I broke one of my molars last Friday and the dentist said I need a root canal. Then he tells me he doesn't do molar root canals because it's very risky and he referred me to an endodontist. Here's the kicker, I'd have to come back to him to get the crown and he doesn't do stainless steel crowns because they don't offer a good fit, so I'd have to wait to get a porcelain on metal.
I just feel really uncomfortable about this. I just moved to this area so I don't know who to go to. I also have to choose a dentist that accepts my insurance.
Do you think I should try to find a dentist who will do both at the same time?
First off, switch to organic toothpaste. I made the change years ago and I've never regretted it. My teeth used to be so sensitive, but it stopped after I learned that most brand name toothpastes out on the market has sugar in them! No wonder...repeat business for the dentists!
Anyway, definitely look into seeing another dentist. This one sounds a bit off from what you're saying, and if someone doesn't feel right, keep moving on. Hopefully you can find someone else that you like with your insurance.
Yes, find a new one. And root canals are mostly not risky. Most dentists do them.
Risky things are things like bone grafts (they sometimes do not work).
I would go with a porcelain crown though. They look better.
Yeah, it just seemed sketchy to me. This dentist was rated really high, so I thought I'd try him out. Then he tells me I need a root canal but he'll only do molar root canals on friends and family because they're risky and should be left to a specialist. I just think it's kinda shady. I had a root canal before and everything was done at once.
First off, switch to organic toothpaste. I made the change years ago and I've never regretted it. My teeth used to be so sensitive, but it stopped after I learned that most brand name toothpastes out on the market has sugar in them! No wonder...repeat business for the dentists!
Anyway, definitely look into seeing another dentist. This one sounds a bit off from what you're saying, and if someone doesn't feel right, keep moving on. Hopefully you can find someone else that you like with your insurance.
Oh I totally agree. I made the switch to organic about a year ago and my teeth have definitely gotten stronger. I used to bleach them a lot when I was younger and the enamel got pretty thin around the bottoms of my front teeth. I've been using Tom's and my teeth have never felt stronger.
Yeah, it just seemed sketchy to me. This dentist was rated really high, so I thought I'd try him out. Then he tells me I need a root canal but he'll only do molar root canals on friends and family because they're risky and should be left to a specialist. I just think it's kinda shady. I had a root canal before and everything was done at once.
I've had quite a bit of dental work done over my lifetime and just...ughhh....a couple things come to mind - 1) he shouldn't be performing risky things on anyone, much less friends and family, since he deems these to be risky 2) I've had many root canals and none were more than routine work except one, and 3) there was ONE root canal that was referred to a specialist BECAUSE the root was curved in a way that made it difficult and complex for a regular dentist to work on and with that one, I went to a specialist and the work went just fine
definitely shop around for dentists and also find out WHY he wants you to see a specialist and if it's really just a personal thing for him, find another dentist
I've been a dental assistant and dental front desk person since I was 19 (I'm about to turn 32 ) if I can help in any way, let me know.
First - it's not a BAD thing that this dentist wants to refer you to endo. We actually no longer do RCT at the office I'm working at. You want to be in the hands of a specialist if he is suggesting that. It's all endo does - they specialize in it. It doesnt mean he's a bad dentist, he just feels that this is out of his range of dentistry. Trust me - it's much better that he admits this rather than try to do a procedure he really should not be doing. Can general dentists do RCT? And do it well? Sure. But there are some cases where you WANT endo to do it. You just do. Just as in some cases you want an oral surgeon to remove a tooth rather than a general dentist remove it. He's actually losing money by refering you out - we don't get anything back from the endo we send patients to (maybe some cake or cookies a few times a year).
I do not know any dentists who will do stainless steel crowns on permanent teeth. We use pre fabricated stainless steel crowns as temps, they are not built to last. In fact, in the 10+ years I have been doing this, I've never seen a stainless steel crown made for a tooth. You want either a full gold crown or a porcelain fused to gold. Or even in some cases, a full porcelain crown. Gold wears about the same as natural teeth and is also tolerated well by the gum tissue.
I'm not saying don't get a second opinion but honestly, nothing about what you described seems "shady" to me at all. It sounds like he's being honest about what he feels comfortable doing and is trying to give you the best treatment he can.
Also - about your insurance. Check into it because often times they will make it seem like you HAVE to see someone on the list, when often times you can go out of network. Sometimes you may have a higher co pay, but that can be worth it if you find a dentist you trust.
I had a root canal in October performed by my regular dentist. It was on a lower molar. And, then I had a porcelain crown put on. It was my first root canal experience, and I assumed it would be a one and done. Just a couple of weeks ago the same tooth started hurting again. I called the dentist's office, and the front desk clerk talked to the doctor. He recommended I go to an endodontist without even seeing me. So, I did.
I had the feeling that the endodontist didn't feel the dentist did a good job with my rootcanal the first time. He said there was still infection, so that's why it flared up again here 6 months later. He put me on 2 antibiotics and had me wait 3 weeks before he completed the root canal this time.
I'm praying that is all I need with this tooth. I hate that they had to drill through my brand new $600 crown! If your dentist recommended you see someone else, do it. I wouldn't have mine do a root canal on me again. That's what specialists are for. I'll go straight to the endodontist next time.
I have had a lot of dental work in my life, and I have seen both good and bad dentists. I agree that sometimes it is important for an endodontist to do the root canal, I have had endodontists do root canals and they have come out excellent. If you are getting nervous by the way that this dentist is acting, go somewhere else. Maybe you can call a local hospital or a local doctor's office, sometimes they have referrals to dentists.
Also, I can speak from my experience when I say that the ratings aren't always indicative of performance. I went to a dentist because of his ratings once and he said I had a cavity where my family dentist said that there was no cavity. The dentist that I thought was rated so highly was actually just trying to drill in my perfectly good tooth where there was no cavity, no decay, nothing was wrong and the tooth never bothered me. He was out to make money, plain and simple, if it weren't for my family dentist who I saw for another opinion (he is not local), that 'highly rated' dentist would have drilled into a perfectly good tooth.
Be careful! Try to ask your neighbors or co-workers for referrals if you are friendly with them. Don't let just anyone work on your teeth!
Any advice about dentists?
) if I can help in any way, let me know.
