One dentist says fill the tooth the other says put on a crown

[Jenny Wren]

I have a large filling in a bottom molar, its been hurting off and on for the past year.  One dentist told me that I need the filling replaced and another one says that I need a crown on it because I have a cavity under the filling.  How do you get a cavity underneath a filling?  I don't have the money for a crown since I don't have dental ins.  What should I do, let the one dentist refill it, or try crowning it?  It doesn't make sense to me.  

[annie786]

If their is a deep filling done touching the nerve then there will be sensitivity when you have anyhting hot or cold.or When a cavity is filled in cases where a root canal is required then the pain and infection will spread underneath the filling.One important thing donot not go for a crown without getting a Root Canal done because if the tooth is infected to the nerve putting a crown on it will not help trust me i havehad one done

[lynn117]

it sounds like the filling is very large so i would get the tooth refilled and a crown. each time a filling is placed a larger hole is drilled. the tooth will be much weaker with the new filling and a crown will keep the tooth from cracking or breaking. the previous poster is incorrect. yes a deep filled tooth may end up needing a root canal but its ok to get a crown without one. i have one crowned tooth that didnt need a root canal and another that had the root canal after the crown was put on. they drill a hole thru the top do the root canal and fill like a regular tooth.

[shortcircuited]

I have a tooth that my dentist wants to crown after replacing a filling.  Basically there is more filling than there is tooth, and he thinks the tooth will crack if it isn't crowned.  If someone tries to crown a tooth without removing the decaying cavity under the old filling, go find a new dentist!

[Jenny Wren]

Thanks for the comments.  

shortcircuited- The dentist does not want to just go ahead and the leave the old filling in and crown it.  He wants to do the right procedure, but another dentist never said anything about a crown, just that he wants to replace the old filling with a new one and no crown.  I am really seriously thinking about having them just pull the tooth and be done with.  I have no dental ins so the crown route is going to be costly to me rough estimate is $1073.00, way to much for me right now.  

I will see tommorow, my appt is at 10, this is the 3rd dentist opinion, I guess I will go from there.

Thank you all.  I'm going to take care of this lower molar first because its causing me alot of pain right now.  Then the next step is to have the upper wisdom tooth yanked. OUCHY!!!!  I'm a complete baby when it comes to dental work.  I think I'll take some Xanax before I go.  hehe  

Jen

[lynn117]

i have no insurance either. most dentists have some sort of payment plan options. by the time the old filling and decay are removed you will have less natural tooth left. it will be very fragile. the crown is expensive but is still your best bet in the long run.