OK, I have a mouth situation that is new to me.

My good dentist who does good work and I do largely trust told me that I had a cavity too big for a filling and then he didn't want to do anything about it (which would usually be a root canal and crown). Well, more like wait and see if/when it gets worse as it isn't painful at this point.

I think you'll agree that dentists bless their hearts generally err on the overselling of procedures as opposed to underselling. 

But it's my understanding that untreated cavities are a form of inflammation that can create risks in OVERALL health. So I don't like just letting it be.

I'll be seeing him again in some months and will talk to him about it again. I'm not sure if he would agree to do a root canal on it if I demand it. I guess he probably would. 

It's upper back right which is not a cosmetic issue if pulled but I looked it up and that area is very bad for anything other than crowns or implants.

But maybe he's right and I should just watch it as he suggests?

 

A root canal isn’t necessary to have a crown put on the tooth. Go find someone who will put a crown on.

3 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

OK, I have a mouth situation that is new to me.

My good dentist who does good work and I do largely trust told me that I had a cavity too big for a filling and then he didn't want to do anything about it (which would usually be a root canal and crown). Well, more like wait and see if/when it gets worse as it isn't painful at this point.

I think you'll agree that dentists bless their hearts generally err on the overselling of procedures as opposed to underselling. 

But it's my understanding that untreated cavities are a form of inflammation that can create risks in OVERALL health. So I don't like just letting it be.

I'll be seeing him again in some months and will talk to him about it again. I'm not sure if he would agree to do a root canal on it if I demand it. I guess he probably would. 

It's upper back right which is not a cosmetic issue if pulled but I looked it up and that area is very bad for anything other than crowns or implants.

But maybe he's right and I should just watch it as he suggests?

 

I have pulled a few myself and made implants, and a few other made a crown. Best solution to get it done before you have to because of inflammation. Find a new dentist. 

6 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

OK, I have a mouth situation that is new to me.

My good dentist who does good work and I do largely trust told me that I had a cavity too big for a filling and then he didn't want to do anything about it (which would usually be a root canal and crown). Well, more like wait and see if/when it gets worse as it isn't painful at this point.

I think you'll agree that dentists bless their hearts generally err on the overselling of procedures as opposed to underselling. 

But it's my understanding that untreated cavities are a form of inflammation that can create risks in OVERALL health. So I don't like just letting it be.

I'll be seeing him again in some months and will talk to him about it again. I'm not sure if he would agree to do a root canal on it if I demand it. I guess he probably would. 

It's upper back right which is not a cosmetic issue if pulled but I looked it up and that area is very bad for anything other than crowns or implants.

But maybe he's right and I should just watch it as he suggests?

 

My last dentist, East European of some kind, said if it doesn't hurt, leave it alone.

Which is what I've always done.

6 minutes ago, novacova said:

A root canal isn’t necessary to have a crown put on the tooth. Go find someone who will put a crown on.

Not in all cases but my dentist already said if I was to crown it, it would need a root canal. Short of an implant though.

3 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

My last dentist, East European of some kind, said if it doesn't hurt, leave it alone.

Which is what I've always done.

Thanks for that. Interesting.

But my concern is a dentist that is not thinking about the patient's overall health beyond the mouth (as in inflammation) 

7 minutes ago, Hummin said:

I have pulled a few myself and made implants, and a few other made a crown. Best solution to get it done before you have to because of inflammation. Find a new dentist. 

He's been really good so not yet.

If I do decide I want to take action and he refuses, I'd probably get a second opinion.

But I reckon 99 percent of dentists would want to do the procedures, ha ha.

2 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Thanks for that. Interesting.

But my concern is a dentist that is not thinking about the patient's overall health beyond the mouth (as in inflammation) 

My east European found a cracked dead tooth when I was 40, no pain.

At 53 it started getting inflamed and oozed, root canal,filled, no cap.

At 69 it oozed again, 2 weeks of antibiotics over the counter.

Seems OK again now, hopefully it will outlast me.

 

Antibiotics are cheap, do you really want to spend money?

5 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

My east European found a cracked dead tooth when I was 40, no pain.

At 53 it started getting inflamed and oozed, root canal,filled, no cap.

At 69 it oozed again, 2 weeks of antibiotics over the counter.

Seems OK again now, hopefully it will outlast me.

 

Antibiotics are cheap, do you really want to spend money?

Well based on the info I have due to the location of this tooth, I will need to crown it if it's removed or canaled. 

