Have you had a root canal?

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 :-)

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!

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 :-)

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!

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!

My son got a root canal in 2006. He was 10. I never took him back in for the crown and eventually the temp filling came out and pieces of the tooth started breaking away. I finally had to have what was left of it pulled last year.

I personally have had 3. My teeth suck.

Good luck with it. You should be fine.

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!

I broke my front tooth out in elementary school and had to have a root canal (don't try to "jump" speedbumps on a bike if you're not so graceful).
Anyways, the tooth is just now (I'm 29) starting to get darker colored near the gumline and I will have to have a crown But it's best to get it done right away. You're going to have to have it done anyways so why not have it covered under the insurance!!

It makes us people in UK realise how lucky we are to have an NHS...if you are lucky enough to have an NHS dentist. Even though private dentists dont charge as much as in US...dont know how they justify it...its daylight robbery...

Maybe you should find a new dentist? It sounds a little bit like he caused the damage and then made you pay for a larger, more invasive and painful (not to mention expensive) procedure. That being said, my own dentist makes me watch these horrible videos before where they pretty much tell you no matter what goes on during procedure (even them breaking through the wall of your tooth with a file!) is not their fault and will result in additional fees.

I've had several root canals. Hopefully I'm only on fillings now. I never went to the dentist as a child and have weak enamel.

Am I not making you feel better, OP? With my vast experience in dentist chairs all over the country, I can tell you it is not painful during the procedure, not very painful after, and other than the outrageous cost, won't scar you for life.

So I had a root canal about 6 mos ago on one of my molars. Stupidity in my youth...opening beer bottles with my teeth...thought I was so cool. Anyway, apparently that is the worst place to have it. Yes I was terrified & I put it off as long as I could. DON"T. When I had my wisdom teeth out, I had all 4 out at the same time. I puked for 2 days...still can't eat chicken noodle soup to this day & I was a Junior in HIGH SCHOOL. I am being totally honest with you. The worst part of it is having to keep your mouth open that long. I won't lie, it sucks, but it really wasn't that painful. I was sore, but it was my jaw b/c of holding my mouth open. They drill it out & then you come back in about a week to get a temporary crown. The worst part of that is making the mold for the permanent crown. Then, you get a permanent crown a few weeks later. It is much less worse than your imagination. Do it...the most painful part is paying for it. Good luck!!!