One of my molars had to be extracted barely a year after it was metal-capped.
It all started last year when a corner of that molar broke off. With no choice but to seek immediate help, I turned to a private dentist. Although I had been diligently attending regular dental check-ups at government-run clinics for the past four years, the unfortunate reality is that public facilities fall glaringly short in handling emergencies. When it comes to urgent care, they simply lack the capacity for instant professional assessment and timely advice (Read here).
The private dentist - whom I’ve known since my university days - took one look at the broken tooth and almost instantly recommended a metal cap to salvage it. Trusting his expertise, I went along with his suggestion. And, for nearly a year, the tooth performed flawlessly. That is, until a few weeks ago.
It began with a sharp, searing pain every time I drank cool water. The discomfort escalated with icy drinks, becoming nearly unbearable.
On my return visit, the same dentist conducted a series of tests and took an X-ray. His conclusion: a hairline crack had likely developed deep in the tooth, and it was no longer salvageable. The only solution, he said, was to extract it and replace it with a dental implant. The cost? A staggering ten times the price of the original metal cap - a jaw-dropping expense, quite literally.
As he broke the news, I couldn’t help but question the decision made just a year ago. Should he have recommended extraction and an implant back then instead of the cap? In hindsight, it’s easy to wonder. But realistically, I would have resisted. There was no pain at the time, and no clear justification for removing the tooth. Even if he had warned me of potential problems within a year or two, I likely would’ve still chosen the cheaper, less invasive option. It’s the human tendency to take a chance when the odds seem in our favor. No one in their right mind would spend ten times more when a fraction of the cost might work just as well - at least for a while.
Sensing my hesitation, the dentist tried to reassure me with what sounded like classic salesman talk: “The money spent on the metal cap was still worth it - it gave you a functioning tooth for nearly a year!”
And so, my once-capped molar was extracted, and a metal socket implanted in preparation for the replacement. In another two months or so, no one will be able to tell that I ever lost a molar.
In the end, we live, we learn - and yes, we still believe and take chances.
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