Root canal Vs. Extraction?

[rumrunnergirl]

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[We_love_WDW]

I had a root canal on a back too that was cracked and if I could do it over I would have had it removed. It ended up costing soooo much $$$$ and that is with insurance. I had the root canal, gum lengthening, and the crown! SOOOO much $$$$$$$$$$$$$

 

[MKCP5]

I'm going in at 5:10 pm They will do an xray and Dr willl examine to see what the deal is. If it is an issue with the same tooth that we had the root canal on, I will have it extracted. I suspect that somehow something got under the porcelian crown and has made a mess. I have taken plenty of meds and am still in pain and something has to be done. Can't live like this

 

[JamesMom]

I posted earilier but wanted to add about having a crowned tooth with mulitple root canals --- it can happen.

I had a non diseased tooth (lower front) whose root was damaged by trauma, in other word, it got hit in the mouth and cause the root problems. I had a root canal and crown put on. I had no pain, but an absess could be seen on the x-ray. In fact, I was lucky it was caught - it was substantial and could be felt through the gum.

Ten years later another absess shows up under the x-ray and guess what? Another root canal - they saved the crown.

A root canal does not ensure that all the pulp and stuff was removed the first time. Dentists are people, too and sometimes root canals need to be done again.

Don't make rash decisions based on pain. Do what you can to save the tooth.

 

[Mrs. Charming]

pull it. It will be fine. And i am speaking from expeirence. It's not a big deal.. Good luck!

Same here. I'm having a lot of trouble with the other side, I'm ready to get rid of that one too. I had it pulled maybe 6 or so years ago, no regrets since!

 

[Caitsmama]

I had a root canal done, and low and behold -- got an absess, hurt like CRAZY.. I would have done anything --- face swelled up, and honestly, it hurt less to give birth!!!

Anyway, they pulled the tooth - pain was instantly gone. Don't regret it one bit.

So, i know what you are going thru..... good luck in whatever you do!!

 

[lizerbug]

I had this problem a couple of months ago. My dentist (who I LOVE) recommended that I get it pulled. It was the last tooth upper right. You can't see that it's not there. She didn't say anything about my mouth shifting and I haven't had any problems and I had no pain whatsoever. I have dental insurance and still it would have been about $800. No thanks, I don't miss the tooth and I definately would do it again.

 

[MKCP5]

well, weird thing happened. It was driving me crazy and pressure on it seemed to help. I shoved my thumb in my mouth and pushed on it and the pain is GONE! If I click my rear teeth together there is a little pain, but this AM I couldn't even let them meet or it it hurt really bad I am wondering if the crown is loose? I really don't want to go today,, ( I'm a big chicken) but I am going in to see what the deal is, it may feel better right this minute, but I am betting it will all come back. I'll keep you posted. Thanks guys!

 

[jstbcuz]

I had trouble with a molar too. Not the back one tho and mine was on the top. My dentist suggested a root canal. I dont have insurance either, and not a lot of $$$ to spare, so I said pull it. It was painful to pull it, but I dont regret it one bit. My dentist even said not to feel bad about choosing that option because the root canal isnt gauranteed to work and usually only lasts 10 years tops.

Like some of the other ones, I dont smoke, but got dry socket sockets almost instantly and it did something to my sinus'. I went back a couple times and he put stuff on the socket itself. Not the best tasting stuff, but definately worked.

I would do the same thing all over again. Good luck on your decision. I know it is a hard one to make.

 

[jedijill]

well, weird thing happened. It was driving me crazy and pressure on it seemed to help. I shoved my thumb in my mouth and pushed on it and the pain is GONE! If I click my rear teeth together there is a little pain, but this AM I couldn't even let them meet or it it hurt really bad I am wondering if the crown is loose? I really don't want to go today,, ( I'm a big chicken) but I am going in to see what the deal is, it may feel better right this minute, but I am betting it will all come back. I'll keep you posted. Thanks guys!

When mine felt that way, the tooth was cracked. I would still get it checked out.

(And no one is a bigger weenie than I am at the dentist!)

