Root Canal Pain

S., I just got this message and thought I would put my two cents worth in. Root canals are a waste of time and money!!!. If the tooth is in the back and not where it can be seen just have it pulled!!!! When you get root canals even from a good dentist it will still fade and you will have to go back in a year or two to have it redone and it is just a pain. I had soooo many of them through the years that when my teeth got really bad (genetics suck and the kids took all that was left after that) I found a Great Dentist(in northern michigan, sorry) that told me the truth about everything. And he even said that they were a waste of money but he has to make it somewhere, and only did them when nessesary,(i.e when its a front tooth you don't want to be without). I just wanted to let you know that.
Stef F.

Find a new dentist!! I had one root canal and did not feel a single thing. I dont know how you were able to withstand the pain. you must have a very high pain tollerance. My face was numb for hours after the root canal. I hope you dont have more pain afterwards. After a good root canal you should have NO sensations with that tooth. it should feel completely numb. If you still feel pain then the dentist may not have gotten all of the nerves and you will need to go back. I would not go back to her. good luck
E.

hi! i was a dental assistant for about 6 years and well, lets put it this way..find a new dentist!i have also had 1 root canal and felt absolutly nothing.if the dentist couldnt get a good block(numb you) then she shouldnt have started treatment. she could have tried the next day(sometimes they just miss it) or sent you to an endo specialist(rootcanal specialist) if your canals were "twisted". a rootcanal should not be painful during or after treatment, minor ache is ok afterwords but you should NEVER feel anything during treatment if your correctly blocked(numbed). good luck in ur search for a new dentist.

S.--It shouldn't have hurt like that. Find another dentist who can keep you comfortable.

I agree with the other moms, you should have gotten numbed up really well before your dentist did the procedure. I've had multiple root canals and can't imaging going through that experience without any pain killer.

Next time go to a root canal specialists...an endodontists. You should have felt no pain after they numb you. I had two root canals and one in my lower left molar. The canal was so inflamed and painful the only way to sufficiently numb me was to drill through my gum(my gums were numb and it did not hurt) and directly inject into the roots. After the injections I was completely numb and did not feel a thing. I cannot believe you could tolerate the pain throughout the procedure.....that is amazing to me!!!! I would have been jumping out of the chair and running out of the office!
If you said something about the pain and they kept on going, I would definately start searching for a new dentist.

You poor Honey, S.! Whatever you do, DO NOT ever go back to that dentist!!! She clearly doesn't know what she's doing! I've had many root canals done over the years and I have always been numb for two to four hours after the procedure was finished! Ask around for a really good humane dentist in your area. Good luck Sweetie.
D. N.

S.: Next time, go to an endodontist who specializes in this kind of procedure. They are faster and better at it than regular dentists. I've had 3 root canals-- no pain whatsoever while he did procedure. You shouldn't be feeling such pain at all. L.

S.,

If you have a dentist who knows what he's doing, you should be able to have a root canal and feel no pain at all during the entire procedure, except, of course, for the sting of the needle when they inject the novacaine to numb you.

Possibly your dentist isn't giving you an adequate amount of novacaine, or isn't injecting it in the correct area.

I have never heard of anyone having twisted root canals in their teeth, and even if there is such a thing, the novacaine is injected into the gum above or below the tooth, not into the root canal itself. I think that was just a cop-out for a dentist who is not very well versed in his field, and obviously doesn't care whether the procedure causes you pain or not. Any competent dentist would stop the procedure immediately if they were causing you that much pain.

Unfortunately, there are some people for whom novacaine just doesn't work, no matter how much they're given, and if that is the case, then there are other numbing agents which can be used instead. If none of the numbing drugs work for you, then there is also the option of being given a sedative to put you to sleep, so that you feel nothing during the procedure, and simply awaken when its all over.

In any case, I would definitely seek follow up care from another dentist, to be sure that the root canals were done properly, since that particular dentist does not sound very knowledgeable about either the procedure itself or about managing pain for his patients.

If you live in New Jersey, near the Trenton area, please send me a private message, and I would be happy to give you the name and number of my dentist, who is excellent! I've had numerous root canals done on my teeth, and have never felt any discomfort at all during any of them!

Did you go to a reg. dentist? or to a root canal specialist... You should really go to a root canal specialist..and if it still hurts.. get a second opinion.. It shouldn't hurt at all.. I've had many... and I find the ones that the dentist did a long time ago hurt a little more and I've had some problems... the ones I had at a root canal dr... were much better and much easier.. since that's all they do.. good luck... I think you may need to find a better dentist ...

I would find another dentist. A root canal today should not be painful while in the process. The numbing effects should have taken several hours after the process to clear up. Discomfort to pain for several hours after the numbing clears. Everyone one is different, you might have needed more Novocaine to begin with...The dentist should have had a clue there might be a problem with the root canals from the x-rays.

Coming from someone who has had 5 root canals, it should NOT hurt like that while you are being worked on. Perhaps she didn't allow enough wait time between the injections and starting the root canal, as it takes some time for the medicine to start to numb you. I have never felt pain during the procedure, only some afterwards once I was no longer numb. I hope you never have another one, but if you do, go to a different dentist!!

Hi S.
I am so sorry you are having so much trouble.
It does depend on what is wrong how much pain you are in. If there is an active infection, pain meds don't always work. I doubt it was the dentist, as much as you roots. However, it is worth asking questions and if you are still having trouble call and complain and continue to call and complain and don't be satisfied with more & more meds. Once I had a tooth pulled and did that and they informed me I should have come in. I had called. They were shocked at how much pain I had endured. Do not do that!!! It was a worse mess as they had to clean out the mess.
My experience is I won't even have a root canal.
God bless you and ease that pain.
K. SAHM married 38 years == adult children

I had 2 root canal's and they did not hurt. A little bit during the procedure, you knew what he/she was doing, but I was well druged up and didn't really feel much. About a day 2 later, a felt soar, but not pain. A bit uncomfortable, until the crown was put it. No pain there either and no pain now. I am sorry for you pain. Try another specailist and ask opinion in your area. Go back if you are in pain, I had two with something else. Feel better.

I am considered the "root canal queen" I have had about 10 of them and they DO NOT HURT especially while being done. you need a new dentist. Your husband is absolutely right.