Tag Archives: cracked tooth

Dental implants

Does My Dental Bridge Have to Be Replaced?

I have a bridge on my upper right side. I was in for a regular appointment and my dentist said that one of the teeth that he called an anchor tooth was cracked and because of that I needed to replace my entire bridge. If I have no pain or symptoms, could he be wrong? If not, is there another option?

Sandy

Dear Sandy,

An illustration of a dental bridge versus a dental implant.

I am a bit sceptical of your dentist’s diagnosis. Here is why. First, it would be highly unusual for a tooth with a dental crown on it to get crack on it that needs to be extracted. When a tooth is cracked, the usual solution is to place a crown on the tooth in order to protect it. Second, you have not had any symptoms. If a tooth is cracked, you would normally have a sharp pain whenever you bit down on the tooth. I can’t say no dentist has seen a tooth with a crown of it have a crack at the root, but I’ve never heard of one.

Needing to replace an entire because of one problem (even though I’m not convinced your dentist diagnosed you correctly) does illustrate one of the downsides of replacing a missing tooth with a dental bridge instead of a dental implant. Not only do you have to place a crown on two healthy teeth which are adjacent to the fake tooth, but if anything goes wrong with one part of the bridge, the entire unit needs to be replaced.

On the off chance that something is seriously enough wrong with the adjacent tooth that it does need to be extracted, you have a couple of choices. First, you can get another dental bridge, but the second one would need to be even longer. Just be aware that the more extended the bridge the greater the pressure on the anchor teeth (the teeth with crowns on the end of the bridge). Another option is to replace those two teeth with dental implants. Sometimes it is possible to do one implant for two teeth that are right next to each other.

My suggestion is you get a second opinion on that tooth. Don’t tell them the dentist or his prognosis. Instead, just go and say, I want a second opinion on my tooth.

This blog is brought to you by a compassionate dentist in Phoenix, Dr. Hillary Peck.

Root Canal Treatment

Dental Disaster in Mexico

I went to Mexico to have two dental crowns done because it was supposed to be a lot cheaper than having it done in the United States. In two days the first crown fell off and I had to go back. When I did, they told me I needed a root canal before they could replace the crown. I had some doubts about that becuase the tooth wasn’t hurting but they seemed certain it was necessary. Then, it starting have senstivivity to hot and cold. Now I can’t even eat with it. I called them and they told me I needed to come back in. These trips are pretty extensive so I decided to just get a second opinion with a local dentist. He said the tooth did not need a root canal and is actually cracked and needs to be extracted and replaced. My question is, do you think it is reasonable to ask them to apply the cost of the unnecessary root canal they did toward the cost of the extraction and dental implant?

Pam

Dear Pam,

What a disaster. While I am sure it is reasonable, I don’t know if you really want them doing that. A dental crown is one of the first things a dentist learns how to do in dental school. He couldn’t even do that right. Then, they gave you an unnecessary root canal treatment. AND, they didn’t even do it right because you should not have had any sensitivity to hot or cold.

Dental implants are one of the most advanced procedures in dentistry. If they can that wrong, it will cause you serious, permanent injury. What if they place it on a nerve? Or you get an infection in your jaw that causes you to lose bone?

In your place, I would bite the bullet and have this done in the United States with a reputable dentist with dental implant training and experience.

I do not know what the laws are in Mexico as far as getting a refund for malpractice, but you can at least try.

Dental tourism is always a gamble. Sometimes it works out. The problem is in the cases where it doesn’t, it is always a disater and in many cases people end up with permanent problems.

This blog is brought to you by Phoenix Dentist Dr. Hillary Peck.