Root Canal - OH MY GOD

[Kurby]

i never thought my head would explode but last week it did.

i've never ever had that much pain before.

my dentist must have given me about 4 or 5 shots of novocain and it still didn't work. she asked if i had broken my jaw because she couldn't feel whatever she needed too to freeze my entire side of my jaw.

i told her no and she asked about my wisdom teeth being removed and that there is so much scar tissue that she can't get the needle down far enough to be effective.

it was so bad that she could only get half the nerve out and i have to go back next week for another torture session

god i'm not looking forward to it


anyone have any suggestion on how i can relax or what i can do?

 

[Buckalew11]

Did you get nitrious oxide? That would help tremendously!!!!

 

[FINFAN]

so sorry you are going thru this...can they knock you out? Like when wisdoms are removed?

 

[Handbag Lady]

I would have insisted to be put under. In this day and age, no one should suffer dental pain.

 

[Kurby]

wow you guys are quick.

after i hit the roof a couple of times she did suggest sending me to a specialist to have it finished - i would be knocked out and wake up with it done but it would cost so much more and do don't have the dental coverage for it.

 

[Buckalew11]

Did you get nitrious oxide? That would help tremendously!!!!

 

[taylor3297]

The dentist can also prescribe a mild sedative for you to take before the appointment. It won't put you out but will relax you. Also, someone would have to be able to drive you home.

I have had 9 root canals so I know what you are feeling. I am easy to numb but I don't stay numb for long.

 

[minkydog]

Wow! That would have done me in. I've had one root canal and several crowns, but I never had that kind of pain. I think I'd be looking for a new dentist or go to a specialist. Either your mouth is configured in a weird way or she doesn't know what she's doing. Either way, if it were me she wouldn't get a second chance to torture me.

 

[wdwfan16]

Good luck

 

[Imzadi]

Get a different dentist. Seriously.

Different dentists are good at different things. My current dentist isn't so great at fillings. But she was a pro at having to do a root canal on me. It hurt less than getting a filling, and hardly any more time than a filling. And I've had many different dentists over the years do fillings.

 

[minnie56]

I have always had excellent experiences having RC with an Endodontist. They are amazing....you need more than a conventional Dentist here! Poor you..

 

[Kurby]

i've had very poor dentists - i lost a tooth while i was pregnant because my dentist wouldn't touch it - come to find out he could have once i got into my second trimester

i was so angry but by then i had left him and moved on to quack number 2

i don't do well with dentists which makes me very skiddish with them

dh's dental plan is the pits. while they will cover 100 % check ups, fillings cleanings, xrays 50% this that and the next thing 30% root canal we have to choose from a list that they supply - hens the quacks i've seen in the past.

this dentist is good - well not that we've been with her long but of the ones i've been to she's so much better it's just this tooth is soooo painful.

 

[JessicaR]

Tooth pain is pretty horrible. Being worked on w/o being numb is not happening! Go to another Dentist.

 

[Kurby]

oh - she did mention me coming in early and giving me something - i dont' know what it is but dh will have to pick me up.

i'm really hoping this will be ok and i won't be in as much pain - i was seriously crying and i don't cry - not with pain at least

i'm a big wimp emotionally but i've got or used to have a high tolerance of pain

 

[Imzadi]

Hugs to you for your next trip.

 

[JessicaR]

oh - she did mention me coming in early and giving me something - i dont' know what it is but dh will have to pick me up.

i'm really hoping this will be ok and i won't be in as much pain - i was seriously crying and i don't cry - not with pain at least

i'm a big wimp emotionally but i've got or used to have a high tolerance of pain

That's barbaric though. Don't subject yourself to that. Dental work these days should be pain free. I would ask what the dentist has in mind for next week before subjecting myself to more of the same.

This may be interesting to read.

http://www.dentalfearcentral.org/difficulty_numbing_dentist.html

 

[Briarmom]

Nitrous would be a great thing to have.

 

[MrsToad]

From what my dentist told me, even with a good specialist, it can occassionally be difficult to numb someone for a root canal. I saw a Dr. with an excellent reputation for an "emergency" root canal. By the time my regular dentist determined I had a problem, I had had pain for over 6 months. The pain was in my ear so I had seen a regular doctor to rule out ear infections and an ENT to rule out sinus issues. It wasn't until months later that I saw the dentist who could tell with an x-ray that I needed the root canal.

The specialist he sent me to said he has only seen someone like me, who needed so many shots of novocaine that he reached the limit of what he was allowed to give, a handful of times. He even tried injecting something directly into the root once he had it exposed - it made no difference. I could not stop the tears from rolling down my face. He said the pain level was tied to the level of distress the nerves had reached over the previous months. It didn't help that I had one more nerve in the tooth than is typical.

I had to go back a week later and he gave me some sort of anti-anxiety medicine to take before the visit. He knew I wasn't afraid, or a bad patient, but he thought the medicine would help.

Though my mouth hurt for a couple of days after the root canal, my ear pain was gone almost instantly. The second visit to remove the temporary packing and put in something more permanent was far easier.

OP, good luck!

 

[Kurby]

That's barbaric though. Don't subject yourself to that. Dental work these days should be pain free. I would ask what the dentist has in mind for next week before subjecting myself to more of the same.

This may be interesting to read.

http://www.dentalfearcentral.org/difficulty_numbing_dentist.html

that's what she was saying - that because of scar tissue she couldn't find whatever she needed too to freeze my tounge, jaw, lip etc...

i'll have to call her and ask what she is giving me

 

[Kurby]

From what my dentist told me, even with a good specialist, it can occassionally be difficult to numb someone for a root canal. I saw a Dr. with an excellent reputation for an "emergency" root canal. By the time my regular dentist determined I had a problem, I had had pain for over 6 months. The pain was in my ear so I had seen a regular doctor to rule out ear infections and an ENT to rule out sinus issues. It wasn't until months later that I saw the dentist who could tell with an x-ray that I needed the root canal.

The specialist he sent me to said he has only seen someone like me, who needed so many shots of novocaine that he reached the limit of what he was allowed to give, a handful of times. He even tried injecting something directly into the root once he had it exposed - it made no difference. I could not stop the tears from rolling down my face. He said the pain level was tied to the level of distress the nerves had reached over the previous months. It didn't help that I had one more nerve in the tooth than is typical.

I had to go back a week later and he gave me some sort of anti-anxiety medicine to take before the visit. He knew I wasn't afraid, or a bad patient, but he thought the medicine would help.

Though my mouth hurt for a couple of days after the root canal, my ear pain was gone almost instantly. The second visit to remove the temporary packing and put in something more permanent was far easier.

OP, good luck!

my dentist did the same thing - in the nerve - i hit the roof.

it's funny - i gave birth with no pain meds - it hurt but more a preasure hurt - this.... unbelievable pain.

i'm not a suck for pain - put up with a lot to get fillings but this was over and above pain