Get a second opinion.

As my DH and I are both nearing the age of 80, a lot of things are becoming too expensive to bother doing, AS LONG AS MAJOR health concerns are not compromised. IMO, even if the tooth "won't be pretty" if not dealt with, that would come into my personal decision, and I would not have it fixed. As long as being able to eat functionally is okay, that would be enough for me.

Just my opinion. Good wishes to your friend for a reasonable solution.

Dentists are the biggest rip offs in the medical industry. My husband got his lower row removed and replaced with dentures for $3500. You're telling me fixing one tooth is over four grand? No. Just NO.

I'm missing two molars. You can tell I'm missing at least one when I smile. I don't care. They want just as much for a bridge for two molars as my husband paid for pulling the bottom row and replacing it with the dentures.

That's almost what I paid for an implant on a front tooth. Is it broken close to the gumline? If so, I think he'll need an implant or bridge.

Thats insane. He probably needs a cap. i never heard of gluing on a broken piece of tooth. It will never hold. He needs to see another dentist.

Hey, im older than 72 and would definitely have it repaired, not only for appearance but alsofor function.

@woodrose Great idea!

Cementing a broken tooth is possible. My little sister broke off almost half of her top front adult tooth when she was a kid and they reattached it and it lasted for decades at least.

Definitely shop around - dentists can charge whatever they want, and some aren't so ethical. I learned that the hard way.

I wonder if a second opinion isn't possible. I know very little about the details of dentistry but if the roots are sound, wondering why not a crown. A crown at my dentist is in the neighborhood of $1500 - I have a couple but not done recently. What might be charged to ready the remnant tooth for one is something I don't know.

Our dentist charges slightly more than our insurance thinks reasonable. There are not that many dentists in our smaller community and we go to him anyway, paying the differences out of pocket. That does not mean paying happily, although we have always been pleased with his work.

An implant was the best choice when a root fractured on my farthest back molar that had a root canal done twice over the years. I had no coverage for an implant and went that route anyway - viewing it about the same as house maintenance, car in good working order, all else.

I saw too much trouble with my Mom's chewing and nutrition in her latest years, and plan on having good teeth to my very end. It really does make a difference in health.

Prices vary regionally and also vary by what kind of dentist (specialist vs generalist) does the work. This may be a dentist who only does gluing in such instances, others may be more skilled and offer different approaches.

That's insane I don't care where you are. Even if was a molar and they did root canal plus crown it should be well less than that. Shop around.

Dental college. Some cities also have places that will do dental work at a discounted price or for free, run by volunteer dentists on their off time.

There is no such thing as gluing a chip off a tooth back together....there must be some misunderstanding.

Gluing a broken part back on a tooth is done and has been done for years. The problem with doing it is it is only temporary. Second problem is the edges of the glued area tend to collect stuff and discolor. A lot would depend on how much of the tooth was broken. Like is the root exposed or not. I have had the tooth behind that one crowned. Since my dentist also does cosmetic dental procedures, I had an option of crown or having the tooth rebuilt using a special material. The current implantations were not available at that time and my dentist did not think my bone was wide enough for one of them. At that cost the person needs to look for a dentist that will do more than what for most people would be a temporary fix.

Thanks all. This is an expensive dentist in a pricey town just outside of Boston.

Here is sort of a sketch of the broken off tooth. (BTW, if you break a tooth like this, keep the broken piece in a clean jar with clean water, says dentist).

The dentist is a cosmetic dentist who specializes in things like cosmetic restorations. He is meticulous, artistic and does excellent work. He teaches at one of the dentl cooleges in the metropolitan Boston area.

My friend with find out more int eh coming months, but has registered his concern aboujt the enormous expense. He will find out more in the coming weeks.

The root of the tooth seems healthy. The tooth broke when he used his incisors to clamp down on a grape stem in order to pull it free from the $0.57 green grape.

NOTE: do not use your teeth as a “tool.”

PS I have developed a hass A$$ed Theory about expensive dental work for seniors. Get $4000 worth of dental work done — you’ll be dead inside of three years ;-)

^^^^ I am not kidding.

Meanwhile, I had a premolar disintegrate on me 5 months ago. Grrrrr! The premolar on the othwr side had a gold 3/4 crown about 25-35 years ago by the very same dentist.

The new contralateral premolar is broken off close to the gumline on the inside (lingual and posterior part of the tooth. Estimated cost to create a built up structure to support a 3/4 crown, and the 3/4 gold crown is, READY?, Kaching!!! $4,000!!!

Can I will my dental restorarions to a family member?

If I ignore/don’t fix the broken pre-molar, after a while, it will deteriorate and may need a more costly resoration or a root canal. I have a wide ”smile” so a tooth gap will show.

Dammit. Listen young folks, squirel a lot of money away for dental care and restorations!

Somebody please refill my glass.

You didn't include the picture.

Perhaps the dentist is too "good" for what's needed? 30 years ago maybe?

Your friend is going to contemplate this for weeks? By then it might just become part of his personality!

