Have you had a root canal?

AMaro215
AMaro215 Posts: 78 Member
edited November 11 in Chit-Chat
So 2.5 weeks ago I had to go to the dentist because I had a filling chip a very tiny bit in my molar on the bottom left side. It didnt bother me at all except for food getting stuck in between the teeth where the chip was. Well the dentist wanted to replace the entire filling which disrupted the nerve. So I went back in last week because the filling was a little too high so he drilled it down and took an xray. The nerve was inflamed/infected so he said if him drilling it down didnt make it feel better( its sensitive to chew hard foods and to hot and cold) that I would need a root canal. Well its not any better so I scheduled the root canal for Tuesday next week and Im terrified! I have had a very bad experience before so Im so scared to have this done. The pain is not unbearable, just annoying and uncomfortable. They said it may take a a few months to a year for it to become extremely painful but here is the downfall.... I just turned 26 so I lose my parents health insurance the last day of this month so thats why I think I should probably get it done now... Then a month or two after the root canal I have to get a crown without dental insurance which will be around $1000 :(. My insurance now will cover 80% of the root canal which is also $1000. Did you get a crown over the tooth after the root canal? The said ot will turn black if I dont?Im terrified to have this done.... I dont care about the pain after just dont want to feel anything during because I had that experience with my wisdom teeth getting pulled...I didnt even have my first cavity until I was 24...my teeth are healthy, kind of makes me mad this happen because it didnt bother me until he refilled the entire thing
«1

Replies

  • EmCarroll1990
    EmCarroll1990 Posts: 2,832 Member
    I had one done when I was younger, broke my front right tooth in half and the root was exposed. I can't really comment on the pain or anything as I had it done over a long period of time in tiny increments. I wish you the best of luck though!
  • AirCircleI
    AirCircleI Posts: 334 Member
    I had my first root canal a few months ago and I was terrified, but it was genuinely FINE. They gave me an injection of anesthetic at the start and I didn't feel anything. The only uncomfortable thing was having to hold my mouth open for so long. Don't worry, it is better to get it done sooner rather than later and it will be AOK.
  • angied80
    angied80 Posts: 713 Member
    I have had two root canals. It was cake. Easy peasy! Not saying someone else didnt have a bad expierence (just putting that in there incase anyone wants to bash me or call me a liar) but I think you will find it will be fine!
  • LilRedRooster
    LilRedRooster Posts: 1,421 Member
    I had one a few months ago, because one of my molars had chipped and broken when I was pregnant, then got infected a few months after. Honestly, I felt a THOUSAND times better once it was done, because there wasn't any more pain. I had radiating pain all the way down my jaw for a week, and it was worse than being in labor. I just wanted to feel better. They did it in two sections, and the first day, when she cleaned most of the tooth out and removed the root, I wanted to cry from happiness. No joke, I was ready to kiss her, haha.

    I wouldn't worry too much about it, really. Once it's done, you'll be so glad you did it. And at least your insurance covers it! I'm one of the millions of awesomely uninsured Americans, and I had to pay $1200 out of pocket for mine.. Yeah, that was great. But I'm still happy I did it, because I did want to keep that tooth.
  • AMaro215
    AMaro215 Posts: 78 Member
    The dentist said its a 50/50 chance of needing one so I have no clue what to do. Im not in pain unless im chewing something hard or drinking cold water!!! I really wish I wasnt losing my insurance!
  • MissedStar
    MissedStar Posts: 19
    I've had 2 root canals done and they all went fine as everyone else has said
    they will give you so much anesethic its great
    the only wierd thing i would warn you about is that you get a feeling when the root is being removed and its uncomfortable not painful
    but yeah it'll be great
    good luck
  • mb236707
    mb236707 Posts: 13 Member
    I just recently had a root canal and I was SO scared, especially after reading horror stories online haha...but when I went in it was absolutely fine, I didn't have any pain and they give you anesthetic as well as pain medication. Don't worry!
  • lisaslim1976
    lisaslim1976 Posts: 145
    Hi there (i am a dental nurse with 15 years experience).
    NO dental procedure should be painful, if you feel anything the dentist will give you more LA.( Up to 6 cartridges of 2.2ml)
    You generally need a crown after a root filling as the tooth becomes brittle when it is root filled due to there being no blood supply/ nerve in the tooth. However... I would wait at least 1/2 months after the root filling to ensure it has settled, as not all root fillings are succesful. Would be silly to pay that much for a crown and then have to extract the tooth if it doesnt settle. If you have faith in your dentist then you will be fine!!!!
  • Paige_me
    Paige_me Posts: 59 Member
    I had one in high school and I put a cap on it, instead of a crown. Next week I am going to get the cap removed and putting a crown on it because it does get dirty. They can't seal it perfectly and this is why behind the cap you can see dirt when it gets close to my 6 months in between cleanings. I would go for the crown so you don't have to worry about it later.
  • olee67
    olee67 Posts: 208 Member
    Had one done, no pain, no cap, enamal filling, and all set.. No issues to this day... LUCKY!
  • tiffanyvc
    tiffanyvc Posts: 99
    I had two root canals, both went just fine. The pain was terrible before hand, but once I was numb, the pain was gone forever. The only pain I had afterwards was a little jaw soreness from holding my mouth open for the procedure.