Jill in CO

 

[leebee]

Glad you are temporarily out of pain but I really really really think you need to see the dentist asap! Tell them to give you enough novocaine to make you numb from the bellybutton on up (that's MY theory of effective dentistry )

I had two molars extracted, way back in the early 1980's. One was the last molar on the upper left, the other the next to last molar on the upper right. I have had no problem with shifting teeth, and they align just fine with my bottom teeth (as the steak I had for dinner last night will attest to!), thirty years later. I would have those nasty old molars extracted again in a heartbeat! Don't let them scare you into spending way too much money with "what ifs". I had mine pulled and am glad I did (YMMV)!

FWIW I had crowns put on the other two upper rear molars in 1998, and they have been nothing but an annoyance ever since; the gum receded from the crown line and I still have to put fluoride cream on them several times a week to keep the line mineralized.

 

[Costumesaremylife]

I had exactly that tooth break, I was in super pain and did the whole root canal crown route. At a regular appointment a year or so later, the dentist took x rays and said, that tooth has to come out. I had absolutely no pain, but he said it was abscessed. I took antibiotics and made an appointment to have it taken out.

The dentist cancelled twice. And the third time I ended up having emergency gallbladder surgery. So a year later and another dentist, who agreed and said it didn't look well, I had it pulled.

Last tooth, all the way in the back. No one can see it. Two years later and it's still fine. My upper tooth hasn't shifted. I really wish I had saved all that money and just had it pulled in the first place.

 

[englishteacha]

My husband has had a few root canals. Poor guy. One was not a success and he had the tooth pulled later. No problems, and this was in Jan. 2008.

 

[amshowers]

I would say always try to save the tooth, but if you had a root canal previously that may not be an option. I would let the dentist extraction but look in a dental school for a bridge, or implant it will cost you so much less. I have had 2 root canals, crowns covered by my insurance in full, otherwise I would go to dental for cosmetic procedures. Good luck.

 

[MKCP5]

Back from the office--did Xrays, exams etc. Can't find any source at all but the root canal is totally infected. No crack in the crown, no signs of decay on the next tooth, no pocketing decay, but clearly infected via the xrays. So we are going to start a course of antibiotics and see what happens. I know I need the meds, that side of my face feels hot, I have a headache and sinus.

VERY thankful it doesn't seem to be something worse, cautiously optimistic that it will stay this way, but a little anxious that we are msiing the source

Thanks for all your thoughts!!

 

[leebee]

Take your meds, get better, and good luck deciding what to do about the tooth! Hope you feel better soon!

 

[Disney_Freak56]

Take your meds and get the infection cleared up.

I will admit to having two teeth pulled and one root canal done. All are teeth that are only visible to my dentist and my doctor during a throat swab.

It's been several years since I had the teeth pulled -- more than 12 and I have not had a single tooth shift. One upper and one lower.

If I could do it over, I would have had the tooth pulled that I spent several hundreds of $$ on. It was an experience I never wish to experience again and when I was told that there was no guarantee with a root canal and crown, I really thought long and hard about it. Not sure why I felt the need to experience that little nugget of life.

Anyhow, you need to do what you think is right for you. Don't feel bad or guilty, if you decide to have the tooth extracted, especially since it sounds like the only ones to see your "gap" will be your dentist, your doctor, and maybe a SO during a romantic moment -- well, maybe not see it, but definitely feel it during a tongue dance.

 

[Tooth Fairy]

Sure it is better to save the tooth but not if it causes financial stress. You can live without it! Just an opinion from someone who sees both sides of the coin.

 

[java]

So glad you went to the dentist and it sounds like something not major! Hope you are feeling better soon. I am still paying off my $2500 root canal/crown that I had a couple months ago.

 

[LisaInNc]

I was there yesterday.

I had a root canal that I could not afford.

Weighing the options I went with the root canal. They are doing it in 2 parts and I had to pay half yesterday and half when they do the next part which will be next month.

It was 996.00 I am not doing a crown because you cant' see the tooth. He will pack and seal it when he is done.

My reasoning agains pulling it is I had a tooth in the back of my mouth pulled years ago. I didn't have dental insurance and I figured if no one could see it what would it matter?

It matters.

I am constantly "stabbed" by cruncky and hard food. Chips, crusty bread etc. I really wish I had the tooth.

Good luck! I know it's expeisive. I would call around and compare rated for a root canal.

Lisa