Expert: Mark Bornfeld DDS - 3/21/2007

Question
I need a root canal on tooth #8.  I'm in Seattle w/o dental insurance.  Tooth has some historical damage that goes back to when I hit the tooth hard on a bench as a child--the tooth didn't crack or anything, but dentists have noticed that it has sustained trauma.  Now I have a bit of a gap and the tooth has come down a bit, only slightly, but the folks at the dental hygiene school I go to tell me I do have a lot of root (unfortunately, they don't do root canals). A general dentist is much much cheaper and I'm wondering if an endodontist is necessary?  After that procedure, I will need a crown and I'm wondering also if it is now possible to have two veneers placed on the front teeth as opposed to crowns, or one crown and one veneer?  My understanding is that it is difficult to match the color, therefore both front teeth should be done.  Thanks for taking the time to answer  

Answer
Dear Ann Marie,

Whether or not the extra skills of a specialist are required to successfully perform root canal treatment depends on the individual characteristics of the tooth. Typically, an upper central incisor is a relatively easy root canal to execute, but there are situations where this is not the case. A previous traumatic blow can cause either internal calification or internal resorption, either of which can greatly complicate endodontic treatment. You will need to consult with a general dentist and candidly ask him whether your #8 tooth merits the extra skills of an endodontist.

Once again, the selection of an appropriate restoration for a tooth depends mostly on the individual circumstances, which cannot be assessed here. However, it is relatively easy to optically match an all-ceramic crown with a ceramic veneer, so you have any of a number of different options that could be selected which would provide a consistent appearance and an excellent cosmetic result.

Hope this helps...

Mark Bornfeld DDS
www.dentaltwins.com
Brooklyn, NY