    I do recommend getting a crown for the reason previously posted - that the tooth gets brittle. A coworker of mine had a root canal done about ten years ago and didn't get a crown. Everything was fine, until she was eating like normal one day and the tooth totally fell apart. The crowns are expensive, but worth it in my opinion.
  • lisaslim1976
    lisaslim1976 Posts: 145
    I had one in high school and I put a cap on it, instead of a crown. Next week I am going to get the cap removed and putting a crown on it because it does get dirty. They can't seal it perfectly and this is why behind the cap you can see dirt when it gets close to my 6 months in between cleanings. I would go for the crown so you don't have to worry about it later.
    A cap and a crown are the same thing. Maybe you mean you had a white (composite) filling???
  • ahsongbird
    ahsongbird Posts: 712 Member
    I had a root canal and couldnt afford the crown, it didnt turn black but bc it is hollow the tooth then broke very easily without the crown. As for the pain, for me there was NONE , I didnt feel anything but pressure when they were pushing into the tooth, it is uncomfortable but it wasnt painful at all.
  • AntShanny
    AntShanny Posts: 359 Member
    Definitely get it done before it gets worse, especially of you are still covered under your parent's insurance. Even with insurance it's expensive...I'm going next week to get my temp crown and have been spreading my appointments out because of the cost!
  • blink1021
    blink1021 Posts: 1,115 Member
    Had a root canal in August of last year aside from it being expensive with insurance it wasn't bad or painful I was sore for a few days from having my mouth open for 3hrs straight. I was the lucky one who had 4 roots instead of 3 (its a back tooth). I was supposed to wait 3 months and go back for a crown well the tooth broke on me and here it is February and I have to have it removed so $1500.00 for nothing. Thank god it was a back tooth now I will be looking into having the gap filled.

    My root canal started because of a filling when the dentist drilled it cracked the tooth further and not visible till x rayed. I ended up with a swollen jaw and was in pain for 1 month, but since they could not see an abcess on the xray they left it alone. They kept saying that they did not want to do the root canal until necessary. Went through a year of using anbesol and vicodin before they did the root canal.
  • linda1243
    linda1243 Posts: 166
    i had one and it wasn't bad at all. i told the dentist i was terrified and i think he went out of his way to be gentle. he said that tv makes it so much worse than it is.

