Root Canal...

18 years ago

The procedure wasn't too bad, and the tooth didn't hurt much beforehand. I was petrified since I didn't know what to expect, and I'd always heard they can be very painful. Just a single root on a front lower tooth, which was finished yesterday. Abcess has returned, but Dr. wants me to wait on antibiotics, but he called it in just in case since I didn't want to wait until Monday.

I think I have another one coming up for an upper front tooth. My examination in a couple of weeks will determine that.

DH had THREE last year, even though he takes perfect care of his teeth -- Dr. says he clenches his teeth too much.

Ever have a root canal?

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Comments (11)

Marcia Thornley
18 years ago
I had one just two weeks ago. I never have a problem with them. The dentist did the root canal one day with a temporary filling and then I went back a week later after it had settled down for the permanent filling. At least once that root is gone there is no pain! What I really need is a Crown but my insurance won't cover that soooooooo
nancylouise5me
18 years ago
Yep, I had 2. One on a back tooth and one towards the front. First time I was petrified like you. But my dentist was so good that I didn't feel any pain at all. I was shaking like a leaf the whole time in the chair. He did a great job. The second time I knew what to expect so it wasn't so bad. Again no pain at all. That was years ago and I'm sure they are even better at doing them now a days. NancyLouise
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Comments (49)
I feel like I am re-living the original poster's nightmare. Very glad that people have continued to post and lots of great info here. In my case, my tooth was tender to the touch, seemed to have shifted or was a little loose, and the dentist just said, "you want to try to save it right?" He did not offer his opinion on whether the chances were good to save it or not. ASK QUESTIONS - THESE DENTISTS DO KNOW. He had done a root canal for me the year before without problems but this time was so different with the above symptoms. He did not try to get a large area of my mouth numb, did it in stages, caused me panic attacks, aggravated the nerve with the last shot and when I thought he was going to give more pain killer, he started drilling, which for the first minute or two, maybe, was tolerable, then the severe pain started. I am not a screamer, but wish I had let it loose - maybe he would have stopped - I swear it was torture with comments that it would be over after just a little more and a little more and finally just after the filling because he could not even begin a crown prep and had to see if the tooth would rebound. I cried off and on all day! and suffered most of the weekend every time the pain killers wore off alternating between ibuprofen and Tylenol with and without Vicodin. Swelling started on Sunday, got him to call me in an antibiotic but going to travel back to my home town 60 miles away hopefully tomorrow to get my old dentist to pull it. I can't live like this. I did call my old dentist at home in desperation - just needed her to say she would try to work me in. She said a tooth sensitive to the touch like this is considered a "hot tooth" and it is not recommended to try to save it. Hope this helps someone in the future to avoid this type of pain. If I don't stay on top of it with pain medications (now taking Alleve at prescription doses in hopes of a little more time to sleep) I am in severe pain from tooth root through my jaw, TMJ and ear. I hope this saves someone else some suffering!
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1 root canal done, 1 or 2 to go...........
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Comments (7)
When a tooth dies, a root canal can not be far behind. I've had several. A tooth may die from several causes, one being infection. Diabetes is a factor. A trauma such as a blow to the tooth severe enough to loosen it may cause trouble several years later if that tooth dies. Its no fun, but a good root canal can be a saviour. I've got root canals that are 30 years old. If the tooth was infected and a root canal performed, it is critical that the infection be eradiacted before the tooth receives it final, permanent plug. The ususal drill is to open the tooth, medicate it, stuff in a temporary plug, pull the plug and re-medicate it once a week for one or more sessions until the infection is gone, and then install the permanent plug. If the permanent plug is placed before all the infection is eradiacted, the infection may continue necessitating a re-do of the entire process.
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Root canal day has arrived...
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Comments (21)
You are all sooo kind; thank you for the good wishes sent my way today. It means a lot. Well, I'm here to tell you that I never felt the tiniest bit of pain throughout the whole process....even getting numbed! I didn't even know that he was giving me the shots until he was done. No, I didn't have any nitrous oxide. He (Dr. Wonderful) had to clean out two roots , which took awhile. I found my mind wandering to what I was going to fix for Robert's pot luck luncheon on Friday. I feel silly to have worried so much. Thanks again for your kind support.
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Anyone ever have a root canal?
Q
Comments (29)
A normal root canal may take a week or less, but in your case, I fear it will be longer. You are having pain and the nerve in the tooth is dead. Also dead are the blood vessels and chamber pulp. You are having pain because the tooth and probably its support structure are infected. The time required to open the tooth and clean it out, and then plug isn't much. The problem is this: The Dentist does not dare to put a permanent plug in that tooth until the infection has been conquered. How much time does that take - who knows, but its got to be done. Here's the drill. [Sorry about that choice of word :-) ]. The tooth is opened and cleaned out. An antibiotic may be inserted in the tooth. A temporary plug is installed and a pill form of antibiotic may be prescribed. Another session will be scheduled for exam. Followup sessions will continue until the infection has cleared and then the job will be completed with a permanent plug and filling. After completion, another followup may be recommended to insure that the infection is gone. An infection complicates a root canal. The root canal itself, does not require a lot of time. There is an upside. After successful completion, you will feel much better, and the tooth will seem normal.
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Happy_Go_Lucky_Gayle
18 years ago
I can't even count the number of root canal's I've had.

