DS 8 has to have a root canal ...questions

[Jaimee]

DS was playing tag at recess on Wednesday and he slipped on the salt that was on the playground and he knocked his top front (permanent) tooth out, root and all. As he went screaming into the nurses office, the kids on the playground continued to look for his tooth in the pile of salt lol. They actually found it, and a piece that had chipped off! I came from work right away and took DS to the dentist. She put temporary braces on and kind of stuck the tooth back in. She said there's usually about a 50/50 chance they can save the tooth. He's never had a cavity or anything, so she thinks he might have a good chance since his teeth are healthy. She did give him a shot while she did this, and he was fine, but he's having a lot of pain now. He normally doesn't take medicine, and he's been asking for Tylenol two to three times a day.

The dentist said he has to have a root canal done in two appointments. The first is on the 8th and the second on the 17th. I'm really worried about this. I've never had one, but I've heard the horror stories. Do you think they'll give him any perscription pain meds afterwards? I just don't know if the Tylenol is going to help if it's not helping now.

Has this happend to anyone else's kid? If so, the the tooth re-attach?

TIA,
Jaimee

 

[tiggersmom2]

DS was playing tag at recess on Wednesday and he slipped on the salt that was on the playground and he knocked his top front (permanent) tooth out, root and all. As he went screaming into the nurses office, the kids on the playground continued to look for his tooth in the pile of salt lol. They actually found it, and a piece that had chipped off! I came from work right away and took DS to the dentist. She put temporary braces on and kind of stuck the tooth back in. She said there's usually about a 50/50 chance they can save the tooth. He's never had a cavity or anything, so she thinks he might have a good chance since his teeth are healthy. She did give him a shot while she did this, and he was fine, but he's having a lot of pain now. He normally doesn't take medicine, and he's been asking for Tylenol two to three times a day.

The dentist said he has to have a root canal done in two appointments. The first is on the 8th and the second on the 17th. I'm really worried about this. I've never had one, but I've heard the horror stories. Do you think they'll give him any perscription pain meds afterwards? I just don't know if the Tylenol is going to help if it's not helping now.

Has this happend to anyone else's kid? If so, the the tooth re-attach?

TIA,
Jaimee

Hi, Dental Hygienist here.

First of all don't worry about the pain. Once the swelling subsides from his accident he will have significantly less pain. I would recommend giving him an extra strength tylenol and an advil together.......this seems to control the pain better than just one of them.

Relax about the root canal. It is really no different than having a restoration (filling) pain wise and he shouldn't have any (or very little) pain afterwards. They will be removing the nerve of the tooth and replacing it with an inert substance (gutta percha or silverpoint). When this is all said and done....the tooth will need a crown.

My brother knocked both of his front teeth out when he was 11 years old. They reattached and he did NOT need rootcanals.

Hugs to your little man and keep us updated.

 

[ktpool]

Jaimee,

I have very weak teeth and have at least 5 or 6 root canals in the last 5 years - and I am a baby.

The only bad part is the initial numbing shot. The front tooth is probably the most sensitive place to have the shot, it kind of goes up your nose it feels like. BUT...it was only like 3 seconds, then I didn't care any more.

Being so young, maybe they will even give him some gas. My dd7 (at the time) had a filling done and he gave her a little bit of gas...she LOVED it. As a matter of fact, she wanted to go back for more. Yeah, I will have to give her the DARE to say NO talk every day, I know!

But the point is she was not traumatized at all. I hope your son is feeling better and I wish you luck with the re-rooting!

 

[Dan Murphy]

Ouch! I bet Isaiah will do just fine, Jaimee, he's a trooper. I had a root canal, not rally all that bad. I can think of more pleasant things, but certainly not like all the horror stories, IMO.

 

[monarchsfan16]

The horror stories are wrong. I had one a little over a year ago. I was 17. The worst part is the numb feeling that spreads to your nose since it's a front tooth. Actually I didn't have to have that since the nerve in mine was dead, but I did have to have novicane when that tooth was rebuilt a few years before the root canal, so been there done that. We joke that my smile really is the million dollar smile, with all the work I've had to have done. It's sort of a weird experience, but I've had far worse, even in the dental category. It's kinda scary, since it's not something you're used to, but he'll be fine!

 

[Jaimee]

Thanks for the information everyone! I'm sure he'll, be fine...I'm more nervous than he is (I'm trying not to show it though )

 

[m&m's mom]

I guess I do not understand about the 2 appt thing.
My DD, when she was 5, had to have a filling and a root canal. They did both at the same time and she did not even need gas. She is a pretty tough kid though. The dentist said if they could get through the shot, it was all downhill from there. She also did not need any pain medication afterwards.

 

[corie161]

I guess I do not understand about the 2 appt thing.
My DD, when she was 5, had to have a filling and a root canal. They did both at the same time and she did not even need gas. She is a pretty tough kid though. The dentist said if they could get through the shot, it was all downhill from there. She also did not need any pain medication afterwards.

I thinkthis varies with dentists. I had one done last year and i'm a big baby at the dentist. I have to say it wasn't that bad. I did have to go to 2 appointments, but I thought it was because I had an infection that had to heal first before they could finish. I could be wrong though.

 

[monarchsfan16]

I guess I do not understand about the 2 appt thing.
My DD, when she was 5, had to have a filling and a root canal. They did both at the same time and she did not even need gas. She is a pretty tough kid though. The dentist said if they could get through the shot, it was all downhill from there. She also did not need any pain medication afterwards.

Mine was two appointments. The first they cleaned it out and put a temporary filling on the back of the tooth. Then they put me on antibiotics to kill the infection (it was pretty bad). About two weeks later I went back, they drained whatever had drained into the tooth as the infection was going away, and put the cement in in place of the nerve. Then they put a real filling on the back, and I was done. I'd assume that the amount of appointments would vary by what has to be done

 

[tiggersmom2]

Some root canals can be done in one appointment but most take two appointments. The first appointment is cleaning out the canal and putting a temp. filling in. A period of healing is usually required. The second appt. consist of sealing the canal and building the tooth up (core build-up) for a crown.