    kudos on being smart enough to get this done while you are insured, it is very expensive if you don't have insurance. insurance may or may not cover the crown. mine did because my tooth is cracked and the crown is the only way to prevent further damage to the tooth. Make sure that if the crown is necessary that your dentist bills the insurance that way or they think it is cosmetic and try not to cover it.
  • ThatDollSally
    ThatDollSally Posts: 473 Member
    I had a root canal a couple weeks ago. It's a lot like getting a filling, it just takes longer. The worst part is the sound that the tools make, but that makes it seem worse than it is. Since they numb you up you should be fine. You might be a bit sore afterwards, but your dentist should give you a prescription for pain meds that'll take care of that.
  • kashleyh5077
    kashleyh5077 Posts: 4
    When are you having the root canal procedure done? My advice (based on a really bad experience) is to make sure you take a round of amoxicillin for at least a week before you have the procedure. This is why... I went in with a painful tooth and the dentist suggested a root canal and also suggested I do it that day b/c he had an opening. They gave me the normal injectable numbing agent in my gums and it seemed to work. As soon as they opened up the tooth, they immediately realized the infection was worse than they had thought and the infected tissue wouldn't respond to the novacaine. SO - there I was having a root canal on an extemely infected tooth with little to no response to the novaine for 5 hours... this was one of the most traumatic experiences of my life... so the moral of this story - take amoxicillin to beat down the infection before the procedure AND get general anesthesia (or more than injectable novacaine and laughing gas) next time. I know this sounds extreme, but I will pay more for "general" so not to have to go through this pain ever again.
  • KRFinLeth
    KRFinLeth Posts: 22
    When I was a kid I fell and partially knocked out my front tooth. It was put back in but the nerve died. I had a root canal but left the original tooth and it did slowly darken. Years later I had it replaced with a crown. Much better decision.
  • rmsrws
    rmsrws Posts: 639 Member
    I have a front tooth that had a root canal done about 7 years ago. Because of the position of the tooth a crown was not an option. The front of my tooth is natural, the back side is filled with some resin compound. My tooth has not discolored in any way.

    If it is a back molar that no one can see have you considered just having it pulled? If it is not going to show when you smile, I'd seriously considered having it yanked! If you don't have a crown done but still opt for the root canal, if they fill it, it is not going to turn black black like you are thinking. It will turn a greyish color. If it's in the back of your mouth and doesn't show when you smile, then you have a few options!

    Good Luck!
  • loobie1805
    loobie1805 Posts: 28
    ha ha this is so apt for me as tomorrow at 1.30 I am due to have root canals on 2 of my teeth, and then have crowns fitted.

    I had to have a root canal last July as well on a tooth that literally snapped off.....It was completely painless, so I am not concerned about having it done again tomorrow...Once the root is removed they put a really thin piece of what looks like plastic down into the cavity, and then the crown gets fitted over the top..

    I am assuming that as your dentist is doing this he/she has already done something to clear the infection up, hence the wait time before the proceedure...

    I hate the dentist, but it is fair to say that having adopted the attitude that you have to have it done or have no teeth - I have found that my dentist stress levels have been much better...Remember to concentrate on breathing evenly and keeping your mouth as wide open as you can comfortably manage...the more relaxed you are the quicker it will all be over....

    Will let you know how i go on tomorrow if you like - it may help

    Lou :-)
  • scapez
    scapez Posts: 2,018 Member
    I've had a number of them done and found it not much different than getting a regular filling.
  • fitniknik
    fitniknik Posts: 713 Member
    call your primary care dr, tell them you are having a root canal and are terrified. The will give you something for anxiety (make sure to have a driver!)
    Thats what I did... cuz Im terrified of keeping my mouth open for an hour! It worked like a charm!
  • wellbert
    wellbert Posts: 3,924 Member
    Had one recently, rear top molar, and they couldn't get the first root numb completely. Even then, it wasn't THAT bad. Just pinchy. The rest were smooth and easy.

    The closer to the front of the mouth, the easier, I hear.

    I did get a crown.

    Dentist gave me Xanax. I had a lot of anxiety over it. It helped.

    I'm glad I brought my ipod to listen to. It took over 2 hours, but I do have exceptionally long roots.


    Also, don't be afraid to get a second opinion.
  • lisaslim1976
    lisaslim1976 Posts: 145
    ha ha this is so apt for me as tomorrow at 1.30 I am due to have root canals on 2 of my teeth, and then have crowns fitted.

    I had to have a root canal last July as well on a tooth that literally snapped off.....It was completely painless, so I am not concerned about having it done again tomorrow...Once the root is removed they put a really thin piece of what looks like plastic down into the cavity, and then the crown gets fitted over the top..

    I am assuming that as your dentist is doing this he/she has already done something to clear the infection up, hence the wait time before the proceedure...

    I hate the dentist, but it is fair to say that having adopted the attitude that you have to have it done or have no teeth - I have found that my dentist stress levels have been much better...Remember to concentrate on breathing evenly and keeping your mouth as wide open as you can comfortably manage...the more relaxed you are the quicker it will all be over....

