Root canal or not?

[luvnwdwgal]

I was always terribly afraid of going to the dentist. I didn’t go for many years. Then last year just after the shutdown one of my molars started killing me. I still didn’t want to call the dentist. Then I couldn’t take it anymore and called. At that time they weren’t even seeing patients. The dentist asked me to take a picture of my tooth and text it to her. She then prescribed antibiotics for me. I took them and the pain went away for about a month. Luckily she had given me 1 refill and I ended up getting that too so that bought me another month. Eventually they opened back up and I ended up calling again and getting in. I was told I’d need a root canal. I suffer from anxiety as it is and this was not what I wanted to hear but I realized I really didn’t have a choice. I went and had it done. My husband sat out in the car waiting for me. I was given nitrous which relaxed me. They numbed my mouth so I never felt anything and it was literally a piece of cake. I couldn’t believe it! No pain during or afterwards. Absolutely no issues at all.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I've had 9 root canals, but the most recent was by far the least difficult. I had a tooth with a crown, but the crown was to protect the tooth-huge filling, not much tooth left. The dentist did the root canal with the crown still on. She drilled through the crown, and when finished she filled in the holes she'd drilled with... [who knows-she may have told me, but I forgot]. The worst part for me in the previous 8 has always been when they measure the tooth and use the plastic goop for the crown. This was so much easier if you have a crown, and it doesn't have to be removed.

 

[LuvOrlando]

I vote root canal, don't pull, some Dr's make it sound like not a big deal but it is a huge deal. It's not a little thing to correct, the implant process is very expensive and getting a bridge is a big thing too. Do go to a really good Dr though, even if you pay more find the best endodontist you can for the root removal and research for the crown.

 

[Stepha123]

If at all convenient, I believe it is best to save your tooth. You'll soon have no teeth if you lose one tooth here and one tooth there. As explained by my dentist, the other thing is that a missing tooth will cause problems for the teeth adjacent to the gap and weaken your jaw. So it better to choose a root canal to save your teeth from more problems in future.

 

[OneOftheB's]

If at all convenient, I believe it is best to save your tooth. You'll soon have no teeth if you lose one tooth here and one tooth there. As explained by my dentist, the other thing is that a missing tooth will cause problems for the teeth adjacent to the gap and weaken your jaw. So it better to choose a root canal to save your teeth from more problems in future.

I concur. DH is a dentist. I very recently had a front, lower tooth with resorption. I went to an implant specialist for an opinion the day it was found and she said she could place an implant, but both she and DH recommended that if possible try and save the tooth. I had the root canal yesterday morning and will go back for some additional work in the next week or so to fill the hole in my tooth from the resorption and get a crown.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I think you replied to the wrong post. I've had 2 with 0 issues.

Since it's the posters first post here since joining, I'm thinking they're testing their posting skills.

Also, probably responding to the OP (hopefully OP has figured it out, since this thread was started 10 months ago).

 

[Saber Rider]

Well, when it comes to implants or teeth restoration, an artificial tooth root is standard as the natural tooth consists of a root as well, talking about the replacement of the loss tooth. I think a root channel or screw channel for high strength
abutment crews keeps the whole operation much more stable and reliable in the future of your teeth.

 

[Dan Murphy]

As for your question about root canals, I've had a few done myself, and they weren't as bad as I thought they would be.

Welcome to the dis, jim. Good to hear your canals went well.

 

[Micca]

I've always wondered if the people who start an account just to post to a random topic have meet ups the rest of us aren't invited to. There must be a support group of people recovering from stuck popcorn kernels.

 

[SharonZ]

Had a couple of root canals, no major pain, no need for pain meds. It's always better to presrve the tooth, if possible, especially with the location of the tooth. Check with your dental insurance to see what is covered, better to know in advance. Mine were roughly $1,200 each and my insurance paid 80%.

 

[WEDWDW]

RC not too bad as long as properly deadened.

But I 100 percent say GET THE GAS!!!!

Makes it so much more tolerable IMO.

 

[dez1978]

Are they not covered by insurance?

My dental insurance is a joke. By the time I pay premiums and a deductible and coinsurance it’s actually just cheaper to pay out of pocket for routine care. If I needed a root canal I’d have to have had coverage for
1 yr already and then the max it would pay is 1,000. So while yes technically it’s covered, it’s not any cheaper when you include all the costs. And my dentist gives you a 10% discount if you pay cash or check.

 

[OhhBother]

I just had my permanent crown put on last week - the final step following a root canal a few weeks ago. I've had multiple root canals. I dread them, as most everyone does, but not because of pain. They don't hurt. It's just uncomfortable to have all that stuff in your mouth for an hour. I do best when I take a Xanax and sleep through the procedure. That's the path I normally choose, but I couldn't on this most recent one, as my DH wasn't available to drive me. So I got to be wide awake for the whole thing.

 

[WEDWDW]

I just had my permanent crown put on last week - the final step following a root canal a few weeks ago. I've had multiple root canals. I dread them, as most everyone does, but not because of pain. They don't hurt. It's just uncomfortable to have all that stuff in your mouth for an hour. I do best when I take a Xanax and sleep through the procedure. That's the path I normally choose, but I couldn't on this most recent one, as my DH wasn't available to drive me. So I got to be wide awake for the whole thing.

GET THE GAS!!!!

 

[stenueapacchan]

I just had my permanent crown put on last week - the final step following a root canal a few weeks ago. I've had multiple root canals. I dread them, as most everyone does, but not because of pain. They don't hurt. It's just uncomfortable to have all that stuff in your mouth for an hour. I do best when I take a Xanax and sleep through the procedure. That's the path I normally choose, but I couldn't on this most recent one, as my DH wasn't available to drive me. So I got to be wide awake for the whole thing.

Understandably, dental procedures can be uncomfortable, but it's great you found a way to cope with Xanax. Being awake for the recent one may have been challenging, but communication with your dentist can help make future experiences more comfortable. Take care of your oral health!

 

[stenueapacchan]

Had a couple of root canals, no major pain, no need for pain meds. It's always better to presrve the tooth, if possible, especially with the location of the tooth. Check with your dental insurance to see what is covered, better to know in advance. Mine were roughly $1,200 each and my insurance paid 80%.

It's great to hear that your experience with root canals hasn't involved major pain and you haven't needed pain medication. Root canals can be quite an investment, but it's reassuring that your insurance covered a significant portion.