Do you really need a second molar? Is it worth the money to have it replaced?

I had my lower right 2nd molar extracted last month and am going to have the lower left 2nd molar extracted as well. One of the uppers 2nds needs a crown, the other upper a filling.


The dentist recommended getting an implant to replace the two lower missing teeth, but my insurance will only cover the crown and not the titanium post or ( will cost about 5000-6000 total for both which my insurance will cover at most 1000). My insurance also caps out at 1000 so my normal dental work will fill that anyway so I am really looking at 5000-6000.





I am 32 and going to the dentist from here on out. Better late than never I guess. I have been eating just fine without it am wondering if it is really necessary. I don't have a gap as it is my furthest back tooth.





I am thinking a more cost effective way to handle this is to have have the other lower pulled and let them be for now. no implants. When the time comes, have the uppers extracted. This would leave me with 24 healthy teeth.

Do you really need a second molar? Is it worth the money to have it replaced?
THE WAY YOU HAVE DECIDED TO GO ABOUT IT IS A GOOD IDEA
Reply:If you are missing the two lower second molars on each side, which sounds like that will be the case, eventually the two top 2nd molars will start to grow down since there is nothing to stop them and when that happens (it could take a very long time, it just depends) you will have to get them removed and you'll be in the cost effective situation you described (24 teeth) which most likely will be fine, I doubt you'll have too much of a problem chewing, it may be a little different but you'll live and no one will ever notice. Implants to replace the 2nd molars will prevent the top ones from ever drifting down. But it's really up to you, plus you need to decide if you should get the crown on the top if it's going to eventually be pulled? I would because like I said it could be a long time before it grows enough to extract and you want to keep it as long as possible. Hope this helps, I work in a dental office and know that dental work can be very expensive, you're lucky it's the very back teeth so it's not noticeable but keep up with regular check-up and be very meticulous with your oral hygiene at home so you won't have to worry about losing anymore teeth!



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