Root Canal-Do it or pull it?

[LisaNJ25]

Had a check up last week and told the dentist my one molar has been bothering me. After xrays he told me I needed a root canal.

Everyone I told to says just to pull it. Any opinions from those who have had one? Its the very back molar.

Of course we are going to Disney next month so this is one expense I would rather not fork out right now. Root canal is $540 vs pulling Free.

Right now I have it scheduled for tomorrow but I am thinking about calling and rescheduling till the end of August when we get back.

 

[themilesfamily]

I would vote to do the root canal if you can at all afford it. I think it's always better to save a tooth, when you can.

 

[Boston Tea Party]

I would try to save the tooth if at all possible. Once a tooth is removed the others may shift.

 

[Mermaid02]

Had a check up last week and told the dentist my one molar has been bothering me. After xrays he told me I needed a root canal.

Everyone I told to says just to pull it. Any opinions from those who have had one? Its the very back molar.

Of course we are going to Disney next month so this is one expense I would rather not fork out right now. Root canal is $540 vs pulling Free.

Right now I have it scheduled for tomorrow but I am thinking about calling and rescheduling till the end of August when we get back.

I had the last molar on the lower left pulled in November. Because of the way it was broken the dentist said I would probably lose the tooth anyway even if they did the root canal. I have had no problems since then. I had it pulled the Monday before Thanksgiving and was able to enjoy dinner on Thursday! If it wasn't the LAST tooth in back I probably would have tried the root canal- but it worked out great for me!

 

[LuvOrlando]

Don't pull it. Over time your teeth will shift and eventually you may need an implant or a bridge. But without the tooth there the bone will deteriorate which means you might need a graft before you can get an implant. If you get a bridge they would need to file away your other surrounding healthy teeth first. All the options are more expensive, down the road, and expose you to other discomforts, pain and possibly infection. I say take out a loan, ask for a payment plan but try to save the tooth.

 

[java]

I just went through the same thing- And while it is cheaper in the short run to pull it- in the long run it could cause more pain and trouble - with teeth shifting. (even with it being the back molar)
I vote root canal! It wasn't nearly as bad as I feared.

 

[TheBigBadWolf]

Don't pull it. Over time your teeth will shift and eventually you may need an implant or a bridge. But without the tooth there the bone will deteriorate which means you might need a graft before you can get an implant. If you get a bridge they would need to file away your other surrounding healthy teeth first. All the options are more expensive, down the road, and expose you to other discomforts, pain and possibly infection. I say take out a loan, ask for a payment plan but try to save the tooth.

ITA. I pulled a back tooth at age 34 and it was one of the dumbest mistakes I ever made. How I regret it now. Find the money somewhere and save your tooth!

 

[Toad_Passenger]

I've had 2 root canals done, and one was the last molar on the bottom. Maybe 15 years ago root canals were a big deal, but I went in, got numbed, and was out in about 45 minutes. Was sore for the rest of the day, but no lingering pain past that.

As others have said, pulling it could cause more problems. My advice is to get the root canal, it isn't as bad as people make it out to be.

 

[claudia]

Had a check up last week and told the dentist my one molar has been bothering me. After xrays he told me I needed a root canal.

Everyone I told to says just to pull it. Any opinions from those who have had one? Its the very back molar.

Of course we are going to Disney next month so this is one expense I would rather not fork out right now. Root canal is $540 vs pulling Free.

Right now I have it scheduled for tomorrow but I am thinking about calling and rescheduling till the end of August when we get back.

If your tooth is bothering you and the dentist confirms you need a root canal it would be the best thing to go tomorrow.....if you wait you could develop an abcess in the tooth which will cause severe pain, swelling and bone loss. Talk with the dentist and maybe they can offer you a payment plan.....

 

[MarkBarbieri]

If your tooth is bothering you and the dentist confirms you need a root canal it would be the best thing to go tomorrow.....if you wait you could develop an abcess in the tooth which will cause severe pain, swelling and bone loss. Talk with the dentist and maybe they can offer you a payment plan.....

Totally agree. Go with the RC and do it very soon.

 

[DebbieB]

I would try to save the tooth if at all possible. Once a tooth is removed the others may shift.

That is what happened to me. I said just pull it, then my teeth shifted over the years.

 

[Buckalew11]

I chose to have a root canal. In fact, when he looked at it, he said the one next to it would need one too so I had 2 done at once, since I was going to be numb, why not? (except for the pocketbook) These were my first root canals and I was petrified. I was actually petrified of the dentist, period. However, my new dentist has gotten me over my fear and that's a miracle.

I say go for the root canal!

 

[bballmom56]

As one who has been through this dilemma more times than I care to admit, do the root canal and save the tooth. If I had had each one pulled I would be missing a lot of teeth now. You may think it's only one tooth, but as you get older, other teeth may become an issue. Definitely try to keep it. BTW, did he recommend putting a crown on it if you do the root canal?

 

[A4Disney]

Had a check up last week and told the dentist my one molar has been bothering me. After xrays he told me I needed a root canal.

Everyone I told to says just to pull it. Any opinions from those who have had one? Its the very back molar.

Of course we are going to Disney next month so this is one expense I would rather not fork out right now. Root canal is $540 vs pulling Free.

Right now I have it scheduled for tomorrow but I am thinking about calling and rescheduling till the end of August when we get back.

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Definitely do the root canal. Down the road you may need a dental implant or bridge( each can cost about $2000-$3000 dollars) Save the tooth if possible.

 

[Nohal]

As everyone else has told you, save the tooth especially the last molar. I have had many root canals over the last 40yrs. While they are expensive and some will eventually need to have crowns put on them, it is well worth it. I am now at the next step and have had 2 implants which replaced 3 teeth. While this is a great alternative to bridgework, there is nothing like your own teeth.

 

[tvguy]

I've have three root canals. One in a Molar, one in a Premolar, and one in a Canine tooth. I don't get the big deal about root canals, a regular filling is far more uncomfortable to have done. Now, I'm assuming your dentist isn't doing the root canal, and that he is referring you to an endodontist.
That may be the difference, my endodontist was amazing.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

If it is a Wisdom Tooth (#1, #16, #17 or #32) you are probably better oiff having it pulled. I had all four of them pulled over 30 years ago at Georgetown University School of Dentistry as they were geting impacted. And that was on the recommendation of three Professors.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

Just finished a root canal. Total price -- root canal, post and crown -- $2300. I have had other teeth pulled instead. This time I had to have the furthest back molar pulled because it was just too far gone. Which meant I had no choice but to save the tooth in front of it. I was also fortunate enough to have 3 canals in my tooth instead of 2. And for me there was pain involved. He had to make sure he got the whole canal cleaned and one in particular was a problem. Took me 3 visits for the root canal, 1 for the post and mold for the crown and another visit for the crown to be put in. Since this is my first root canal, I'm reserving judgment. I've known too many people who have a root canal and in 2-4 years that tooth needs to be pulled anyway. Maybe it's just my dentist.

 

[bballmom56]

If it is a Wisdom Tooth (#1, #16, #17 or #32) you are probably better oiff having it pulled.

Actually, the last one I had a root canal on is a wisdom tooth. The tooth has always been in straight, so that has never been a problem. It was recommended to save it because I had lost the molar right in front of it. The wisdom tooth had shifted enough to partially fill the gap and was being a useful tooth. So far it has worked out well.

 

[ZachnElli]

Why is pulling a tooth free? I'm just curious. My dentist didn't give me a choice, but I would have chosen a root canal over pulling it anyway.