My dentist said I needed to have my old fillings replaced, and we
could do it over a 2 year period. I chose to have it all done over a 3 month period. One
of the fillings was only 3 years old, and now he is telling me I may need a root canal
within 2 months to 20 years. My question is: if that molar is so bad - shouldn't the xrays
show that? They take bitewings every 6 months during my normal cleaning and exam.
Your doctor's assessment is, I am sure, a good one concerning the 'potential' need for
further treatment. The fact that your tooth does not need a root canal now indicates that
at the present time, the xrays of the roots of your tooth look fine. The need for a root
canal arises many times when a cavity approaches and infects the pulp (or nerve) of the
tooth. It is quite possible that your 3 year old filling was fairly deep, approaching the
nerve of the tooth. Even though a filling was completed, it may sometimes take many years
for symptoms of your former cavity to appear. Please feel free to ask your dentist about
your tooth. As dentists, we are here to both treat and teach the public. |
