Why is it called the money tooth?
The first mandibular molar #19 and #30 is considered the most commonly treated tooth in dentistry. Reasons are: over the years, more restorations follow and they keep getting bigger and bigger until a root canal is involved.
Some molar are crowned several times in the life of a patient with occasional crown lengthening and endodontic re-treatment. The money tooth is often functional until the root fractures or secondary caries makes it non-restorable. The tooth is then extracted and replaced with a dental implant.
Treating this tooth requires a large sum of investment over a lifetime. Dental implants are a good long terms solution to replacing lost teeth, but they’re not cheap. Dentists use a titanium screw in the jawbone in addition to a prosthetic tooth. A proper implant has no physical downsides and has good longevity. However, the problem is the cost for most of us struggling to pay off our monthly bills. Most dentists refer patients to oral surgeons, periodontists, or prosthodontists special care. If you need an implant near a nerve or sinus cavity, it is worth paying for a periodontists or surgeon who has specialized training.
Dental implants are usually a two part process – first putting in the implant, second covering it with a crown six to twelve weeks later. If you know you need a dental implant schedule the initial procedure as soon as possible with a periodontist like Dr. Kao. This can save you the pain, time, and money.
