Jump to content

Anyone had a root canal?


Recommended Posts

I have one scheduled for next week. Not really looking forward to it, but oh well. Is the pain as much as commonly discussed?

 

 

I spoke to two folks who said it wasn't a huge deal, but I'd like to hear more opinions/experiences if possible.

Link to post
Share on other sites
thefooloftheyear

I say this....its like a lot of things in life...

 

Someone who is good at what he/she is doing, and its nothing. really...

 

Have someone else do it that isn't very proficient, and it can be a shyt fest...

 

Don't be so quick to let a regular dentist do it, even if they say they can...A specialist is a better option...Realize this...If they screw it up, you can easily lose a tooth over it...And you may not realize it until years later...

 

Don't let people scare you...Its not that bad..

 

TFY

  • Like 2
Link to post
Share on other sites
SincereOnlineGuy
I have one scheduled for next week. Not really looking forward to it, but oh well. Is the pain as much as commonly discussed?

 

 

I spoke to two folks who said it wasn't a huge deal, but I'd like to hear more opinions/experiences if possible.

 

 

 

Y'know... I have to stand up as one who had one, and who was just amaaaaaaaaaaaazed at how easy and UN-irritating it was.

 

Upon leaving, I told the dentist that it maaaaaaaaaybe got near fif-TEEN percent of how much prior concern /FEAR I'd felt.

 

 

Now IF ONLY they could either reduce the high-pitched sound of the drill (that's ALL psychological - the effects, I mean)... OR make the drill sound SO HIGH that only dogs could hear it!!!! then it would be worry-free

 

 

I DO (feel that I) sense your apprehension... but I would imagine that, in 2016, most such procedures aren't anything to worry about.

 

 

(and I'm sure you're thinking about the woodpecker-like bird who did dental work on The Flintstones, and seeing the worst at this time)

Link to post
Share on other sites
introverted1

I had one.

 

The procedure itself was fine - I was number to my toes, it seemed. so there was no discomfort. The procedure was performed by a specialist (endodontist).

 

But the tooth under the crown cracked ~8 months later, which resulted in it having to be pulled and replaced with an implant.

 

In hindsight, I should have just done the implant from the start.

 

According to my dentist, root canals are more likely to fail on a molar than other teeth.

 

Good luck.

Link to post
Share on other sites

There is Zero pain involved. You're numbed up and you feel nothing. Worse thing is that your jaw might hurt the next day from keeping your mouth open so long. I live in the US, by the way.

Link to post
Share on other sites

I had the same thing happen, Introverted. Paid 1000 for a root canal only to loose the tooth and need a bridge.

  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

Get five ladies who gave birth to sit in a room, Each one will tell a different tale of pain or minimal effort.

Welp that is how the recovery of a root canal is. Each person heals different or endures pain different.

 

I am high tolerance to pain, Low Tolerance to healing, So Basically it took weeks for the infection to clear up...and that was painful in the gums! Even when they plug and seal the area up, all it took was a bit of bacteria...and it was game on! Doesn't matter How skilled the doc is, the bacteria is much

more skilled! Its been around civilization a lot longer.

 

The drill pressure on the jaws (blah!) . Everyone is different...

Link to post
Share on other sites

I've had a few, all done by a specialist. Frankly, the root canals were no more painful than a cleaning, and maybe even less! The worst part is injection of the anesthetic, which was a little worse than a cleaning, but if you've had that done for other dental work you know what to expect.

 

 

Take an iPod or something along to listen to music - it helps distract you, which also lessens any minor pain.

Link to post
Share on other sites
  • Author

Wow! Thanks for the feedback, everyone!

 

 

I'm only slightly apprehensive because I've had some dental work in the day (including removal of four impacted wisdom teeth all at the same time, which was moderately painful with a lot of swelling) but much like many of you, the RL folks I spoke with said it was not a huge deal.

 

 

I don't mind needles or drills or stuff like that. I tend to zone out (bringing my ipod is probably a good idea).