I don't like taking antibiotics as they kill gut bacteria, etc.

Each case is different of course.

I was really surprised when he didn't push action.

My health is more important than money, up to the point where I can't afford it!

 

30 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

 

It's upper back...and that area is very bad for anything other than crowns or implants.

Had upper right molar 2 pulled after failed root canal.  Oral surgeon that pulled it said implant optional not necessary.  Dentist gave me implant quote but wasn't pushy about it.  Found a subreddit that appeared to be legit dentists and the consensus seemed to be implants optional for that location. 

5 minutes ago, Oliver Holzerfilled said:

Had upper right molar 2 pulled after failed root canal.  Oral surgeon that pulled it said implant optional not necessary.  Dentist gave me implant quote but wasn't pushy about it.  Found a subreddit that appeared to be legit dentists and the consensus seemed to be implants optional for that location. 

Thanks.

Interesting but different than what I found looking it up.

Also interesting about the failed root canal. 

It seems to me that might be an argument for doing a root canal sooner than later. 

19 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

I don't like taking antibiotics as they kill gut bacteria, etc.

Each case is different of course.

Using antibiotics locally such as doxycycline mixed with chlorhexidine gel or toothpaste is effective, not having to ingest the chemical. 

Just now, novacova said:

Using antibiotics locally such as doxycycline mixed with chlorhexidine gel or toothpaste is effective, not having to ingest the chemical. 

Doesn't sound like a long term solution.

7 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Thanks.

Interesting but different than what I found looking it up.

Also interesting about the failed root canal. 

It seems to me that might be an argument for doing a root canal sooner than later. 

That infected tooth was the most pain I've ever experienced and it came out of nowhere at about 3am.  I always travel with antibiotics now.  So im with you I'd prefer to get it treated now than have it flare up at an inconvenient time.  Just to add I went to a new dentist because the other one retired and they seemed unconcerned about an implant for that tooth but instead are pushing a crown for a different tooth and "while your numb we might as well replace those adjacent silver fillings."  This is despite no complaints such as sensitivity with any of those fillings.  Yea, no.  Time to find yet another dentist.  

1 minute ago, Oliver Holzerfilled said:

That infected tooth was the most pain I've ever experienced and it came out of nowhere at about 3am.  I always travel with antibiotics now.  So im with you I'd prefer to get it treated now than have it flare up at an inconvenient time.  Just to add I went to a new dentist because the other one retired and they seemed unconcerned about an implant for that tooth but instead are pushing a crown for a different tooth and "while your numb we might as well replace those adjacent silver fillings."  This is despite no complaints such as sensitivity with any of those fillings.  Yea, no.  Time to find yet another dentist.  

That reminds me of an experience I had in my 20s.

I had some gum inflammation and for a reason I forget I ended up in the chair of a very recent dental school grad who no doubt had hundreds of thousands in loans to pay back. I don't recall the details but she pushed for very radical, very expensive procedures so my next move was to go to another dentist (who turned out be the best dentist I ever had). No mention from him at all of the newbie's suggested procedures.

That said, I don't think replacing very old fillings before they fail is such a bad suggestion. 

1 hour ago, Jingthing said:

But it's my understanding that untreated cavities are a form of inflammation that can create risks

 

Your intuition is completely correct.

 

Left untreated infection caused by caries can lead to septicemia.

 

Cavities, in themselves, are just holes.

As you know, holes are not the problem.

 

It is the caries that lead to septicemia, and other risks.

 

 

7 hours ago, Oliver Holzerfilled said:

That infected tooth was the most pain I've ever experienced and it came out of nowhere at about 3am.  I always travel with antibiotics now.  So im with you I'd prefer to get it treated now than have it flare up at an inconvenient time.  Just to add I went to a new dentist because the other one retired and they seemed unconcerned about an implant for that tooth but instead are pushing a crown for a different tooth and "while your numb we might as well replace those adjacent silver fillings."  This is despite no complaints such as sensitivity with any of those fillings.  Yea, no.  Time to find yet another dentist.  

Changing fillings is standard if they look ify / old, maybe material subsequently changed

Have you asked AI? probably better advice than the non dentists we have on board

21 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

Have you asked AI? probably better advice than the non dentists we have on board

Yes.

It seemed to suggest untreated cavities were an unhealthy inflammation risk for the body.

16 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Yes.

It seemed to suggest untreated cavities were an unhealthy inflammation risk for the body.

second opinion ask another AI

15 hours ago, Jingthing said:

OK, I have a mouth situation that is new to me.

