Dental question

[FishingBuds]

Anyone had any problems with a root canal?

I have to decide to get one or pull the jaw tooth, I'm all in saving my choppers but, I've not heard to much good things on the root canal. Is it worth it?

[nick76]

Coming from a dentist....

Depending on why you need a root canal, it is usually best to get them rather than pull the tooth and try to replace it.  I encourage this in my office, but like I said....it depends on the situation.  

Root canals should not hurt under normal circumstances and are relatively succesful.  Where I tend to see failures are in people with a history of fracturing teeth and those who clench/grind heavily.  

Depending on the tooth it is often adivsed to get a crown afterward to help prevent fracture.  This is due to a ferrel effect (like the rings around the old wood barrels....each piece is held in placed due to the ring).  

I would be happy to give you more feedback if you need it.

One piece of advise......specialists cost more, there is a reason for that.  If it is molar tooth I highly recommend a specialist.  They do nothing but this for a living.  A good specialist will use a microscope to make sure all the canals are properly cleaned and filled.

just my 2 cents.

[fishinfiend]

I had a root canal done 15 years ago and had a crown put on. I have never had any problems with it. The most painful part is having novicane injected in the roof of your mouth. I swear that needle feels like it is 4' long. Make sure you get some gas.

[R@ngerman195vs]

From a former USAF spitsucker...

Listen to Nick76.  He speaketh the truth.  Good Luck!

[tyrius.]

I've had a root canal and it wasn't all that bad from a pain standpoint.  The most annoying part is keeping your mouth open and having them dry it out for the entire time that they are jamming those little files into the roots of your teeth.  Not too pleasent to think about, but not all that bad to go through.

[slomoe]

Funny you ask. I'm going through a tough situation now. I had a root canal and crown a little under a year ago, about $800 altogether. I went back to my dentist last week because I have had pain for almost the entire year. He took an X-ray and said I needed a retreat which I got an estimate for....around $500, plus I may need a new crown if they can't drill through it....another $400.

I'm on antibiotics now, but I'm pretty sure I would rather have it pulled than drop close to another grand on work. >

Where I tend to see failures are in people with a history of fracturing teeth and those who clench/grind heavily.

I think this is why I've had problems throughout the past year. I do it in my sleep a lot and when I'm stressed.

[FishingBuds]

Coming from a dentist....

Depending on why you need a root canal, it is usually best to get them rather than pull the tooth and try to replace it. I encourage this in my office, but like I said....it depends on the situation.

Root canals should not hurt under normal circumstances and are relatively succesful. Where I tend to see failures are in people with a history of fracturing teeth and those who clench/grind heavily.

Depending on the tooth it is often adivsed to get a crown afterward to help prevent fracture. This is due to a ferrel effect (like the rings around the old wood barrels....each piece is held in placed due to the ring).

I would be happy to give you more feedback if you need it.

One piece of advise......specialists cost more, there is a reason for that. If it is molar tooth I highly recommend a specialist. They do nothing but this for a living. A good specialist will use a microscope to make sure all the canals are properly cleaned and filled.

just my 2 cents.

Thanks Nick, well to tell ya more, its the second tooth from the back lower right and it has a huge cavaty thats been filled, now the darn thing has cracked off, I like my dental guy been with him now 9 years. There has been trouble from this thing now for the last two years but he couldn't find anything, about the 4th time he decided to open it back up and check it then refilled it with a temp. In the mean time I find out I have the symptoms of TMJ, Jaw popping, jaw lock at times and dizzyness, looking back thats what has been tearing up my molars, I'm a clencher badly, so his plan(my choice) pull it, set me up with a mouth piece or root it, crown it and then set me up with a mouth piece.

I didn't ask this but a fella at work told me he had several trips on his root canal? Is it done in one visit or several?

[moby bass]

I've had several root canals. Nary a problem with them.

I actually have a permanent bridge across the front uppers.

4 total teeth. Talk about an expensive and time consuming procedure, but they're just like the real deal. Good dental work is hard to beat.

[Marty]

My wife and I have had more root canals and crowns than most people, I would guess, but I have no regrets, as I'd rather have teeth. The novocaine needles aren't a problem for me.

My dentist is close to 80 and I hope he doesn't lose his steady hand while I'm in the chair.  ;D

[MitchIsFishin]

Root canals? Love 'em. Absolute blast, you'll enjoy it.

Seriously, its either:

a. Root canal/save the teeth/tooth OR

b. Become close friends with Polident.

[bass or bass ?]

I'm a dental laboratory technician/owner. Nick76 tells the truth. I've had three root canals, all done by my son 8-). I napped through two of them, not on sedation either. If you don't have the procedure done, someone like me will make enough money for an all expenses paid fishing weekend ;D,  and you will be getting either a very expensive bridge, or an inconvenient removable partial (my specialty). You want the root canal ;D.     Happy fishing.

