Survival of two molars

[bookburn]

Dentist offering FREE inspection and x-rays along with teeth cleaning, so I bit on that.

X-rays revealed two adjoining molars with space between at base and collecting food. Dentist recommended two crowns to fix me up. Turned that down, maybe because once in the past with an infected molar the dentist's asked what I would like to do, and I told him to just insect the pulp and drain the swelling on the gum. Lo and behold, he did exactly that, and the molar lasted another twenty years.

So now, some three years later, a different dentist looked at two adjoining molars with a gap between at the base, only one a little painful, and recommended I get them both pulled, along with another molar causing some pain. Oral surgeon he referred me to pulled the one molar and made an appointment to pull the questionable two. Decisions, decisions. I ended up cancelling the appointment.

Now, some two years later, the two molars in question are not painful, and I'e had their use for all that time. Now also wondering about getting transplants. But, hey, I'm 86 and don't like making decisions.
What to do?

[marc hanson]

Post by bookburn
Dentist offering FREE inspection and x-rays along with teeth cleaning, so I bit on that.
X-rays revealed two adjoining molars with space between at base and collecting food. Dentist recommended two crowns to fix me up. Turned that down, maybe because once in the past with an infected molar the dentist's asked what I would like to do, and I told him to just insect the pulp and drain the swelling on the gum. Lo and behold, he did exactly that, and the molar lasted another twenty years.
So now, some three years later, a different dentist looked at two adjoining molars with a gap between at the base, only one a little painful, and recommended I get them both pulled, along with another molar causing some pain. Oral surgeon he referred me to pulled the one molar and made an appointment to pull the questionable two. Decisions, decisions. I ended up cancelling the appointment.
Now, some two years later, the two molars in question are not painful, and I'e had their use for all that time. Now also wondering about getting transplants. But, hey, I'm 86 and don't like making decisions.
What to do?

[it sounds like you're not just ignoring it, which can be very bad for teeth]

i have a bridge/crowns,
and i use a toothpick every other day or so, to make sure food doesn't accumulate for very long underneath it

generally speaking, if there's no pain, leave it alone, you could always make things worse

All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages. At first the infant,
Mewling and puking in the nurse's arms;
Then the whining school-boy, with his satchel
And shining morning face, creeping like snail
Unwillingly to school. And then the lover,
Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad
Made to his mistress' eyebrow. Then a soldier,
Full of strange oaths, and bearded like the pard,
Jealous in honour, sudden and quick in quarrel,
Seeking the bubble reputation
Even in the cannon's mouth. And then the justice,
In fair round belly with good capon lin'd,
With eyes severe and beard of formal cut,
Full of wise saws and modern instances;
And so he plays his part. The sixth age shifts
Into the lean and slipper'd pantaloon,
With spectacles on nose and pouch on side,
His youthful hose, well sav'd, a world too wide
For his shrunk shank; and his big manly voice,
Turning again toward childish treble, pipes
And whistles in his sound. Last scene of all,
That ends this strange eventful history,
Is second childishness and mere oblivion;
Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans every thing.

marc