re: OT Dentists: Is A Bone Graft Necessary After Having Wisdom Tooth Pulled?

Since we are in the mouth, I stopped on the way home from fishing and picked up a 1/2 pound of cracklins. Bit into one and sure enough, my teeth were a cracklin. An old filling broke and half of one of my lower teeth is gone. My dentist has been warning me about it, and now its happened. Does not hurt except its got a sharp, edgy side thats rubbing my tongue raw. I know the only two things my dentist will do, well really only one is to cap it. Because he won't pull it unless its not a primary tooth for eating and such. My question is can they just go in a smooth the sob out and let me be? TIA. Caps aren't covered, I'm looking at at least 800 smackers.

I meant crown, not a cap. Yeah I don't have major coverage for this. Thought about it but declined and have really not needed it, therefore saved in the long run, versus paying more a month. Now need it, just wondering.

Blue cross.

I had an oral surgeon suggest the same thing to me-- the bone graft was more than the actual tooth extraction.

I left iffy about it, because my pre consultant estimate was 3x less than I actually paid, and then my planned procedure for the tooth extraction was 300 dollars less than they had estimated. Basically, they were still going to get the same amount from me.

The doctor was great, nice, very knowledgeable, and had some great technology and I learned alot and I made sure I asked all the right, necessary and tough questions I needed to. But I left like his business practices were extremely shady, so I had a second referral were I was told that I didnt need a bone graft And this procedure will be significantly less than the aforementioned procedure.

I'm thinking 2nd opinion myself. I just cannot find any reason to have a bone graft after a wisdom tooth extraction except for 1 guy on some forum somewhere who said the most recent literature suggests it for lower wisdom extraction due to helping with perio something or other if the 2nd molar has a depth of 5mm or more.

I may need it b/c of that, but that's not how it was explained to me. I was told it would lessen recovery time and pain and I can't find any info online that suggests this is the case.

He's a very well regarded oral surgeon, but I'm questioning this procedure for sure.

I think I would go to an Oral Surgeon that has a cone beam (CT scan of the head and neck) and evaluate the true proximity of tooth 32 to the nerve and better plan the surgery. I don't think I would leave it there unless the roots were wrapped around the nerve.

Regarding the bone graft on tooth 17, I didn't realize that this was a thing now. I don't believe I would have this done as there is some recent data that socket grafting will provide any benefit.

That may have been a CT. Normally, they would share the images with you and it is cool to look at.

Looks like a skull with teeth that they can move around and take sections in three planes.