 

 

My regular dentist is doing it though - I didn't know many people went to specialists. He's an experienced dentist and just said, "let's get this scheduled ASAP" and I went with it. (It got bumped up to tomorrow, BTW so if I'm not my normal, happy-go-lucky self...or if I'm just not around, that's why)

Link to post
Share on other sites
lollipopspot

I'm not sure why they get such a bad rap in terms of being painful. In my experience, they're not more painful than most any other dental procedure - the numbing process is generally the worst part of it.

  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites
Michelle ma Belle

No pain at all unless you're talking about the pain you feel in your wallet :p

 

Then again, that's what good insurance is for. Good luck!

  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

There was no pain for mine.

 

Afterwards, I took a prescribed Vicodin and then ate. I should've reversed the order of those events. Do not take pain meds on an empty stomach, even if you're planning to eat soon. That's my only advice.

 

Good luck!

Link to post
Share on other sites

I've had 3 root canals. It usually doesn't hurt because they numb you. The only time it hurts is if they take a long time before sealing it up (ie. working on other cavities at the same time, or even walking away to work on another customer inbetween...yes I've had that happen :mad:). They will give you another injection until you feel no pain.

 

I only hate the drilling sound. I saw that movie "The Dentist when I was young. It made me scared of dentists and drilling ever since...

Link to post
Share on other sites

I did not feel much pain during part 1. My jaw felt sore afterwards because they had my mouth held open for such a long time.

 

For part 2, I felt pain when they attached the tooth cap.

Edited by SpiralOut
Link to post
Share on other sites

I've had several.

 

The first one - almost 20 years ago - put me out of commission for almost a week and was one of the most horrific things I've ever experienced. The doctor screwed up and had to go back in TWICE to fix it.

 

My last one was about five years ago, took less 30 minutes, and I went out to lunch with girlfriends after.

 

 

Just to say: Technology has come a LONG way in the past two decades of such procedures!

Link to post
Share on other sites
whichwayisup

I'm shocked they would do a root canal so close after having all your wisdom teeth pulled out! Because of that, do talk to your dentist about going on antibiotics after they do the root canal. Or at least they write you a script in case you need it.

 

I have dental phobia so I get drugged up for it. Works for me, don't remember a thing and when I wake up the work is done.

Link to post
Share on other sites
  • Author
No pain at all unless you're talking about the pain you feel in your wallet :p

 

Then again, that's what good insurance is for. Good luck!

 

 

Eh, I paid for dental insurance for years and never felt the limited benefits justified the premiums. It seemed like such crappy coverage compared to vision benefits. So I am just paying for it with cash (well, debit card).

 

 

We've worked hard to budget and set up a pretty large sinking fund for these types of things. It's nice to just pay and go instead of begging to go on some sort of payment plan with the dentist/doc.

Link to post
Share on other sites
  • Author

Mine is at 4PM today so I'm assuming I'll be able to report in tomorrow and hopefully say, "No big deal."

 

I'm definitely loading some pod casts on my phone though! I'm giving Thrilling Adventure Hour a chance - it was suggested by someone with good taste.

Link to post
Share on other sites
  • Author

Well I survived. I'd say the procedure itself had a pain rating of .5 on a 1-10 scale, and that was mostly because my jaw was open so long.

 

 

No pain the day after whatsoever. Before the root canal, I had pain I'd probably put at a 4 or 5 on a 1-10 scale, but it was pretty constant and made me lose my appetite. The procedure wasn't even super expensive ($680). I was expecting at least $1000.

 

 

Most of the procedure was just him locating the canals and going nice and slow to avoid any of the equipment breaking off in my tooth (which I had read about on youtube). It was about 1.5 hours from walking in the door to walking out the door, and he said mine was one of the harder ones because one of my canals had a bit of a curve to it.

Link to post
Share on other sites

When they top it off with a crown it will be more expensive. Mine cost $1000. Ouch. I'm assuming they scheduled you for the follow-up appointment to put the permanent cap on.

 

Glad the procedure went well for you.

Link to post
Share on other sites
×
×
  • Create New...