posted on November 23, 2000 05:50:45 AM new
Hi - Just thought I'd introduce a topic that *didn't* revolve around politics <grin>
I went and had my second root canal done today. The odd thing is that it didn't hurt a bit. Yet I've heard all these horror stories about them - I was really petrified before my first one.
Have you had one and - if so - was it easier or harder than you thought it would be?
(I've had two root canals because I had had two abscesses. But the abscesses never hurt either! My dentist thought this was really weird. This second abscess was caused by a poorly fitting crown. I *told* the dentist it didn't fit right but - sure enough - stuff got under it, decay set it and an abscess eventually formed. I'm going to have a few words with him about how I don't expect to have to pay for a second crown on that tooth - already paid for the first crown and a root canal.)
posted on November 23, 2000 07:35:23 AM new
Hi! I've had PLENTY of root canals followed by crowns. If a root canal is done properly by a reputable dentist, it SHOULDN'T hurt. I don't know where all those horror stories come from! I've heard women say they would rather have a baby than a root canal, for crying out loud. That is just ridiculous! A root canal is no different than a normal routine filling. And I'm glad someone finally set the record straight! Thank you!
posted on November 23, 2000 07:46:29 AM new
I have had plenty of root canals. Some were relatively painless and I've had a couple where I was in real agony.
posted on November 23, 2000 08:20:52 AM new
99.9 percent of all root canals are simple and painless---so there is nothing to talk about--the ones who talk is the 0.1 percent that had pain
posted on November 23, 2000 08:27:36 AM new
Root canals and having babies - two big pain myths!!
Okay - don't get hysterical on me. I was scared to death to have my first child with all of my friends horror stories. I delivered including all of the labor in 3 hours. My second I picked the date as I was late - was induced - made an appointment - took a shower etc. - went in at 9 - induced at 10 - delivered at 1. Thought it was so easy went back 12 months later to deliver our third!! Again, late so picked his birthday - induced at 10 - delivered at 1:30.
Loved being pregnant - delivering the babies was much easier and less painful than when I had knee surgery!!
Same with root canals - have had two - love it after as the nerve is gone so no chance for a cavity.
It all depends on your genetic makeup, your tolerance for pain and your Dr. No matter what anyone tells you about their experience with any procedure, do the research yourself, know all of your choices and know that your own experience will be unique.
posted on November 23, 2000 08:37:58 AM new
I've had root canals and extractions, and they really were not bad at all. I think my biggest fear is just going to the dentist, with a problem, and embarrassed that its been so long. I think the worst thing about root canals is the 2 or 3 part process they have to do, like go in one day, they start, then you have to come back another day to finish.
boysmommy3- I was scared to death to have my first baby. And I was given a lot of 'horror' stories beforehand. I was in labor about 10 hrs with each of mine, but you can't (at least I can't) remember what the pain was like afterwards.
Well Happy Thanksgiving!
at least this is not a political thread, thank you!
posted on November 23, 2000 09:04:20 AM new
Boysmommy----a tooth that has had a ROOT CANAL is actually more prone to get cavities and break than a live tooth. The tooth is dead and becomes brittle and decays easier.
That is why dentists recommend that any tooth that has had one should have a crown and a re-inforcing post down the root----BUT in reverse you shouldn't always have a Root Canal because your tooth needs a crown.
But because it has no nerve--you won't feel it if it does have a cavity
posted on November 23, 2000 10:19:45 AM new
I've had several root canals. I've *never* had any extraordinary pain (other than the spot where the novocaine needle went in--that is always the most painful part of dentistry!). My theory is that people who go into a funk at the mere idea of visiting a dentist are the type of people who will have bad root canal experiences. Their mind produces the pain, not the root canal.
And yes, a root canal must be followed by a crown--and make sure the dentist puts a metal post inside the tooth. A couple of months ago, a tooth had had a root canal & a crown done about 20 years ago broke--my current dentist discovered that a post had never been put in!
posted on November 23, 2000 03:13:40 PM new
I had my first root canal done about 20 years ago. No problems with it.
I had my second root canal done about 2 years ago. It was a NIGHTMARE.
It was done by my regular dentist. Apparently a tooth normally has 3 canals that the dentist needs to clean out when doing the root canal. I had 4 -- an extra one -- and the dentist completely missed it. I had a significant reduction in pain immediately after the root canal, but it didn't completely go away, and then started to get worse again. The dentist kept prescribing antibiotics, to which my body reacted badly. The first antibiotic he prescribed made my heart race and I thought I was going to have a heart attack. The second gave me terrible diahhrea which lasted for months after I stopped taking it. The third also gave me diahhrea, but more manageable diahhrea, so I decided I would live with it because I needed to clear up this infection so the pain would go away!! Finally, after I'd complained again and again and again, the dentist redrilled the tooth and still wasn't able to tell what was wrong. At that point he referred me to an endodontist, a dentist that specializes in doing root canals. I had to wait about 6 weeks to see her (trying to manage the pain with more medication), but when I finally did, she took one look in my mouth and, without taking any extra x-rays or doing any other tests, was able to tell me exactly what the problem was. She fixed it -- essentially, completely redoing the root canal -- and now the tooth is fine.
My regular dentist scared me away from seeing the specialist at first because "it's so expensive." What I learned (the hard way) was that the specialist charged the exact same amount to perform a root canal as my regular dentist. I should have had the specialist (who does this procedure several times daily) perform the original root canal rather than my regular dentist (who perhaps does one or two per month). If the cost is the same, why wouldn't you want a specialist to treat you? As it was, I went through months of pain and bad reactions to medication, started to doubt my own sanity as the dentist told me again and again "I can't see anything wrong with the tooth," and ended up paying to have the root canal done twice - a total of $1700, about $850 for each procedure. Still, I was lucky - I didn't end up losing the tooth altogether.
My advice: If you need a root canal, look into getting an endodontist - a specialist - to treat you!! The charge might not be any more than what a regular dentist would charge. And if something goes wrong, you want to be in the hands of someone with the most experience.
I think the worst thing about root canals is the 2 or 3 part process they have to do, like go in one day, they start, then you have to come back another day to finish.