Are root canals and crowns the norm for dentists now?

I’ve been lucky and had fillings done when the original diagnosis was a root canal. I guess when the dentist drilled away some of the decay he realized it wasn’t as bad as he originally thought. On the other hand, he does say I need two more RC’s, so who knows. And gosh dangit, why are they so expensive? I mean, he might spend an hour, hour and a half doing the RC, but to charge $800? Sheesh.

You haven’t been eating anymore of those hot peppers, have you?

lol I never touched the peppers.
If a molar “needs” a root canal it’s around $800. But near the front it’s around $500. The tooth he did a root canal on is not one bit better than when I went into is office. Plus, I had not seen him in fourteen years and he didn’t do an exam or any xrays. I don’t know what to think. Then in a month I have to sink around a thousand on a crown. No insurance either.

I have only had one root canal and about 5 or 6 fillings which leads me to think that the dentist doesn’t do a root canal unless it is necessary. I would hope that the dentist would know better than I would and so, as afraid of them as I am, I would trust their decision. However, if you are truely concerned that your dentist has not diagnosed your problem correctly then it may be worth getting a second opinion.

My dentist shows me the damage with his X-rays and an amazing new little virtual camera that he pops into my mouth, clicks and uploads on a screen.

I was able to see the shrinkage of an ancient silver filling, a small crack in the enamel and the crazed surface of the rest of the enamel.

You may want to find another dentist who does not get defensive and angry and who presents you with compelling evidence.

At the very least, get a second opinion over the “gum line indentation, ” whatever that is.

There is also the issue of bad money for patching an old tooth in trouble. it may buy you only a short amount of time before it needs more work. Old teeth, no matter how well one has cared for them, do get old. The gum line shrinks, there are pockets of tartar and plaque.

Why haven’t you seen this dentist in fourteen years? Have you been getting regular check-ups and prophylaxis with someone else?

Have you been scrupulous about brushing, flossing and cleaning your tongue?

Yes I have noticed this too and I am in South Africa.

You have to be really, really careful about whom you go to. The difference between a sedative filling, to be replaced with a permanent fill after healing has taken place, and a ‘mechanical pulp exposure’ ( when some person drills a little too deep) – is very, very slight. Also, the camera in the mouth magnifying the crazes ( tiny cracks in teeth that everyone has ) is an old, old sales routine, as root canal, crown and bridge are the most lucrative procedures. Be careful, people!!
PS Go elsewhere

^^^True about the crazing; the large crack and the shrinkage of the old amalgam was very clear.

Six months ago was the first time I had seen the digital mouth camera being used.

My guy seems to be happy with as little as possible as often as possible. He has a large and stable practice filled with people who are as as much a part of decision process as I am.

The decisions that my guy and his partner make are topics at the local lunch conversations at Ralph’s Pretty Good Café. We know what they are doing to most of us, most of the time…unless I am really delusional.

You need a new dentist.

It’s unacceptable that he didn’t do an x-ray or exam before the surgery, especially if it’s been 14 years since your last exam. Completely unacceptable.

@FutureMemory it had been fourteen years since my last visit with him. I have seen other dentists within fourteen years! But no; he never asked for those dental records. What I found disturbing, being a layman, is him saying I needed to come back for a crown “in a couple of months.” And that I could eat anything I wanted on this tooth.

Change dentists.

@Aster Haha, it didn’t even occur to me that you might have been saying you hadn’t seen a dentist for 14 years.

You only get one set of teeth, so I don’t take chances with shady (shoddy?) dentists. I think if you have any doubts about this guy, do like @gailcalled said and change dentists.