I’m confused about the care I’m getting from my dentist. He had a tooth under “watch” saying that it looked like a problem was developing. By my next appointment, just about 5 months later, he tells me the tooth is too far along for a root canal treatment to be useful and I need to extract the tooth and get a dental implant placed. Is this a normal progression?

Joyce

Dear Joyce,

I am concerned about what I am hearing. It would be highly unusual for a tooth to go from watch status to needing to be extracted between appointments, especially as diligent as you seem to be about keeping them.

While decay could have progressed to the point of needing a root canal treatment, I have serious doubts that it would be unsavable. Your tooth would need extensive damage in order to need to be replaced. If he had done proper treatment and diagnostic procedures, there is no way you should now need to lose the tooth.

My guess is, and please bear in mind that I haven’t examined you, that you would be better served with a different dentist. It sounds to me like either your dentist has poor diagnostic skills, or he is deliberately suggesting and overtreatment in order to make some money. An extraction and dental implant are much more expensive. If it were necessary, I’d say go for it.

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