    Will let you know how i go on tomorrow if you like - it may help

    Lou :-)

    I would seriously consider waiting until you know your root filling is succesful before having a crown....if it is not then you have paid for a crown which will possibly then need to be extracted along with the tooth! Most dentists wait at least a month :-)
  • AdrienneKaren
    AdrienneKaren Posts: 168 Member
    I've had a lot. Three front teeth, a bicuspit (sp?), and a molar. The only time I ever really had was the bicuspit and that was only because I didn't get it crowned. When you don't get the crown, the tooth becomes weak and can break easily. I cracked mine...and now it's gone. If you can't calm down, follow the other people's advice and call your dentist or doctor for a tranquilizer. My mom gets valium every time she has work done on her teeth.
  • CanDurkin
    CanDurkin Posts: 63
    I had my first root canal a little over a year ago. I've always had a pretty high pain tolerance in my mouth (I started getting my fillings done with no numbing at about 12). Initially I went in to get two fillings done and I went ahead and let them numb me up. When he finished (it took a lot longer then he expected) my jaw was super sore and my dentist said that one of the fillings was very deep and it may end up needing a root canal. Two weeks later my jaw was still sore and the tooth still hurt. When I went in for the root canal he informed me that based on where the tooth was (last molar on the right side) he was going to have to do a palatal (spelling?) in order to numb me completely. That's where they inject the Novocain or whatever it is into the roof of your mouth. I can honestly say that it hurt like a b**ch, but it wasn't THAT bad. However I had to go in the next week for something, I can't remember now, and they had to numb me again including another palatal. I'm not sure if it was how he did it or if I was just anticipating it, but it hurt way worse. I teared up and started a cold sweat, and was basically miserable for the entire rest of the procedure. I went in two weeks later to get the permanent crown put on and I was so afraid that they were going to have to do another palatal that I almost didn't go. As soon as I sat down I asked about it and he said no. I confessed that if he had said yes I was planning on walking out and saying f**k you! Now the tooth is fine and all is well, but I would rather go through labor again with no drugs then get another palatal. I hope you don't have to get one and everything goes well. I wish you luck!
  • kaitimae
    kaitimae Posts: 727 Member
    Honestly, my root canal was a piece of cake. It's really not a whole lot different than getting a filling, just takes a little longer... at least, that was my experience.

    The worst part of needing a root canal is when you get an abcessed tooth. WORST. PAIN. EVER. I had an abscessed tooth for over a week before I was finally correctly diagnosed and given antibiotics and the good pain meds. Just... relentless pain. Could not sleep without ice on my face, and would regularly wake up to swap out ice packs. Any pain I feel now is always compared to that one - and nothing has come CLOSE to measuring up. Hopefully nothing will ever again.

    If yours was infected, be glad your dentist caught it when he did. And yes, as someone else said - if your dentist doesn't have you on antibiotics for the infection, get that taken care of before the root canal. You'll be just fine!
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    I had a root canal with apicoectomy (glad I didn't google image search beforehand) on a lateral incisor about 11 years ago. No cap, no problems. My dentist is amazed at how well it's holding up.

    The only "bad" thing about the procedure was that I had to get about 13 shots of Novocaine. I normally don't bother with any for a normal filling. But with the tooth being right under my nose, the injections made me sniffle and sneeze, and then my nose started running and my eyes started tearing up. Then I noticed that "Jiggle Dogs" was playing on the radio. And I thought, "THIS is hell!" I'm being held hostage in a dentist's chair getting poked in the upper gums while dogs are barking a Christmas carol! So I started laughing and shaking. Which made the hygienist and dentist thing I was crying, which made me laugh harder, which made them think I was totally flipping out. And I couldn't get enough air to explain just what was do damn funny!
  • reddi2roll
    reddi2roll Posts: 356 Member
    Make sure you are having the root canal done by an endodontist who is trained specially for that and does many of them. Not every endodontis wants you to have antibiotics before so check with the doctor who is going to do it. If you need the procedure it is because you have an abscessed tooth and it is not going to heal without the procedure. Get it done while you still have the insurance. Depending on which tooth is involved you will need a crown. Had 2 done on my lower front teeth with no crown but had to have a crown on my molar. Good luck.
This discussion has been closed.

Categories