Fractured front tooth

Hi there, I have a question about a fractured front tooth. I am 25 years old and I have had this injury to my top front tooth for about 4 years now, as far as I know it is fractured all the way from the middle of the tooth up to the root. My dentist told me after it happened that it would likely need a root canal done one day, but said it could be a year or ten years, no way of knowing.

So after all this time it has started to hurt just recently, and I have two questions about this, one does it matter how soon I get something done about it, because I work in retail and I don`t really have time right now to take off and go to the dentist, and two, once I do go to my dentist, should I get him to do a root canal and crown or an implant...? I have been reading up on both but I am still very confused.

Thanks in advance!

[Gellia]

I really urge you not to wait.  If there is any infection at the tooth root, it will absorb the bone around the tooth.  The longer you wait, the less bone you have left to work with.

I'm not sure how redoing a root canal will help you.  If the tooth is cracked, most often they need removal.

That said, I urge you to consider an implant.  I have four across the front top and couldn't be happier with them.  It's a long process, but one that I felt worth it.

An implant will also spare the teeth on either side which would have to be ground down if you went with a bridge.

Again, I don't see how a root canal will help if the tooth is already cracked.

Hope this helps with any decision you make.
My best to you,
Gellia

[MrsM1985]

Hi there! Thank you for your comment. I wanted to let you know I went to the dentist today, and he insisted on doing a root canal right away, so I let him do it. I now feel like I might have been punched in the face or something but it is not so bad really. It is a lot better than before anyway. Dentist said it was starting to get infected, but yet he did not give me antibiotics.....???(confusing)

Anyway, I am thinking that I must not understand the nature of my injury...fracture/crack/whatever it is. Because I really agree with what you are saying about the crack not being helped by root canal....AND now I have to get a crown which will be more $$$. I hope my dentist is right about all this!!! In my own mind I kept thinking I want an implant, but the dentist kept saying no, we should save the tooth. Ugh. Whatever.

So again, thank you for your comment and concern, I truly appreciate it, very much!!! :)))

My best to you also,
Jenny