Will I need onlay or crown? I want onlay

[Sontris_101]

I fail out of my chair a few weeks ago when I passed out. After I woke up my molar in the very back of my tooth was fractured. I went to the dentist and he said I need a crown. However they don't do onlays and aren't very specialized dentists. So now Im going to a dentsit that does onlay to see if I can get that because I don't want a crown. Only thing I have to wait until January 4 due to no insurance left for this year.

My question: When I put temporary filling on I notice a small red dot at the gum line. It's sensitive but not extreme. Is this a sign of need of crown or can onlay still be used. Also I still have the chipped part of tooth in a ziplock bag. Will it be needed?

[Jerome Tsang, DDS]

Its not or it is?  Anyways, try to use a warm salt water rinse so that the temperature won't irritate it and keep the area as clean as possible.

[Sontris_101]

You are correct. It's not sensitive as I have no temp on it now. I dont let food nor liquids get to that side. I do gargle with pronamel paste as mouthwas irritates it.

[Jerome Tsang, DDS]

Never heard of lipus.  I don't see how growing roots though would help you out in your particular case unless you plan to do some orthodontics to pull the tooth up and grow the roots down.  You should get a new temp placed.  Try to keep the area clean but it'll probably stay sensitive unless its covered.

[Sontris_101]

I was just reading over the internet about tooth regeneration. Do you think I could try lipus? Low intensity pulsed utrasound. It massages tooth roots and allows tooth to regrow.

[Sontris_101]

Ok. I have 10 days to go. I feel pain down the side of my neck and temp. has came off. I'm having extreme sensitivity now. I can't go buy more temporary filling because holiday.

[Jerome Tsang, DDS]

If it worsens, I would call for an antibiotic.

[Sontris_101]

I do have an infection that was present before the tooth incident in my bottom lip. I'm worried about the neck pain I'm experiencing on the same side as the tooth. I wander if it is caused by the tooth or horrible TMJ I have. I will see dentist in January for TMJ.

[Jerome Tsang, DDS]

Best prevention would be an antibiotic.  Otherwise, keep the area as clean as possible and rinse with a mouthwash or warm salt water.  You can always call the dentist for a prescription mouthwash and antibiotic if you are worried.  I would say the antibiotic may be overly excessive though if there's no signs of infection. Antibiotic use should be reserved for more critical situations.

[Sontris_101]

How should I keep infection from developing. I have to make it until Jan. 4th. Warm salt water if very sensitive because of dentin. I also see no pulp present.

[Jerome Tsang, DDS]

Chipped tooth piece, no.  We wouldn't use it for anything at this point in time.  Sometimes you can get away with doing that on a front tooth if its chipped slightly as you can re-bond it back.  

As for the onlay/crown debate, it really depends on the amount of tooth structure left on it.  An onlay is probably possible but not sure what the red dot is.  I hope its not a pulpal exposure of the tooth cause if it is, you'll need a root canal.  It probably is just some food I imagine.