Veneer for tooth with slight mobility

[Mrsluton]

I plucked up the courage to visit the dentist after ten years. I registered as an nhs patient and got an X-ray and check up for free. After this I was told I needed two fillings at the bottom and one replaced on a front tooth. I also needed my wisdom teeth at the top removed and was told they are tiny little teeth and serve no purpose along with the fact they have decay. I was told to book in for a hygiene appointment which I did. This cost 75 which I was happy enough to pay as this wasn’t offered on the nhs. I was booked in on my first appointment for the two bottom fillings but asked if I could change this to have the front filling done first. The dentist told me after the filling that the tooth had mobility and he could see a ring around the root he said this was either trauma from the past or infection but he said the tooth would probably be fine for another 10-15 years and would then need a bridge. I then went back for the two bottom fillings and paid for white ones. I told him at this appointment the front tooth felt strange and I was aware of the mobility it sort of feels like pressure he filed some of the filling down again and said that in January he recommends a root canal and veneer. Will a veneer solve the mobility of the tooth as when I look online the advice I can see is that a crown would be best for mobility issues. I am terrified to go back to have this done as I will need to pay privately. I have also paid for all the other treatments even though I registered as an nhs patient as I wanted white fillings. I was charged for the front filling also. I am wondering if this is a way to get more money from me sooner and since the filling was done the tooth now feels more mobile than before. I am only 36 and am terrified of losing a front tooth it’s the tooth beside my main one. I don’t know what to do but I failed ro attend the appointment to have my wisdom teeth removed as my main fear is extractions.

 

[Gordon]

Hi fellow Glasgwegian.

Neither a veneer or a crown will make any difference to tooth mobility, I'm not sure where you read about this online but I'd avoid going back since it's nonsense



Just to be clear, if the tooth is mobile and there is an area around the apex of the root visible on an x-ray then it needs further investigation to check if the nerve is alive or not. If not then a root canal needs done. A veneer is mostly cosmetic, if you can't afford it then it doesn't desperately need doing.

 

[Mrsluton]

hi Gordon thanks so much for the reply…..the tooth mobility feels worse since the filling was done on it which is making me hesitant to go back to the same dentist. Is there any way to save the tooth from falling out or at least slow the process down? originally the dentist said he thought it would be fine until my 50s then when I complained about the pressure at the subsequent appointment he recommended doing a root treatment then a veneer so would you recommend leaving the tooth as it is? I grind my teeth in my sleep and I suspect this has a part to play in the tooth’s mobility. I am terrified the tooth is going to suddenly come out and I find myself constantly evaluating how it feels by biting down touching the area with pressure etc. Will a root canal stop the tooth from feeling “odd” I also feel like the filling has closed a gap I had in between the two teeth and wonder if this is causing pressure? I really need to build my confidence up before going back as I am now scared further treatment will result in me losing the tooth quicker since the filling has made it worse. Sorry for the long winded reply I suffer with anxiety and am thinking about the tooth all day every day lol.

 

[Gordon]

The stress is not helping, the more you stress about it, the more you're likely to clench/grind your teeth which makes things worse, it's a classic vicious circle.

The tooth mobility would be made worse if the filling was a bit high in your bite and you grind your teeth, but it sounds like that's not the root cause (sorry!) of the problem... to be more certain I'd obviously need to examine you but from what you're describing it sounds like you've got something going on at the root of this tooth which is causing the issues.

The tooth isn't going to "fall out" over this, even spectacularly loose "blowing in the breeze" teeth can last that way for ages without coming out and it doesn't sound like you've got anything like this problem.

Further treatment will not cause the tooth to fail any faster but doing nothing will not stop it from failing either, sorry.