Root canal's cause other issues... I would have the tooth pulled. Which I did just yesterday...two of my back molar's. Check out online the many issues root's canals can cause.
Extraction only a THIRD WORLD SOLUTION? Well I don't know what world YOU live in but I'd sure like a part of it because I don't know too many people in my world able to fork out $2500 for a root canal, cap & core when an extraction of a barely visible tooth is only 10% of that! Get it yanked.
I am surprised no one has mentioned this yet, but what was the reason given for needing a root canal?
Root canals in dentistry are like ADHD in medicine, the most overdiagnosed problem in the field.
I would say that anytime you can you should save a tooth. I don't quite understand the rational behind rootcanal and waiting.. don't get me wrong, I understand financial consideration, but I don't think as a healthcare provider that is our job to plug that in. We are supposed to tell you what we would suggest as we would want in our own mouth..
So let me tell you. First of all, extarction of second molars should not be deemed so simply. at 39, your wife could statiscally be looking at another 46 years of life.. I would not give up a second molar so quickly..
When a tooth is Root canaled it should be crowned immediately, I have seen crack happen in two weeks.. It seems to me that your dentist is way too insurance dependent, meaning he is letting insurance coverage, or lackk thereof, dictate his recommendaion. That is not right.
As for your family member, I am sure he/she means well, but that is exactly why we should not work on our family.. I really don't seehow he thinks removal of second molars will not effect your wife long term.. first of all you are essentially foroing two other teeth, your lower second molars, then the posteriior bite collaps could potentially have serious outcomes longterm for your wife. 3 out of 4 TMJ paients are women.. ?? I don't really understand the rational there.. Not only you should keep that tooth but you should also replace the other that was removed before you get uneven bite and unilateral collaps of her bite.. Extarction is really a third world solution and one that requires no thought process.. Ask yourself this.. if you were going to be ok with one molar in the upper arch why do we have three per side? I think 8 million years of evolution is a better guide than insurance based recommendation..
If saving and restoring 2nd molar is strongly desired. crown can be delayed a while after completion of root canal treatment. Occlusal reduction is generally performed to reduce the possibility of crown fracture.
I should note that there is no pain currently, and my wife's pain tolerance is fairly low.