5th grade, I went up to someone and pretended to blow my trumpet in his face, his hand came up to defend himself, mouthpiece went into my front tooth and chipped it. Went to the dentist who just filed my front teeth approximately flat. 🤷‍♀️ Fast forward many years, a girlfriend's sister's dentist-boyfriend offered to fix my teeth. Girlfriend begged me not to, said it was part of my personality. So I didn't. My tongue still goes to what remains of the chip, and every time I notice my slightly short and uneven front teeth, it kind of makes me smile.

I agree never use your teeth as a tool. Someone who shall remain annoymous, used to open pistachios with her front teeth. Chipped one of them, got it fixed and some time later did it again. Never got it fixed again.

A dentist calling themselves a "cosmetic dentist" is like a hairdresser having words on their shop sign "We specialize in artistic creations".

"Cosmetic dentist" is a generic term any dentist can use. It's not a title, not the result of completing a particular course of study or training, and not the result of having any special qualifications.

True but I'd expect a cosmetic dentist to have taken coursework specific to cosmetic dentistry, and focused their ongoing education, practice, and experience on the cosmetic aspect. And then there's the prosthodontist who is definitely a specialist but likely not what we're talking about here.

Why not just shave it smooth? I chipped a back tooth and they just smoothed it out.

" I'd expect a cosmetic dentist to have taken coursework specific to cosmetic dentistry "

I'm not sure why you'd have that expectation. Any and all dental school graduates, even recent ones, can describe themselves in this way if they choose. Bottom line is that doing so is marketing and sales posturing for existing and potential patients, with no real meaning.

"Prosthodontist" is a designation with a meaning, it's a dentist who has completed rigorous additional training in the field of dental work involving appearance and functional restorations. It requires a residency program of three additional years after dental school graduation. A subset of prosthodontists have the further designation of being Board Certified, which requires passing written tests and a technical assessment of actual patient treatment cases for whom exam-prescribed procedures have been performed.

It is easier for my dentist to state that he does cosmetic dentistry than try to explain to the general public the correct terminology. If it is simply someone wanting teeth whitening he sends them elsewhere. Since he has a national reputation he must be good at that type of work. I only use him because he took over the practice when my previous dentist retired.

" Since he has a national reputation "

Never heard of such a thing. A dentist in private practice in a community setting is the epitome of a local business.

Anyone who touts their reputation directly or indirectly doesn't have one.

"I'm not sure why you'd have that expectation."

Perhaps expectation is a strong word. Are there areas of accountancy that you would claim as an area of expertise on your resume for which you don't have specific accreditation? For which you have experience and perhaps some continuing education?

I understand that there is no board certification for this specialty, but there is AACD which along with other dental accreditations the courts have deemed as having legitimate value.

Your points are taken though, and I'll save you the criticism: Yes I googled.

Poor Elmer. While you have not heard of a dentist with a national reputation it does not mean that all the sports and entertainment people that I have seen in the office for my twice a year checkups suddenly just happened to wander through the door. If they fly here to have things done I suspect his reputation is sound and more than local.

The AACD is an organization with no educational, professional or technical prereqs. Membership is open to those in the dental field who submit an app and pay the fee. It's not a recognized professional accomplishment. Dentists can call themselves "cosmetic dentist" at will and with or without membership in this marketing organization, there are no courses, qualifications or training required to do so. It signifies nothing at all. Just like the creative hairdresser.

" Are there areas of accountancy that you would claim as an area of expertise on your resume for which you don't have specific accreditation? "

This is not comparable, there few or no titles other than college degrees and the holding of state licenses. I do have a Masters in Taxation. Resumes of professional service providers tend to be factual, describing practice area focuses, if any, which readers can assume to be areas of added experience. Experience isn't always competence and competence is attested to with professional references.

Did I have ever falsely claim a practice area focus implying special expertise I didn't have added experience and training for? Absolutely, positively not.

I agree with you more than I disagree with you on this thread so I'll try to stop the circle here. But I will note that the AACD website seems to indicate requirements beyond an application and a check. Even if those requirements aren't particularly rigorous. (And even if they have blatant grammatical errors on their website!)

If a "dentist" told me to place a broken tooth in water, that would be my first & last clue to see a different dentist.

I agree a second opinion would be a good idea. When my son and DIL were grad students in Boston they went to the clinic at the Tufts School of Dental Medicine for excellent dental care at a discount.

There's another dental school in Boston that also has a reasonable reputation - its name starts with H.

Elmer, I’m sure the care at Harvard Dental Clinic is excellent, but not sure the fees are discounted as they are at Tufts; certainly it is an option worth exploring.

I don't know any specifics, chinacat, only that it's there.

I believe all dental schools offer supervised student services at below market prices to attract patient work for students to learn from. A comparison that's not quite on par but similar is discounted pricing at hairdressing/barber schools, for the same reason.

Hi, I am back after a short rest — getting my balance. Trying to between snow and sleet, med appointments, dental whallop, dropped iphone failing (grrrr), exhaustion and out of sorts.

