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Decay under crown

M

Mercedes

Well-known member
Joined
May 28, 2009
Messages
112
Location
SW Herts
I have a crown that was done about 10yrs ago. It was a very complicated problem at the time as I had some issues with my gums and had gum surgery all along one upper side, then had a 2hr root canal appointment, followed eventually by a crown. I've always felt there have been issues with this crown as I would often get bleeding around it when I flossed and it's been 3yrs since I last saw a dentist due to covid.

However this last week I've been aware of a bad taste coming from the tooth, bleeding when flossing again and a tiny bit of pain. Had a couple of x rays done and was told the crown had never really been done that well and there was now decay under it. I was hoping it would be a simple fix, but they said until they get the crown off they won't know how much decay is there and if there is a lot then the only answer would be to remove what's left of the tooth, but apparently because it's such a big root it would have to be done somewhere else as it's a 'surgical' procedure, which has added to my worries.

I've already got a partial upper plate as I lost a number of upper teeth over the years so having the tooth out doesn't bother me as much as them saying it's a 'surgical' procedure as I'm a very anxious person and not sure how to deal with it. I was so hoping it would be an easy fix and I've spent a fortune on that particular tooth.

Here are the x ray pics I got.

The tooth in question is the middle one.

Lyn
 

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Don't get yourself tied up with the nomenclature, surgical just means that it might need to be removed in several sections rather than in one piece. Going by the look of the x-ray it looks pretty easy for an experienced surgeon.
 
Thanks for your quick reply Gordon, gosh I am sitting here getting so stressed about it and just hoping that maybe they can save the tooth and put a new crown on. I wish there was a way of knowing how much decay is there :confused:

Lyn
 
Unfortunately you can't know till you get the crown off. Doesn't look very promising on the x-ray though I'm afraid.
 
Unfortunately you can't know till you get the crown off. Doesn't look very promising on the x-ray though I'm afraid.
Would I be best just having it seen to by someone who was able to find out what is going on and possibly extract it if they can't fix it, rather than go see my local dentist and then have to be referred to someone else? I'm not even sure what kind of speciality I'd be looking for :confused:

Lyn
 
The trouble is the person who'd be best qualified to repair it would be a restorative specialist who would be the least qualified to extract it :( And the best person to extract it would be an oral surgeon who would be useless at restoring it :)
 
Yes I understand, makes total sense. I've found someone called Dr Amit Duggal who is a Specialist Prosthodontist and does implants without having to go into London for a CT scan as they have their own scanner and it says on his website he also does complex extractions so perhaps that might be the best way forward, I really don't know. I am scared of having the tooth out and it's right in the middle of 2 teeth that are still good and I hadn't really thought much about having an implant due to the difficulties of having to go a long way for a CT scan, but if I can get it done more local and it saves the tooth then perhaps it's worth looking into. I think the cost is obviously going to be a factor as I have no idea how much implants are or if I can even handle having one done :confused:

 
Good luck with it and please let me know how you get on.
 
Yes I understand, makes total sense. I've found someone called Dr Amit Duggal who is a Specialist Prosthodontist and does implants without having to go into London for a CT scan as they have their own scanner and it says on his website he also does complex extractions so perhaps that might be the best way forward, I really don't know.

He looks super well qualified for the job and it also mentions him having a special interest in helping anxious patients, so as long as you can afford it, it looks like a great idea :) !
 
Couldn't get an appointment until early August which for me seems a bit too long to wait, so meanwhile I've been in contact with the Mount Vernon Dental Surgery who did my original root canals and they have a specialist oral surgeon there, so I'll see what she has to say in a couple of weeks :o

Thanks for all the advice :)

Lyn
 
I just got back from the oral surgeon at Mount Vernon Dental Surgery and she agreed with you Gordon and felt there was too much decay to save the tooth.
I decided to have it taken out there and then as I knew if I left without having it removed I'd struggle to go back. She was really excellent, it all came out in one piece, so no having to remove it in sections or have stitches and my sinus is intact so for now all seems good. I actually brought the tooth home as I was curious to see what it looked like. Now just need to heal. Thanks again for all the advice you give on here :)

Lyn
 
I'm glad you got it sorted out. Thank you so much for updating us and well done on getting it all done.
 
Just an update on my tooth. I had to go back to the oral surgeon later the same day as 5hrs later the bleeding hadn't stopped. I kept using the gauze pads and it would stop and a clot would form and about an hour later it would drop out and the bleeding would start again. Have to say never had that happen before with any teeth I've had out. So back I went and she put some white stuff in which she said would pack it out and dissolve in a few days and then 3 stitches, which will apparently dissolve, although they haven't yet. With hindsight perhaps having such a big tooth out on a Friday was not my most sensible decision :rolleyes:

I'm still unsure how to move forward from this. The oral surgeon said I should go back to my dentist to get another tooth put on my partial plate, although she didn't specify when. I'm a bit concerned about having to be without my plate as I know I won't be able to eat properly without it and would rather wait till it's healed longer and perhaps replace the whole partial with one that is metal as I had that last time and found it much less bulky. Is there a general time frame for how long you should wait? Right now I'm eating on the other side still as I'm wary of putting any pressure on the other side :confused:
 
Is there a general time frame for how long you should wait? Right now I'm eating on the other side still as I'm wary of putting any pressure on the other side
NHS rules say you can't get a metal plate within 4 months of an extraction, so you'd need to wait at least that long.
Don't worry about chewing on it, it'll be fine.
 
NHS rules say you can't get a metal plate within 4 months of an extraction, so you'd need to wait at least that long.
Don't worry about chewing on it, it'll be fine.
Thanks so much Gordon, I had no idea I'd have to wait that long. Gives me plenty of time to save up some money ;)

Lyn
 
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