Please help with whether or not to do a root canal

[spz]

On 5/23/11 I went to dentist A for a cleaning.  On his invoice it shows 5/23/11 Periapical single, first (#3)
                                                                                                               5/23/11 resin comp-3 surface post (#2 OLB)

amongst the other usual items such as fluoride (I don't like fluoride but he insist for the last 2 years), bitewings, four,etc.  I told dentist A that for a while that when I chew on certain items it hurts.  He thought it maybe something with my bite and started drilling at certain points of my mouth.  Well after that the pain went from when I ate certain foods to all the time i ate on my right upper tooth which is tooth #3 (wisdom teeth removed at appx 20's)  I am now 38.  He then told me I should get a better guard for my teeth grinding.  That cost $450.00 for the guard.  At my next visit he says, I should get a crown. He shows me thru the xray a crack but all the lines on the xray looked the same.  To me the untrained person all the lines looked like cracks on that tooth xray.   I went to dentist B for a 2nd opinion and he says the same so I had the temp crown for tooth #3 put in appx 9/2011.  I still have the pain after a while with temp crown.  Dentist B sends me to an endodontic dentist.  She is great this endodontic doctor but I am still not sure what to do.  She says the tooth could have been fractured.  She wants to do a root canal.  It is now 11/2011 the pain has subsided but still somewhat there again only when i chew on that side.  Should I continue to wait to see if it goes away on its own?  Please any opinion would be appreciated.

[Gellia]

Hi,
It does sound like a fracture.  There are really only two things it seems they are suggesting you do.  Get the root canal and crown and hope the fracture holds, or I'm sure they would suggest having the tooth extracted and getting an implant placed there.  Because it is the last tooth your dentist may suggest nothing but an extraction, if all else fails.

A root canal would be the first step.  If there is already a fracture and it is wide enough, it will be seen during the procedure.  Too wide a crack that extends below the gumline would necessitate an extraction otherwise a RCT and crown may help hold the tooth together if the fracture is small.  

Good luck with this.  It can be very frustrating when a thin crack has appeared as any treatment can lead to further treatment which still may not save the tooth.  It's worth a shot IMO, though.  

I went through the same thing with a lower molar and wound up pulling the tooth.  Wish I hadn't and had gone for the second RCT and crown but the fracture just got too wide, and frankly, I was tired of being in pain with it.

GOOD LUCK and do let us know how you are doing.

My very best to you,
Gellia

[spz]

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply to my post. I think it's great you gave me such detailed info. Just to clarify the tooth in question is the 2nd to last on the upper right. I've had my wisdom teeth removed.  The dentist who is holding off on the crown while I do the root canal says I should come after a week from RTC. Can I wait to January just a couple of weeks later do that insurance pays at a better rate. Do I risk anything by waiting after RTC?  Thanks again so much!!!!  Thru the whole process, no one really explained that my choices were limited. I feel much comfort moving ahead.  Thanks Gellia!!!!