I want to thank all of you for your kind and thoughtful responses. I am trying to order seed for a money tree.

So, I gave you two (2) expensive dental restoration issues. And, yes, FOAS, I goofed and forgot the lousy sketch of the broken off front lower incisor. I can barely draw an oval, but I will offer an approximation. I drew the incisors way too narrow, but it will still convey approximately where the tooth broke.

(I told you that I s**k at drawing. I drew the teeth way too narrow. OOPS. Double the width. or at least half again.

Person went to dentist and said way BOW COOP expensive. Dentist sset up a meeting in 6 weeks or so. Will discuss oter options.

The owner of this mouth with missing tooth is, IMHO, too retiring.

I asked if he asked dentist how long might new $$$ restoration (glue job) last. Said dentist told him could last 2 years or 3 or 4 or until the universe dries up and blows away.

I replied, ”you’re saying that for ~$4,000 the resoration might last only 2 or 3 years? Then what? What ifit fails in a month? Do you get a refund?”

The dentist is a ”Prosthodontist.” I always mis-spell that word, so say ”cosmetic dentist” which, as Elmer rightly pointed out is or tends to be a fluff term.

I have same dentist. I’m sure board certified in several areas. Gone to him ever since he with broken incisor asked his picky periodontal surgeon who that guy would send his (stereotype not disclosed here ethnic group Mother to. That how he got the name of Dr. prosthodontist.

The dentist is way pricy, but very good. Teaches at a big city dental school. Is artistic (I think that is a good indicator. I’ve had crowns and onlays that have lasted > (knock on wood) 30 years. He is fastidious. But as FOAS commented, maybe too good. LOL I don’t thinks I’ve got 30 more years on me. Maybe only 3 to 6, maybe 8 or 10.

Yeah, got to love materials science. broken off teeth can be glued together, but as some have noted, maybe not for long.

This prosthodontist has realistic aeshetics. He accepts natural looking teeth. His teeth are white but are far from perfect with imprefect alighnments and a few irregularities, maybe a chip or two. He doesn’t do chiclet teeth.

I suppose the person could just leave himself gap tooth. When he annoys me, I find myself thinkig that it fits with his personality.

I have some 2 part expoxy resin for reairing boats. Toxic as hell, but I could probably fashion a gap filler.

PS, I have no idea why yourw supposed to put freshly broken tooth in water. I BELIEVE is is so that is does not disintegrate into powder.

If seen by a for-real prosthodontist, you're in the good hands of someone with all the knowledge there is to have and beaucoup (not bow coop but pronounced bow coo) skills to apply them. Good luck

Denal query #2:

My broken/fracture pre-molar. Dammit!

It has some sort of epoxy or resin resoration. It broke off close to the gunline (above gumline/gingiva a bit). The nerve is good, so I don’tneed a root canal or a Panama Canal.

The premolar on the other side has a gold onlay or half crown. The ner ve was tested with a ”pulp meter”? and nerve is good.

The dental restoration will be first to build up the lingual (longe) and postero aspect of the tooth so that a half crown can be anchored to that. Then a ”temporary” ($495!?) then the real gold half crown.

If I let it go, do nothing, the tooth will most likely continue to erode, break or decay and then I might need a root canal, or a full crown. Or a mean nasty country will come over and set off a nasty warhead o that tooth. Or I will die of exasperation with other things going on in my life.

Here are some images, but I may not leave them up long. Too ”DNA”

And don’t anyone question my proprioception. I blindly too these with a smart phone, no mirror, just guessing. Pretty good aim on first shots. I tend to have a feel for snapping photos. My DH is (IMO) clumsy as are most (hurry up) people I know.

BTW, if you want better resolution and have a techy artsy pal, use a dental mirror. Snap the photo of the tooth as it appears in the mirror. Hold camera still (A lot of people cannot seem to master this for some reason — and that is irksome).

See space where tooth missing because it broke.

See above? this is the contralateral tooth. Nice gold onlay, isn’t it? I wish there had been one one the other side.

I don’t have a long time to think about this unless I reschedule the mid April bitewing and build up appointment.

I don’t know any other dentists. Don’t feel confident that in my village I will get decent work. Don’t know anyone I can ask.

When I lived in the middle of the country I went for dental work at a dental school.

Students are supervised, but I think for a restoration that requires some finesse, the level of care is not there. LONG WAITS.

There are dental schools in Boston, but….

Thanks, Elmer. Yes, a very good prosthodontist.

I know beaucoup, just too poor for the fancy French letters. ”Mercy bow cups.”

PSA for someone who may experience broken or avulsed tooth. Do NOT place in water.

Thanks, MDLN. He put it in well water, and it had already been out of his mouth, dry for a few months, I think.

So odd that the dentist said water. If he’d siad milk, the solution would be hard Parmesan by now. Maybe he should keep a Save a Tooth kit on hand. Regular pharmacy product? I’ll look into it for ”next time.”