I totally get where you’re coming from—the sticker shock on crowns is real. I’ve seen a few families try to go the filling route after a kid’s root canal, hoping to save some cash. Sometimes it works out for a while, especially if the filling is big and the tooth isn’t taking a ton of chewing force. But honestly, those back molars do a lot of heavy lifting, and once the nerve’s gone, the tooth can get brittle over time.
One family I worked with had their son’s molar filled after a root canal. It lasted maybe a year and a half before he bit down on something crunchy and the whole corner chipped off. They ended up needing the crown anyway, plus an extra repair. But I’ve also seen cases where the filling held up for a few years—just depends on luck, habits, and how much tooth structure is left.
It’s not always black and white. If cost is a big issue right now, sometimes a filling buys you time, but there’s always that risk hanging over your head. You’re not wrong to weigh your options.
If cost is a big issue right now, sometimes a filling buys you time, but there’s always that risk hanging over your head.
That’s exactly where I’m at. The price tag on crowns makes my wallet cry, but fillings do feel like rolling the dice. I did the filling after my own root canal because insurance barely helped. Made it about two years before half the tooth cracked on popcorn... Not fun. If you can swing the crown, probably less stress down the road, but I get wanting to save where you can.
The price tag on crowns makes my wallet cry, but fillings do feel like rolling the dice.
Yeah, my bank account definitely weeps at the mention of “crown.” I went the filling route too after my root canal—figured I’d save a few bucks and maybe get lucky. Spoiler: luck ran out when I bit into a pretzel at a movie and suddenly had half a tooth and a full-on panic attack. Lesson learned, but man, crowns are just so expensive.
Honestly, I still haven’t done the crown on my other root canal tooth because… well, rent. And groceries. And life. But every time I eat something crunchy, I feel like I’m in a dental version of Russian roulette. Not sure there’s a perfect answer unless someone invents “budget crowns” or my lottery numbers hit. For now, just hoping my teeth hold out a little longer.
That “dental Russian roulette” feeling is all too real. I get where you’re coming from—crowns are a major hit to the wallet, especially when you’ve already shelled out for a root canal. It’s honestly frustrating that something so necessary can feel like such a luxury.
I waited almost a year after my first root canal before finally getting the crown. Every time I chewed on that side, I’d get this tiny jolt of anxiety. My dentist warned me the tooth could crack, and sure enough, it eventually did... just biting into a sandwich. That repair ended up costing even more than if I’d just gotten the crown in the first place. Not saying fillings never work, but molars especially seem to need that extra protection.
It’s such a tough call when money’s tight. If you ever do decide to go for the crown, maybe ask about payment plans or see if your dentist has any discounts for cash payment. It helped me spread out the cost a bit, at least. Hang in there—teeth shouldn’t be this stressful, but you’re definitely not alone in feeling stuck between options.
Every time I chewed on that side, I’d get this tiny jolt of anxiety.
That’s exactly how I feel right now—like every bite is a gamble. I keep wondering if I’m being paranoid or if I’ll regret waiting. Honestly, your story makes me think it’s worth biting the bullet (no pun intended) and just getting the crown. The stress alone is exhausting.