Root Canal-Do it or pull it?

[PrincessKsMom]

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.

I'm assuming the OP means pulling it would be covered by insurance while the root canal while the $450 would be her out-of-pocket expense. And I'm a little confused by your statement "my dentist didn't give me a choice"? You always have a choice as the patient to deny services. He can't force you to have a tooth pulled or make you get a root canal without your permission.

 

[wdwfan16]

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 same problem and did the root canal. I paid $1700 for it and would do it again.

 

[SandrA9810]

I had a root canal done about 8 years ago, possibly longer. No issues with the tooth since, and the cap is holding up well.

Kari let her back tooth get really bad to the point she has no choice but to pull it. But she was warned that if she went with just a pulling, it could shift her teeth. And I don't know what options you have as it being the back tooth. If it was any other one, it's possible to do a bridge.

The dentist that did mine, gave me a slight discount. 1200$ with 100$ payments each month for a year. I was about 17 at the time and working, so the payments were manageable, but I had no insurance to help out.

 

[LisaNJ25]

Thanks for all the advice everyone. I went ahead and scheduled the root canal for the end of August after vacation. It only bothers me once and awhile and the pain is not horrible.

 

[LisaNJ25]

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.

My insurance doesn't charge for extractions. yes, I have decided to do the root canal.

 

[LisaNJ25]

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.

Ok are you in Northern NJ... I hope we dont have the same dentist lol

 

[ZachnElli]

I'm assuming the OP means pulling it would be covered by insurance while the root canal while the $450 would be her out-of-pocket expense. And I'm a little confused by your statement "my dentist didn't give me a choice"? You always have a choice as the patient to deny services. He can't force you to have a tooth pulled or make you get a root canal without your permission.

I meant, he didn't say we can pull it for $xx or do a root canal for $xx, he said I needed a root canal. I think I can figure out whether I want work done or not.

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

I'm in NNJ also!

I had a root canal & then 3 weeks later they ended up pulling it.
I go for an implant next month........Luckily you can't see where they pulled the tooth.

 

[jlima]

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.

I second! See the endodontist whenever you can. I had 2 root canals and an endodontist did it because my dentist was on vacay and his office manager checked for me and said I could see the Endo that Thursday or the dentist the following Wednesday. I was in pain and picked the Endo and I was glad I did. This kind of doctor only does root canals and they are very good at it.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

Ok are you in Northern NJ... I hope we dont have the same dentist lol

I'm in Bayonne and so is my dentist.

I meant, he didn't say we can pull it for $xx or do a root canal for $xx, he said I needed a root canal. I think I can figure out whether I want work done or not.

Thought I must have misunderstood. Didn't mean to insult your intelligence.

 

[Wonderlandmom]

Thanks for all the advice everyone. I went ahead and scheduled the root canal for the end of August after vacation. It only bothers me once and awhile and the pain is not horrible.

I would honestly get it done asap! These things can get bad/infected quickly and it could spoil your vacation! I would personally not put this off.