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Do you always need to cap a root-canaled molar?

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Do you always need to cap a root-canaled molar?
Yes. 0%  0%  [ 0 ]
No, as long as you're careful in how you chew. 0%  0%  [ 0 ]
I don't know. I would seek a second opinion. 100%  100%  [ 1 ]
Total votes : 1

Ragtime
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08 Dec 2008, 4:07 pm

My dentist tells me that you definitely need to have any molar that has had a root canal capped, automatically, because the tooth can become brittle over time, and eventually may break. Yet, my brother, a true OCD type, who researches absolutely everything to the hilt, says he's never heard of a tooth automatically needing a cap after a root canal. He also says that, based on my late father’s testimony, that my dentist is a “charlatan”.

Indeed, caps, or crowns as they are also called, are priced seperately from a root canal, thus leaving it entirely up to the patient whether or not to decide to get the crown after having a root canal. So, if it is really necessary, would the dentist even let you leave before putting the crown on?

And, more to the point, if it is really necessary to always have a crown made for any root-canaled moral, then why doesn’t he conveniently add the prices together and make them one package, so that patients are forced to get the apparently-necessary, apparently-second-half-of-the-work, and so that he can charge more money? I mean, doctors don’t charge for half of an operation, and then ask if you want the second half! :lol:

I’m just curious: if I’m careful not to abuse my molars by chewing ice, etc., will they really crack? I’ve been using two molars for over six months since they each had root canals, and eating everything just like normal (while chewing hard things somewhat catiously), and I haven’t had any problems. But he made it sound so dire for me to even leave the office without having set up an appointment to get the ~$1500 crowns put on. At the time, I simply didn't have the money, and he wasn't willing to do it without that!
Is it really an emergency to go around without caps/crowns on root-canaled molars?

It’s a question of my spending $3,000, is why I’m asking. Should I seek a second opinion?


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beef_bourito
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08 Dec 2008, 10:00 pm

i don't know if it's necessary but my brother in-law is a dentist so i can ask him next time i see him.

as for the procedures being priced separately, often they'll price lots of things separately on the bill, even though they're mandatory. when i had oral surgery they had the cost of the operation, anaesthetic, room, etc. but you can't get the operation without the other additional costs.

unless your insurance company is going to cover the procedure, i'd get a second opinion.



Moop
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08 Dec 2008, 10:07 pm

My mom got the gold filling.