Root Canal

[Tank]

anybody ever had one? what was your experience like?

i've had a raging toothache since last thursday. was finally able to get in to see two different dentists today. i've got at least one tooth that needs a root canal, but x-rays have been inconclusive as to exactly where the problem lies. it feels like it's from two different molars. they started me on antibiotics tonight and it has helped the pain to reduce considerably. the earliest they can do the procedure is a week from thursday. 

[Brandon]

Pretty common procedure. It's also an outpatient procedure, so you'll even leave when they are done. I've never had a bad experience with them. They numb you up pretty good, do what they have to do, then you are out with some pain killers. I don't remember any pain, swelling, or aches.

[Redondo]

They numbed me up pretty well and dug a root out of the tooth

Took a little bit of time, but I walked out with no issues

Didn't need to take any pain meds

[St1ck]

A thread about bad teeth. @WicketMaiden this is your time to shine.

[Jason]

I've had two and, to be honest, they kind of sucked. They had some issues with bleeding but that's a me issue. Crowns kind of suck as well as they can be more challenging to keep clean so you have to spend more time flossing them. Thankfully I've never had one pop off,. Pain wise, not an issue because it's better than dealing with the tooth pain you're going in for. 

Edited August 16, 2022 by Jason

[WicketMaiden]

2 hours ago, St1ck said:

A thread about bad teeth. @WicketMaiden this is your time to shine.

Ha ha, I nearly replied earlier, then I thought who the hell would want advice on teeth from a bad-toothed Brit? Our dentists are pretty woeful.

I've had one root canal - got another couple of years of use out of the tooth but ultimately it just fell apart, slowly. I probably wouldn't bother with another one.

[Jay]

I had one that didn't work out, and they had to redo some time later as it became re-infected. Eventually I lost the tooth and also had some bone loss due to a lingering infection.

The procedure itself wasn't particularly painful, it just didn't solve the problem.

The solution was a bone graft and implant, which has worked out fine.

Implants were relatively new when I had mine done. You had to go to a specialist. I went to a periodontist for mine. Now they are common and more general dentists are performing implants. I think I would still recommend going to a specialist unless your dentist is really good.

[Jason]

Your experience depends on the dentist too 

[WicketMaiden]

1 hour ago, Jason said:

Your experience depends on the dentist too 

If my dentist looked like that I'd have the best teeth in Britain (ok, it's a low bar but the point still stands).

[T.G.]

I had one and it was fine.  No issues, no pain.

[Tank]

The antibiotics have helped control the pain and made a pretty immediate difference. Before I got them I was ready to go all Tom hanks with an ice skate on an island to resolve the pain.

[Jason]

3 hours ago, Tank said:

The antibiotics have helped control the pain and made a pretty immediate difference. Before I got them I was ready to go all Tom hanks with an ice skate on an island to resolve the pain.

Your pain>root canal pain 

Edited August 17, 2022 by Jason

[tdawg87]

It felt like getting a cavity filled, honestly. Took about the same amount of time.

[RallyMo]

On 8/16/2022 at 10:54 AM, Jay said:

I had one that didn't work out, and they had to redo some time later as it became re-infected. Eventually I lost the tooth and also had some bone loss due to a lingering infection.

The procedure itself wasn't particularly painful, it just didn't solve the problem.

The solution was a bone graft and implant, which has worked out.

I had the same experience. Not particularly fun but all’s well that ends well.

[RallyMo]

23 hours ago, Jason said:

Your pain>root canal pain 

This. The pain caused by the pressure of the infection/abscess is far worse than the root canal/surgery and postoperative pain.

[Slegnaac]

I have been through the procedure three times.  Once back in my twenties,  and I don't remember much about that one because they knocked me out.

I've had two over the last ten years.  The pain was in my jaw, so they use ice and heat applied to the individual teeth to determine which one was having the problem.   Then x-rays to verify it.

Just local novocain for those.  As I recall it was about 90 minutes for the procedure.  

 

[tdawg87]

8 hours ago, RallyMo said:

This. The pain caused by the pressure of the infection/abscess is far worse than the root canal/surgery and postoperative pain.

Yeah the abscess pain was nigh unbearable. I was chewing ice cubes all day because it would numb the area for a few minutes. 

I can't imagine getting a tooth pulled with no anesthesia being much worse.

[Tank]

Ended up having my procedure done today and all went well. Took about 90 minutes and my doctor was generous with the Novocain. It was incredibly helpful to have a bite guard to keep my mouth open instead of having to do it purposely on my own. My mouth is pretty sore but I’ve got codeine to help with that, and it’s not nearly as bad as the toothache pain I’ve been dealing with for a week. I’m supposed to sing this weekend but I don’t feel up to it so I’m staying home.