Life in General: Broken tooth, eeeeek.

[Carolina]

Oh dearest angels,

One of my molars, number 4, which is nearish to the front (the way I smile), has cracked.

it already has a crown and a root canal.

Now it must come out.

OMG, this is making me crazy.

I have had an infection in the bone, for almost two weeks, which got in through the hair line crack.

Now I have to clear up the infection and then decide on which unpleasant alternative to follow.

It has to come out, but do I replace it with a bridge?  Or go for an implant?

Of course the implant is enormously more expensive.  But I've always 'done the best' for my teeth.

Which is why this crack and subsequent LOSS is so horrible.

Oh well, I have some time to decide.   

Any and all advice welcome!

Hugs

(chewing on only one side and taking my antibiotic dutifully),

Elaine

[Joe S.]

With Sjs. there is a strong likelihood that the teeth on either side will eventually have to come out. That would make the bridge a hard sell. I have been having mine pulled from the back as the give out. No chance for bridge and no implants. Dentures my be in my future.

[Meld256]

Elaine,

I'm sorry this is bothering you so. 

I guess the most important thing right now is getting that infection cleared. As one who's had several absesses and such, I can relate and hope the infection can be gotten rid of fairly quickly. 

No one can tell you what option is best for you.  I suppose talking with the dentist about it would be best.  My brother had one tooth about in the same spot that broke a few years ago.  He went the option of an implant since his other teeth were good and has been very happy with it (except for the cost.)

Hope this helps just a bit.  I know you'll be able to make the best personal choice for you. 
Melinda

[Carolina]

Update:

Tooth coming out on Thursday, and a bone graft put in, and possibly the implant, too.

Depending on the condition of my jaw bone which lost quite a bit with the infection.

No wonder I've been so terribly tired.

And not willing to exercise.

I had a CT scan of my jaw today, and an hour long discussion of which approach to use.

I'm still very sad over losing a tooth.

But what will be will be.

And I've been very lucky so far.

And lucky to be able to semi afford this implant business.

Tho' it is very very costly, to say the least.

Hugs

I'll keep you posted of course!

Elaine

[Crymeariver]

I had the tooth next to my front tooth removed due to a 10 year infection which no doctor ever found a source.  I had spent around $5000 on root canals etc over the years.  I needed two of the bone grafts to fill the hole.  That was back in 2001 and I haven't had any problems with it. 

It is more expensive with the bone graft but you have such a pretty smile it definitely seems worth it. When you think that the loss of one tooth will cause all the teeth around it to spread out and the opposing tooth on top will drop without pressure of the bottom one... what are you going to do?


Best wishes for the surgery and speedy recovery!

[lynnmarie219]

Oh no....so sorry to hear this, but glad you were able to talk about it all with your dentist on the best approach for you!

Good luck on Thursday...keep us posted!

[Cricket]

I too lost a tooth and had to have it pulled and a bone graft in preparation for the implant.

My oral surgeon puts in the bone graft then wait 4 months to heal,
Then in July I get the implant part, again heal for 4 months,
Then the dentist puts the tooth on it!

A long process and a very, very expensive one.  I. Like you are blessed to semi afford it!

I am VERY sensitive with my teeth so I was in a lot of pain after he pulled tooth and bone graft in one!

Make sure you get some good pain meds.

Good luck and will keep you in my thoughts, post when you can!

[Carolina]

Oh Cricket,

I have terrible itching with all the pain meds.

And with some of them I have more severe allergic reactions.

I won't be taking anything codeine related, which is everything that counts.

I'm hoping for the best.

I'll keep you all posted.

Hugs

Elaine

[Carolina]

Tooth out yesterday.

Bone graft and implant all done.

I keep flddling with the stitches on the side of my gum next to my cheek.

Think something is stuck up there.  Well, ya, stitches!

Very very little pain!

Oh my, how nice.

Amazing..  The dentist gave me a relaxant the night before and the day of the surgery.

And a small amount of prednisone, two yesterday, two today and one tomorrow.  To keep the swelling down.

And an antibiotic.

But NO pain meds except Ibuprofen.

And what I usually take which is Cymbalta, Aleve and Tylenol.

Amazing, really.

:-)

Check up in two weeks, then wait for the implant to graft in, and get the rest with the tooth.

Hugs.

Elaine

[Meld256]

Elaine,

It sounds as though all went smoothly! 

Or, as smoothly as a procedure like this could be.  Your dentist seems to "have it all together" with good treatment and a proactive approach. 

A relaxant before and the day of surgery can make all the difference, huh?  I had nitreous oxide when I had most of the top teeth extracted and it was wonderful. 
I'm so very glad there's not much pain at all.  That is "faaaabulous." 

Hope those stitches don't bother you too much, and you continue to do well.  Keep us posted, dear.

Melinda

[Cricket]

Caroline

I have been thinking of you and wondering how you are doing? 

Sounds like you had a good experience, better than mine.  I am very glad for that.

Will continue sending up prayers for you,  I always love to hear from you.    Cricket

[Carolina]

Dear Angels, and Cricket!

I'm doing well.   The site of the incision and grafts, implant and stitches it painful and swollen still, but I've really had an easy time

I have a very high pain threshold, which I  never knew.   I think it's hard to tell for yourself, isn't it?

Anyway two years ago I was sent home with only Tylenol from arthroscopic knee surgery to remove pieces of torn meniscus and repair and clean out my knee joint.   So I was pretty sure I could manage this tooth thing.

I think the prednisone was key to keep the swelling down.  Once I was finished with that short RX, there was more swelling and discomfort, but that was after day three, so I had had time to recover and repair a bit.

My husband tried the Cymbalta for his arthritis, and it really helped.  Unfortunately he had terrible side effects of diarrhea, so had to discontinue it.   It and Aleve are my life savers, so far.

We all have different reactions, that's for sure.

I've been reading all the writing about Sjogren's here, and my heart goes out to all of you who have the 'real deal'.  I have only a collection of things that might have been Sjogren's, but really aren't.

I'm still taking the Methyl B 12 sublingual tablets, but I don't remember how long I should take them?

I have to ask Soycoffee again.  My PN isn't getting worse, and maybe is a little better....it's always hard to tell.

And I  know there won't be any tests to determine the status of the condition, so I have to sort of play it by ear.

My husband still thinks that I can overcome my neuropathy by strengthening my muscles.  I tried to explain that the misinformation from the nerves in my legs and feet to my brain and from my brain to my legs and feet can't be offset by strength.  My emotional and physical responses to the bad signals make me very unstable and fearful of trying to negotiate narrow and confusing spaces, or do anything in a hurry.  Both situations are scary and can cause falls for me.

But I have to remember that he can have his opinion, but it's my life and my walking.  I do need to exercise more, and now that I've recovered from the upper respiratory infection AND the infected tooth, I did get back to the pool.

The pool is my salvation, and our neighborhood pool opens in two weeks.  YAY!

Hugs

Elaine

[Cricket]

I am so glad to hear you are doing better!

I have been looking on here for you and wondering and praying for you.  Continue your great progress!

Love
Cricket