- Joined
- Nov 4, 2024
- Messages
- 6
I have a bottom molar with a large silver filling in it that is 55 years old. The tooth has two vertical hairline cracks that extend to the gumline on the tongue side. The dentists I have seen do not seem to know if the cracks extend under the gumline, they do not show on the x-rays. I do not have any pain to biting pressure or release. I only have mild intermittent aching and previously, sharp sensitivity to cold but I put clove oil, and that cold sensitivity went away. I also have periodontal disease and some mild gum recession. I was given advice from two dentists. The first said take out the filling, examine the tooth, and cut out the cracks and replace the filling with composite. She said that might solve the problem entirely, or if not, I might still need a crown and/or root canal. The second dentist said go straight to temporary crown and wait to see if still symptomatic and root canal is needed. Either way the filling has to come out I assume. I am not concerned about the money here as the dentist who recommends the filling is very expensive and costs more for a filling than the other dentist charges for a crown. I would choose to have the filling replaced and cracks cut out because I would rather try to keep my tooth structure before placing a crown, I would hope that placing a filling would be sufficient. But cutting out cracks sounds worse for the tooth (although the first dentist says a crown would be more likely to lead to root canal). Am I making the wrong decision?