Root Canal?

[Patty3]

I have been having tooth pain since last Thursday. I was finally able to see the dentist on Monday. He filled a tooth and said that it was 50/50 the tooth would be ok. I am still in pain and have to see him again this afternoon. He said that if the filling did not do the trick, he would have to do a root canal. On Monday, I got two needles and I still had some nerve pain in one area that hurt like the dickens. How much worse is the root canal? I am fearing the worst, I would rather have a colonoscopy than go to the dentist.

 

[tiggersmom2]

A root canal should be no different than the filling.....except it may take 2 - 3 appointments to complete.

 

[hellokitty86]

Hi, Neighbor! I live in Northern Virginia too.

I know how you feel about the dentist. I think I would rather go ANYWHERE then go to the dentist.

I just had one in September, and because I have a hard time getting numb, it was pretty bad. I have had several and I normally can't get numb for just a regular filling. What really helped me, after sitting in the chair for 2 hours getting stuck with a needle, is the nitrous (spelling?) gas. It helped me relax, get sleepy and they got to work. It costs extra- but TRUST ME, it is worth it. I felt some pain, but I was so out of it I just thought "Oh, that hurts" and fell back to sleep. If that is an option in your office, I would go for it, because even if you dont feel pain and don't have a hard time getting numb, it takes a while with root canals and it is really miserable to lay there for long periods of time.

Don't worry. Don't be afraid to tell the dentist if you feel pain! Tell them and make sure they take care of it. I learned that the hard way- to speak up for myself!

Good luck. Just know it will be over soon!

 

[belle&beast]

I had a root canal about 3 years ago and it was not painful (witht the exception of the shots to numb) but what I do remember is that it was a LONG procedure. I just wish I would have known how long I would have to sit with my mouth wide open! Good luck!

 

[WDWguru]

I had one about a year ago and it was much easier than a regular dental appointment. You are numbed up REALLY well, and once it's over all that awful pain you're having will be totally gone. It was such a relief!

 

[redshoes]

I had a root canal about a year ago, it was a piece of cake. The only thing that was a little uncomfortable was the twisting of the files, I couldn't feel it but I knew what the dentist was do so my mind played tricks on me. If your really nervous the dentist might be willing to prescribe a valium for you to take before the appointment, my dentist does it for his patients.

edited: because you shouldn't type and tie a shoe at the same time

 

[LukenDC]

I had a root canal a few years ago. I was in terrible pain and the root canal was a sure cure. One of the first things that they do during the procedure is sever the nerve, so it's a relatively pain free process. It is, however, a long process and requires several visits. If you do not have good dental insurance, then you will probably feel some pain in your pocketbook.

Good luck!

 

[need_a_Disney_fix]

I had one when I was young years and years ago. It was AWFUL. I had another one a year ago and it was a breeze. I must say they have come a long way!

 

[miss missy]

I have had 4 of them and each one has a cap. Which means if the root canal was sloppy, I could of been in pain when the dentist drilled my tooth down with no shot! They prep your tooth and drill it to a post so they can place the cap on. I felt nothing, not during RC and not during post...EVER. The key is to spend the money and go to a endiodontist becuz that is all they do and they are experts! You do not want you car repair guy fixing your heart! Some general dentist do root canals and it is cheaper... but they are not experts and this is not where I would choose to save on my budget. Also a dentist will do it over 2 or more appointments and an Endio will do it in ONE!

During a root canal the only pain you should feel is the shot! And it should be one visit... and maybe a 6 month check after that. Thats going to an Endiodontist! Please do not go to a general dentist for RC'S, pay the extra and get the job done right!! You do not want problems years from now.

Good luck!

 

[hydster]

As the "queen" of root canals I can tell you that they really aren't as horrific as they sound. I think I've had all but my front 4 teeth root canaled at some point in my life. Basically they will numb your mouth where you need the canal done and then they will drill the filling out. Once that is out the dentist will take a # of different sized "files" and push them down into the canal one by one and will wiggle and jiggle them around. I think the worst part of it is trying to keep your mouth open for that long. Most of them for me have been at least 45 min to get finished and by then my mouth hurt so bad I could have cried. I have since learned to ask my dentist for the block which they put on the opposite side of where they are working. It is basically something that your teeth can rest on which will keep your mouth open wide enough to have the work done but won't make your jaw and mouth so horribly sore. To me that was the worst part was the sore jaw for days after until I found out about the mouth block.

If you withstood the filling you will be just fine with the root canal. Take some Ibuprofen before you go and then when you get home to help your face become un-numb a little quicker. You should have NO pain after the novacaine wears off except for maybe a sore jaw and possibly a canker sore where the shot was injected.

You will be fine! I absolutely HATE the denitst with all of my being but the root canal isn't as horrible as it sounds.

 

[Sparx]

and once again, I'm the horror story of the root canal thread.


Ive only had one, but that was enough. The pain was so horrible that I couldn't eat solid food for a week or so, because it hurt too bad to chew. It still hurt after that week, but I got used to it. I don't understand teeth, nor do I pretend to, and I don't know what he did, but it hurt worse than I think anything has ever hurt me. (I have had 67 stitches removed by a nurse at once and then removed a couple on my own. I have had a broken plate stab me in teh stomach and I have fallen of anything I could stand on. but none of that compaired)

 

[Patty3]

Well, he started the root canal. I did get three injections, but one nerve was still not numb. After they removed the filling, he injected some novacaine in the cavity area. It was a regular dentist that I went to. I did not even know there were specialists who do root canals. He did three areas??? I go back in August for an hour appt to finish up. Our insurance does not cover this procedure. I am still numb and I am hoping that I will not be too uncomfortable later. Thanks for all the replies, I appreciate it.

 

[tiggersmom2]

Patty,

You should be just fine having your root canal done at a general dentistry practice. I work at a general dentistry practice and we do root canals ALL THE TIME, in fact I can count on one hand how many times we have had to refer patients to the endodontist. If a dentist has been practicing for many years and doing root canals for those years, you can bet he IS probably an expert at root canals.

The three areas you speak of means that it was a molar with three canals that needed the root canal. The most expensive of all.....just your luck eh? Hope everything goes well!

 

[llij]

Good luck with everything! Glad to hear that the root canal has been started and hopefully you will feel better very soon. I found that after my root canal it was my gums that were sore for a bit from all the work the dentist did in that area. Nothing that some tylenol couldn't take care of though! Take care.