~B.A.S.S.~N.A.F.C.~BoatU.S.~N.R.A.~A.M.A.~

[nick76]

Fishingbuds,

Here are some more thoughts on yours situation.  1)  I have seen several teeth that are symptomatic, but I can never find what is wrong with them.  They come and go with pain and one day the patient calls and says that it broke.  The pain goes away, but now they need more work.   2)  With this tooth being the second tooth from the back you still have the option for a bridge, but it will cost more than a root canal and put more stress on the other teeth.  3)  The root canal is often cheaper and less involved than any of the replacement options.  4)  If you are having problems with TMJ you have a whole new set of problems to deal wtih.  Most dentists will try to get you fitted for a bite splint or something similar.  I am going to seem like a quack here, but I am getting better results using a chiropractor to check the TMJ than I am using a bitesplint.  The splint therapy is expensive, and it never really cures the problems.....it maintains the teeth.  I have seen 6 TMJ patients in the last 2 months and have referred all of them to chiropractors.  Every one of them said they are have less pain (and most of them no pain), less jaw clicking, and fewer overall problems.  Not exactly sure of the methods the chiropractors are using, but the results are very convincing for me as a professional.  

I will say that 99% of my molar root canals that I send to my specialist are 1 visit trips about 2-2 1/2 hours.  Very pain free and the hardest part is holding your mouth open.  I don't know your dentist, but most general dentists are not educated enough and do not use the same equipment as specialists.  Just my 2 cents.  This is one place you do not want to skimp on when it comes to $$.  

[nick76]

Slomoe,

Here is my 2 cents on your situation.  The first question I have is that "did your regular dentist do the root canal?"  I suspect the answer to this is yes.  If this is the case then this is how I would proceed.  1)  $500 seems awful cheap for a retreat, this makes me think he/she is your regular dentist.  2)  There are other procedures you can do besides retreating, but you will need to go to a specialist.  3)  A properly sealed canal will not need a retreat, it makes no difference since the bone is where the infection is.....you must get into the bone to get rid of this.  4)  If this is a specialist ask about an Apicoectomy.  This is where they make a small window in the bone and remove the tip of the root and the surrounding bone to clear up the infection, does not mess with your crown and is relatively painless.  You will have a few stitches, but nothing too major.  

My 2 cents......If I had done this root canal and it had failed that quickly my first thing to try is to get a strong antibiotic into the bone.  If this does not work then I send to the specialist for either a retreat or an apico.  The retreat will only work if something is not sealed correctly (and sometimes this just happens, nothing the doctor usually does on purpose or misses...some canals are just tough to fill).  The apico is done if the canal looks sealed correctly and the root can be accessed and removed.  

I do not mind doing easy front teeth root canals, but in my hands the posterior teeth are better suited for specialists.  Usually take less time and get better results.  Now with that....not all specialists are created equal. 8-)

[fish-fighting-illini]

 1 root canal 20 years ago no problems no pain, I was out of it if I remember right?

 Then again I ate hardshell tacos the day I got my wisdom teeth out so????

[slomoe]

nick76,

I had my initial root canal done by a general dentist. I wasn't too happy with the service, so I had friend refer me to another dentist who did the crown. I went back to him for the x-ray last week and he referred me to an endodontist. The endodontist is the one who quoted me on the retreat. I think I'm going to set up a pre op visit to determine exactly what needs to be done before I make my final decision.

My antibiotics just ran out so hopefully I can fight off any infection until I can figure out what to do.

Thanks for the info  

[nick76]

Slomoe,

You might be in good shape then for a retreat.  If those are really the prices you paid and have been quoted then you are in good shape.  Your dental fees are extremely low for what we charge here in Michigan.  Not that this is the state anyone wants to live in without jobs right now, but they are getting about $1000-1300 for a retreat here.  So if you are giving $500 it is a steal.  Crowns are running $800-1200 depending on the place.  Consider yourself lucky.  

[Root beer]

The last time I went to a dentist I suffered a concussion.   I should have sued the guy, but the drugs for my concussion made me feel good.

[slomoe]

Nick, Thanks for the advice. The $500 quoted was with 60% insurance coverage so we're probably about same with prices. If they can save my crown, I think I will go with the retreat.

Now I just gotta stop grinding my teeth....

[atx_newbie]

Now I just gotta stop grinding my teeth....

Three different times when I quit smoking, I ended up starting again because of teeth grinding.  I did it so loudly that I woke myself up at nights.  It always started right around week 3 or so...

Anyway, if you do it when you sleep, you should get a mouthpiece for the night.  If you're doing it during the day... I don't know how to help you.  Xanax maybe?