Root Canal

N.,
I had a root canal done on a molar that broke about 6 or 7 years ago, then had a crown put on it. I have not had any problems with the tooth since. I was mortified because I heard horror stories. To my surprise, it was not painful. Like another person said, the most inconvenient thing is that your mouth is propped open with some plastic device and you have to have it done in multiple visits.

Like with anything, if the dentist is good at what he/she does, then the experience will be pleasant.

i know lots of people are scared. if the root is bad,you need to have a root canal. you could a sinus infection or infection in your gums. take of yourself,if not for yourself do it for the grandkids. they need to have you healthy and you need to set a good example for them. i think there is more of a chance of losing the tooth if you do not do a root canal. listen to the dentist. if you are that nervous see if you can get some valium prescribed ahead of time and take one before you go in.

I am probably the extreme but i have had a terrible time with my root canal tooth. I had to have a cap put on after. After a couple of years of the cap coming off, it fell off last week and took my tooth with it! I am not only mortified, i need to now go and have oral surgery to remove the tooth that it left under my gum. Like the other mom said...mine is a molar and i think they are worse. I know that i do not drink enough milk and my poor teeth are week.

If you are concerned, i would really talk to your dentist. I have been there with the constant motrin :( Have you tried an antibiotic to see if it is just an infection?

You are reminding me that i need to get myself some calcium vitamins. It is so depressing to have tooth issues!!! Especially when i brush twice a day (with an electric tooth brush) and my husband who only brushes once has no problems!!

Best of luck to you. Don't worry...the actual root cananl is not too bad...just a pain in the butt to get done.

My advice would be to have the root canal! Leaving it "as is" would be much more painful than having the procedure done.

I had a root canal (in my twenties), and believe it or not, it was one of the more pleasant experiences I've had at the dentist! Maybe b/c he was a specialist? Maybe b/c it was split up between a few visits (can also be a pain)? Maybe it was b/c I was younger then and had a higher pain tolerance? Maybe b/c I was dreading it and it was much better than I thought? In any case, it wasn't horrible!

I have had no problems with my cap and all is well! Good luck . . .

It sounds like you absolutely need one. It's that or pull the tooth. You want to avoid that if you can. I've had a root canal and it is not near as bad as what people have said it to be. Just be sure to get a crown. If you don't, you will lose the tooth within a few years. The crown will definately help save it. Once you lose a tooth, the rest of your teeth will shift to compensate for the missing one causing you more problems. So, my advice, get the canal, get a crown. You won't regret it. Good luck with your procedure.

First of all... I don't know why everyone makes them out to be HORRIFIC... We all go into them TERRIFIED... and there is no merit to that!

Honestly...I've had two in the last two years. You are numb so you don't feel a thing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The first one did hurt for several days after, but the pain killers helped tremendously!!!!

The second one - NOTHING - didnt even need tylonal - i was fine!!!!!

Then eventually - within a year of the root canal - you have to go back and get a crown.... not a big deal at all (just expensive).

Just remember to ask for painkillers just in case you do have pain after the procedure. You might get lucky and not have pain at all - or if you do - the painkillers work like a charm!!!

The worst of it is the discomfort - but if you are a mother - you can handle alot more than that :)

Good Luck :)

You will have to get a cap on it or it will crummble...i have had many adn they aren't that bad....but make sure you get it capped.
Jade

Hi N.,

Are you afraid of the actual procedure? If so, don't worry too much. Mine wasn't any worse than having a regular filling done. I think some root canals last; some don't. You might talk to your dentist about what other options are available to you, such as pulling the tooth and having a replacement put in. This would be more costly, though, and it seems nothing lasts forever.

Take care,
K.
www.joyfulconnections.net

Get a second opinion if you're not sure you want it, but I know several people who have had root canals with no complications and are very happy afterwords not to have problems in the tooth anymore. Good luck-I hope your pain goes away!

N.,
I have had two root canals, but they have both been done on molars. I was always under the impression that a root canal weakens the tooth. That's why I had to pay for crowns for my two molars. The root canal itself isn't really that bad. Just like any other dental work. I just found it annoying that they kind of prop your mouth open and put a rubber dental dam through which they work.

As far as whether or not YOU need this root canal--I guess only you and your dentist can decide that. If the filling was done on an infected tooth, that would certainly cause pain. But your pain seems to be lessening. ask your dentist about waiting to see if the pain/infection settles down. Did he put a medicated filling in? My mom had that done and even the medicated filling didn't work. She ended up having the tooth pulled b/c it was a molar in the back & she didn't want to spend the $$ on a back tooth.
p.s. If you do have pain, I have heard NEVER put heat on tooth pain--always cold.

I had a root canal this summer. I was scared, but it was a piece of cake. I didn't hurt during or after. What hurt was that pain you described before hand. Don't worry and hopefully everything will go ok.

I've had good dentists and bad dentists, but the most honest reminded me that dentistry is an art, not a science:) A root canal isn't the procedure to make you "lose your tooth". A root canal is one step in pain management if you have a dying or broken tooth. I had a broken molar after 9/11 and my dentist at the time was too cautious, trying to save it with a root canal and a crown, but ultimately, I needed it pulled and an implant put in. It was expensive, but it is now the best tooth in my mouth!

If there is no crack, a root canal will make you comfortable and that's the whole point of this - pain management. If it doesn't "work", then the dentist will suggest next steps with you (I have no idea of the condition of your surrounding teeth and gums - you may be an implant candidate, or something else!). Talk honestly with your doc, tell them if you are scared, and if they brush you off or don't take your fears seriously, get a new dentist. I have a great one here in the 16046 zip code:)

GOOD LUCK!

N.,

i had a root canal done on my front top tooth when I was 10 years old. I'm now 33 and haven't had a single problem with it. It's as strong as ever and I haven't had any pain. I won't comment on the procedure as I was 10 and that was 23 years ago and I don't remember it well :p

Good luck.

I just had root canal on two teeth, but they are in the back. Once you have the root canal done, they put a temporary filling in and then the dentist will have to also put a crown on it. To me, the root canal was well worth the trouble. I lived in pain for a year, and could not eat anything on that side of my mouth. Who is doing your root canal, an endocrinologist? I would tell them your concerns and talk to them.