Root canal Vs Extraction

[smhmom]

I have a molar (#30), with a large filling in it, that cracked and got infected. I saw an endodontist who told me I could do a root canal with a 70% chance of saving the tooth. He also told me that the crack could go too far for a root canal to even be done, but he wouldn't know until he started the work and got my tooth cleaned out. So it worries me the I may have to pay for the root canal even though he couldn't finish it and then pay to have it pulled. The root canal would deplete my insurance benefits for the year, so the crown would come out of pocket, which would be $683.  
To have it removed along with another tooth that I need pulled would be roughly $3000 which includes pulling and a bridge.  That would mean about $2000 out of pocket if I don't get a root canal.
I'm not sure what to do, as I don't think those are the best odds and do not want to pay for the root canal only to turn around and pay completely out of pocket to pull it and put a bridge in.  thoughts?

[Wary007]

If you choose to have an extraction, then what?  You'll need an implant which can cost $2000.  I'd probably go for the root canal on the gamble that I could save my natural tooth.

[sijanise]

im glad youre trying to save it.. i thought about tha on my bottom #31.. but decided heck im 30 and dont wanna start losing teeth yet. Turns out i didnt have a choice once my dds perferated the tooth during the root canal and he had to extract it...a grown woman at 30 turned into a 5 yr old when they told me, i cried and cried and cried more when they were pulling it...thn i got dry socket from it too...i wish the root canal would have been sucessful cus it ***** not having a tooth there...even though it was so far back. my root canal was so difficult cus aparently one of the canals calcified and the dds said he has never seen that in a 30 yr old, only in his 80 yr old patients...wowzers...but he kept trying for 2 hours to make sure he got it cleaned out and lef no nerve and thats when he perferated the tooth...

good for you, save a tooth if at possible...cus dude...my implant is gonna be thousands! yep implant cus i cant have a bridge because it was my last tooth and theres nothing to conect it too

[smhmom]

I've decided to do the root canal.  i go this week.  The endo office told me they would only charge me half or less if it had to come out.  Wish they could just pull it too, but alas.   I feel if I just decided to pull it I would regret not trying to save it.  Wish me luck!

[sijanise]

HOPEFULLY HE WOULDNT CHARGE YOU FOR THE ROOT CANAL IF HE STARTED AND REAIZED TO TOOTH NEED TO COME OUT.opps sorry for the all caps. anyways I had a root canal done on my bottom #31 molar...during th root canal the dds had issue with it, one of the canals was calicified over...im 30 and he said he would normally see this in 80 yr old? so anyways he kept trying to open it ans perferated the tooth, i was at the dds from 2 pm til 6:30 pm and about 6 he perfeated it after working hours on it. Technicaly he could have charged me for the root canal cus he worked hours on it and was almost done, but ethically he messed up and had to extract it so in the end he just charged me 125 for the extraction...Id ask your endo. if she would charge for the root canal if it turned out it was cracked and had to come out

[StratRebel]

All the endodontist needs to do is remove the decay and then remove the cracked tooth structure.  If it is sound, he can do the root canal with no issues and you should be fine.  If it is not, he will not have to start the root canal and will not have to charge you for a full root canal.  Call his office and ask what the fee would be if he could not do the root canal, as it should not be anywhere near the cost of the full treatment.

[scottma]

Your descriptions suggest that your endodontist suspected there might be vertical fracture , which can not be identified from x-ray. It's very true that if vertical fracure of root is present, any treament is of no avail. In order to confirm the diagnosis, vertical fracture can be identified by exploratory surgical procedure, which consists of flap surgery . When flap is elevated, crack line can be seen, if it's present.This diagnostic procedure can confirm whether  root canal treatment is indicated or not.