My good dentist who does good work and I do largely trust told me that I had a cavity too big for a filling and then he didn't want to do anything about it (which would usually be a root canal and crown). Well, more like wait and see if/when it gets worse as it isn't painful at this point.

I think you'll agree that dentists bless their hearts generally err on the overselling of procedures as opposed to underselling. 

But it's my understanding that untreated cavities are a form of inflammation that can create risks in OVERALL health. So I don't like just letting it be.

I'll be seeing him again in some months and will talk to him about it again. I'm not sure if he would agree to do a root canal on it if I demand it. I guess he probably would. 

It's upper back right which is not a cosmetic issue if pulled but I looked it up and that area is very bad for anything other than crowns or implants.

But maybe he's right and I should just watch it as he suggests?

 

Go for a second or third opinion

I have a similar tooth problem, I will get it pulled in the near future......😳

3 hours ago, transam said:

I have a similar tooth problem, I will get it pulled in the near future......😳

Mind the gap!

I have another tooth which popped an old crown that now needs an implant or bridge though an implant is better. Possibly even a bone graft. Perhaps my dentist wanted to get through that before entertaining action on that other tooth.

Leaving it untreated is very bad idea. By the time it is causing you pain treatment will be more complex and you may end up losing the tooth.

 

Get another opinion. 

Last year I paid around 15,000 baht for a root canal and crown in Pattaya 

Please get it done 

10 minutes ago, georgegeorgia said:

Last year I paid around 15,000 baht for a root canal and crown in Pattaya 

Please get it done 

It's been a while since I had that done here but that sounds inexpensive for the local market. Was the crown a cheaper material?

 

Just looked it up and the local range for that is between $350 to $900 USD for both, 

33 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

Leaving it untreated is very bad idea. By the time it is causing you pain treatment will be more complex and you may end up losing the tooth.

 

Get another opinion. 

Thanks Sheryl.

I still don't understand why he didn't even present the choice to treat it now.

Just a suggestion not to treat it and yes I did express confusion and surprise.

It seemed out of character for dentists in general and my experience with him as well. 

Yes I will question him again as I do find him technically quite competent. Maybe a different angle such as, I am interested in treating this soon, do you think there is a problem to do that? I can't read his mind. I can only guess. Maybe he doesn't like my face? Maybe he thinks I'm too poor to pay for two big things at once (I'm doing an implant with him)? Maybe he's so heavily booked (he is and it's high season) that he doesn't want to focus on more non time critical things? Beats me. 

7 hours ago, Jingthing said:

Thanks Sheryl.

I still don't understand why he didn't even present the choice to treat it now.

Just a suggestion not to treat it and yes I did express confusion and surprise.

It seemed out of character for dentists in general and my experience with him as well. 

Yes I will question him again as I do find him technically quite competent. Maybe a different angle such as, I am interested in treating this soon, do you think there is a problem to do that? I can't read his mind. I can only guess. Maybe he doesn't like my face? Maybe he thinks I'm too poor to pay for two big things at once (I'm doing an implant with him)? Maybe he's so heavily booked (he is and it's high season) that he doesn't want to focus on more non time critical things? Beats me. 

Which dentist was this? would be helpful info

17 hours ago, Jingthing said:

Thanks Sheryl.

I still don't understand why he didn't even present the choice to treat it now.

Just a suggestion not to treat it and yes I did express confusion and surprise.

It seemed out of character for dentists in general and my experience with him as well. 

Yes I will question him again as I do find him technically quite competent. Maybe a different angle such as, I am interested in treating this soon, do you think there is a problem to do that? I can't read his mind. I can only guess. Maybe he doesn't like my face? Maybe he thinks I'm too poor to pay for two big things at once (I'm doing an implant with him)? Maybe he's so heavily booked (he is and it's high season) that he doesn't want to focus on more non time critical things? Beats me. 

The "too big to fill" part puzzles me. I can only guess that due to the size of the cavity he anticipates the tooth might crack in the process. But leaving it untreated is not a sensible option.

 

On the other hand, pushing any health care provider to do something they feel unable to do/don't feel comfortable about, is also not a good idea. Again, get anther opinion. Another dentist might have more experience with cavitie4s of this size/feel more confident about undertaking it. 

 

You don't have yo change dentists altogether. Just for this one specific problem.

10 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

Which dentist was this? would be helpful info

No.