Gayle
susan_on
18 years ago
I had one root canal, and I had complications. My dentist said that complications arise in less than 1% of root canals. I got really sick, and was seeing double. He said he had just moved his practice to town, and almost moved right back out of town, it scared him so much.
gardenspice
18 years ago
I have several crowns, but only one of them required a root canal.
For me, the root canal was a cakewalk, epecially when compared to the crown buildup. I hate getting a crown build up.
I just had a replacement crown (I apparently cracked the 7 year old orginal) set yesterday. And I had my 6 month exam and cleaning. GRRRR... I have some very old amalgam fillings that need to be replaced - at least they are not need crowns.
kioni
18 years ago
Mush, I'm sure I was told not to wait longer than a year to get a crown on, that the temp they do wasn't meant to last forever. On the other hand, I'd wanted crowns on my 4 front uppers (cosmetic) and my dentist convinced me to try veneers first since they do less initial damage to teeth than putting a crown on does. At the time they told me veneers could last up to 10 years, depending on the types of foods you subject your teeth to...mine have been on for 19, with no problems. The dentist is very impressed!

As for a root canal, I had one done on a molar that had given me on again, off again grief for years. Do not relish getting that done again. Yet periodically the area will give me pain, usually after I've chewed something REALLY chewing, or this past session over Christmas was brought on by eating almonds (I think). I still worry that I'll be in that 1% that have a tooth that fails, and then I don't know what I'll do, since I need that tooth there!
whimzikl
18 years ago
Be sure to get a crown after the procedure..I had a root canal and was told I didn't need a crown...supposedly something new. Anyway a short 2 years later, that tooth cracked, was not repairable and had to have it taken out by an oral surgeon. He said the tooth that had the root canal was very brittle and having a crown would have prevented this! Oh well, live and learn, I guess!
alisande
18 years ago
Ditto Gayle.

If only they weren't so expensive!.
fandlil
18 years ago
I had one over 20 years ago. It was an emergency because my dentist was out of town & I was forced to go with somebody I didn't know. I was sick in bed for a whole week, and really scared that something very wrong had been done to me. Finally when my dentist got back I told him what I was going through. He said, "You must have what we call a hot tooth." I'm not sure what that means but he eased my mind that, although it was very uncomfortable, nothing wrong had been done to me. I hope never to have root canal again.
Happyladi
18 years ago
I had my first one a couple of years ago. Before my tooth was very sensitive to heat and cold. The root canal didn't hurt and afterwards the pain was gone. It was a relief.
petaloid
18 years ago
I had one root canal and crown a few years ago. No complications, but it was expensive even with my dental insurance.

It did help with sensitivity to heat & cold, but I hope to never need another one.

Why does he want you to wait on antibiotics? I have a heart murmur, so need to take some with any dental procedure, even cleaning. I would think with an abcess he'd want you on antibiotics right away.

I hope you recover quickly.

Root Canal...

Comments (11)

Marcia Thornley

nancylouise5me

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