That “tree stump” feeling is exactly what got to me too. I kept thinking, is there really no way to save more of the tooth? I actually asked about onlays after my root canal, but my dentist said the crack was too deep for anything less than a crown. Still, I wish they’d explained the options better. The insurance part is rough—mine barely helped either. Sometimes I wonder if newer tech like 3D-printed restorations will make less invasive fixes more common down the line...
The insurance part is rough—mine barely helped either. Sometimes I wonder if newer tech like 3D-printed restorations will make less invasive fixes more common down the line...
That “tree stump” feeling is exactly what my kid kept talking about after her root canal. I totally get what you mean by wondering if there’s any way to save more of the tooth—my first question was if they could just patch it up somehow, not grind it down so much. I actually pushed for an onlay too, but the dentist said something similar, that the crack was just too deep.
Honestly, I wish they’d explained all the options better before we made a decision. I kept asking, “Are you sure there’s nothing else?” but it felt like they already had their mind made up. The insurance part is a nightmare—ours only covered a fraction, and I’m still not sure why some things count and some don’t.
I saw you mentioned 3D-printed restorations... Is that actually being used for kids yet? I worry about how long those new materials last compared to the old stuff. Has anyone’s dentist actually offered that as an option? I feel like we’re stuck with the same choices from ten years ago, and it’s just frustrating when you want the best for your kid but don’t know what’s really possible.
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“I saw you mentioned 3D-printed restorations... Is that actually being used for kids yet?”
I asked my dentist about this for my son’s molar and they said it’s still mostly for adults, at least where we live. Insurance didn’t even mention it as an option. I’m with you on the frustration—feels like tech moves faster than what we actually get offered.
“I’m with you on the frustration—feels like tech moves faster than what we actually get offered.”
Tell me about it. My dentist still uses that weird little spit sucker from the ‘90s, but apparently, there’s a robot somewhere 3D-printing teeth in under an hour. I asked mine about 3D-printed stuff for my own crown, and he gave me that look like I’d just asked for a hoverboard. “Maybe in a few years,” he said. Meanwhile, I’m sitting there thinking, “My phone can recognize my face, but you can’t print me a tooth?”
It’s wild how insurance is always two steps behind, too. I swear they’re still processing claims from when I had braces as a teenager. I get why they’re cautious with new tech, but man, it’d be nice if our kids could benefit from some of these advances instead of just reading about them.
I do think onlays are kind of a hidden gem, though. My last dentist recommended one after a root canal instead of a full crown—said it would save more of my tooth. Insurance actually covered most of it (shocker), and it’s held up pretty well so far. Not sure if they do that for kids’ molars yet, but it might be worth asking about next time you’re in.
Hang in there—it’s definitely frustrating when you know there’s something better out there but can’t actually get it yet. At this rate, our kids’ grandkids will be getting 3D-printed molars while we’re still stuck with the old-school stuff...
That’s wild about the insurance still dragging their feet after all these years… I swear, every time we go in for my daughter, I’m bracing for some random code they won’t cover. Onlays sound interesting though—our dentist never mentioned them for kids, just regular fillings or crowns. Did yours say if there’s a difference in how long they last compared to crowns? I’m always worried about stuff breaking and needing another appointment.
