's all I know! Best wishes!
ETA: if they can save the tooth, that's always the best option!

Re: Dental Question

simplyfriends — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 17:54:20 GMT

I follow Dr Ellie Phillips and use her complete dental system. I would google her and maybe she if has some info on this. She is a retired dentist and has a lot of good insight.

Re: Dental Question

Pink123 — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 18:08:44 GMT

Yes this is not uncommon and it happened to me after about 20 years. That tooth was crowned right off the front 4 teeth and I sort of freaked out as it is a bridge attached to others. I saw dancing $$$$ signs in my head right away.

They are called "retreats". When I went to the Periodontist he said no need to worry. He said he would go and get it through the back of the tooth without having to lose my bridge. I was relieved for sure.

Now yes, they will of course want you put in a new crown because it's a good moneymaker, but if your tooth is aesthetically in pretty good shape just get the "retreat" and save your money. (My opinion of course but I find the price of dentistry over the top. It seemed to happen overnight. Almost highway robbery if you ask me.

I think future medical Doctors in College are changing to enter the dentistry field for the $$$$. Makes sense for them. Awful.

Re: Dental Question

frenchie — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 18:28:46 GMT

The biggest fleecing you can get is from a dentist or veteranarian. If they would rather see your pet dead than giving you a break they are not caring enough to be in that business.

Re: Dental Question

jubilant — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 18:29:32 GMT

Thank you everyone. I've been a little confused because my family dentist sent me to an endontist who said he wouldn't do anything right then and I might get a couple of years out of it yet. That was about 6 months ago. Now my dentist tells me He can take away the decay and put a crown on it. It is turning black along the edges.I need several other things done and this would all come to between four and five thousand dollars. Ugh!

Re: Dental Question

jubilant — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 18:45:18 GMT

@frenchie I was told that the reason dentists are so expensive is that they have to have so much equipment

and supplies to do what they do. One of the other things I have to have done is an old filling taken out...new one put in with a porcelain crown. I keep wondering if I should just have that one pulled. While we do have the money...there

are other needs/wants we would rather spend it on. We are middle income people and $5000 seems a lot to me! I would think of having it pulled but it is a top, side front tooth and would be noticeable.

Re: Dental Question

SilleeMee — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 19:14:57 GMT

If it was me, I would consider an implant if possible instead of trying to salvage that tooth.

Re: Dental Question

Forbidden Fruit — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 19:20:01 GMT

@jubilant

I just had this done (replace filling, crown done) $1400 total before insurance. I'm in the midwest. I would get a second opinion as the price seems too high. In my area, we had 2 dentists (in the last 3 months) that were reprimanded because they were doing unnecessary dental work. Not sure why they weren't arrested for fraud--lots of money involved for the procedures. Try to save the tooth so you don't have bone loss.

Re: Dental Question

SilleeMee — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 19:26:26 GMT

I don't have dental insurance and I'm not rich. So, I have gotten most all of my major dental work done at a local dental institute where practicing licensed dentists/surgeons go to get more working hours under their belts for their ongoing practices. I have saved $thousands$ by going there. Might want to look into that.

Re: Dental Question

frenchie — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 19:35:27 GMT

@jubilant wrote:
@frenchie I was told that the reason dentists are so expensive is that they have to have so much equipment
and supplies to do what they do. One of the other things I have to have done is an old filling taken out...new one put in with a porcelain crown. I keep wondering if I should just have that one pulled. While we do have the money...there
are other needs/wants we would rather spend it on. We are middle income people and $5000 seems a lot to me! I would think of having it pulled but it is a top, side front tooth and would be noticeable.

I had three crowns at one time, one got reinfected and would have cost another $1500. Just no. Had it pulled. I have four pulled teeth now but don't show. I'm 83 so fingers crossed nothing else happens. I can afford it too but would love new kitchen cabinets instead.

Re: Dental Question

Goldengate8361 — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 20:02:22 GMT

Yikes! If there's no pain, I'd be tempted to not get it fixed....but that's me (assuming it doesn't show).

Re: Dental Question

Shelbelle — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 20:33:31 GMT

I had one go bad as you said and the endo also said it went bad. Those were his exact words. He said it was not able to have a redo of any kind and I had the tooth pulled, that was the only solution, all the way in the back so no implant needed, been many years now.

Re: Dental Question

Shelbelle — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 20:34:42 GMT

I would seek the advice of a very qualitied endodentist before I took the advice of a regular dentist.

Re: Dental Question

rockygems123 — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 23:32:10 GMT

@SilleeMee wrote:
I don't have dental insurance and I'm not rich. So, I have gotten most all of my major dental work done at a local dental institute where practicing licensed dentists/surgeons go to get more working hours under their belts for their ongoing practices. I have saved $thousands$ by going there. Might want to look into that.

@SilleeMee

Are they dental schools where students do most of the work with DDS overlooking?

Many years ago while going to college we would go to the University of the Pacific dental school in SF never had a problem.

In fact one of the teachers was the President of the National Endodontist Society, I ended up going to him for years for my root canals, he was fantastic.

Re: Dental Question

SilleeMee — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 23:42:14 GMT

@rockygems123 wrote:
@SilleeMee wrote:
I don't have dental insurance and I'm not rich. So, I have gotten most all of my major dental work done at a local dental institute where practicing licensed dentists/surgeons go to get more working hours under their belts for their ongoing practices. I have saved $thousands$ by going there. Might want to look into that.
@SilleeMee

Are they dental schools where students do most of the work with DDS overlooking?

Many years ago while going to college we would go to the University of the Pacific dental school in SF never had a problem.

In fact one of the teachers was the President of the National Endodontist Society, I ended up going to him for years for my root canals, he was fantastic.

@rockygems123

No dental students did work on my teeth. All were licensed and practicing dentists and surgeons who were at the dental institute to get more hours under their belts to keep current on technique and certifications. Some come from overseas to learn new techniques and get certified here. One of my dental surgeons was here from Brazil and another from Lebanon. Both had practices back in their countries and were here to get more experience so they could get certified. They were medical doctors, oral surgeons.

Re: Dental Question

haddon9 — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 23:44:38 GMT

@Forbidden Fruit wrote:
@jubilant

I just had this done (replace filling, crown done) $1400 total before insurance. I'm in the midwest. I would get a second opinion as the price seems too high. In my area, we had 2 dentists (in the last 3 months) that were reprimanded because they were doing unnecessary dental work. Not sure why they weren't arrested for fraud--lots of money involved for the procedures. Try to save the tooth so you don't have bone loss.

@Forbidden Fruit I had a tooth pulled and went to an oral surgeon for a consultation for an implant. I was told that I had a cavity next to the tooth which was to be replaced.

I went to my regular dentist to do the filling and I don't know what I was thinking but in my mind I thought it was a simple cavity and was going to cost around $800.00. Oh of course it was more! I was annoyed to see that not only did I need the cavity filled but I needed a crown too....It cost over 2K!

Re: Dental Question

AuntG — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 23:54:31 GMT

In April, they'll open my back crown and try to treat a tiny third root that wasn't even visable way back when the initial root canal was done. It will be microscopic, and the odds are 75% that it will be successful. He added he wouldn't fully charge me if he fails. I never asked how much he'd knock off the bill, but I'm hoping it goes well.