I totally relate to the anxiety about the bill—root canals are no joke, especially when you’re not even sure if it’s worth it for a tooth that might be on its way out anyway. I keep going back and forth on this with my own molar. The dentist says they can “try” another root canal, but the cost makes my stomach drop. And honestly, I’m not convinced it’ll last.
the idea of paying for another root canal on a baby tooth (that might fall out anyway?!) just sounded wild.
That sums up exactly how I feel about spending money on something temporary. But then I get nervous about what happens after pulling it—like, will eating really feel the same? I know you said your kid adjusted fast, but I keep worrying about shifting teeth or chewing issues down the road.
Did your insurance cover much of the extraction? I’m stuck wondering if it’s just better to pull the thing and deal with possible braces later, or try to save it and hope for the best. The financial side just never seems to get easier. Anyone else regret pulling a back tooth, or did it end up being a relief?
But then I get nervous about what happens after pulling it—like, will eating really feel the same?
Honestly, I was super anxious about that too. I lost a molar a few years ago and worried I’d regret it, but chewing wasn’t as weird as I expected. There was a short adjustment period, but now it’s just normal. The financial relief after skipping another root canal was real. Still, I get the hesitation—no solution feels perfect when you’re staring at that bill.
The financial relief after skipping another root canal was real.
That’s a big factor, for sure. Did you ever consider getting an implant or bridge to fill the gap, or did you just leave it as is? I keep wondering if leaving a space changes how your other teeth feel or shift over time. I’m torn because saving money now sounds good, but I worry about future issues... Anyone notice any long-term changes after pulling a molar?
- You’re not alone—cost was a huge factor for me too. I skipped another root canal and went with extraction, but honestly, the “what now?” feeling kicked in later.
- Left the molar space empty for a while. At first, didn’t notice much, but after maybe a year? My bite felt off. The tooth above started dropping down a bit (dentist called it “super-eruption”), and the neighboring teeth shifted just enough to trap food more often.
- Chewing on that side got a bit weird. Not painful, just awkward—especially with certain foods like steak or nuts.
- Looked into an implant, but wow, sticker shock... Bridges were cheaper but required grinding down healthy teeth, which made me hesitate.
- If you can swing it financially, filling the gap helps keep everything stable long-term. But yeah, if money’s tight, living with the gap is doable short-term—just be prepared for some gradual changes. Flossing got trickier too.
Honestly, wish I’d planned ahead instead of waiting. But everyone’s mouth is different… might not even bug you much depending on where the missing tooth is.
Definitely relate to the sticker shock on implants. That’s what made me hesitate too, even though my dentist was all about it. I left a lower molar gap for about 18 months and, yeah, didn’t notice much at first either—until I started biting my cheek more and food just kept getting wedged in that spot. The shifting teeth thing is real. My hygienist said it happens slowly, but once it starts, it’s hard to undo.
Honestly, I’m still not sure if I regret not doing a bridge sooner. The idea of shaving down two good teeth just freaked me out. I’m super anxious about making things worse long-term, but the expenses add up fast. I’ve heard partial dentures can be an option too, but they seem kind of bulky for just one missing tooth.
Guess it just depends how much the changes bug you. I wish I’d realized earlier how one missing tooth could throw off the whole bite. It’s not always painful, but it’s definitely annoying.