Has anyone here had a root canal?

[Sara luvs her Tinky]

I went to the dentist yesterday for a cleaning.. but mainly to ask about two broken teeth...

(i ate too much ice when i was pregnant! i should have listened to everyone) OH WELL...

Well.. she wants to give me a root canal on one tooth... but I honestly can't afford it and.. from what my mom says.. it isn't even worth it. The dentist said we could fill it.. and see if that works.

The tooth doesn't bother me now.. and i'm scared if I get it filled that it WILL start to bother me..

anyone here had a root canal that could tell me their experience...

[jackmilliesmom]

Yes I had one and I am fine if not better than fine it is like have a full tooth again. I would get one if I were you and could afford to over here it cost me about €300.00 so we get $1.35 for one of our Euros you could check it out and see I got some of the costs infact nearly all the costs back through my tax so check it out.

[Ginger's Mom]

Ha, funny you should ask. I had a root canal around October 2005. To answer your question, the root canal really wasn't painful (and I am a huge baby when it comes to the dentist). However, around mid-December 2006 I started having pain in that same tooth again. After visiting four different doctor's (dentist, endodontist, and periodontist), it has been decided that the tooth will have to come out and an implant put in. That is being done next week. If you had asked last month I would have said definitely have the root canal done, now I am not as sure. I think I would still say do it, because I think there is still more stability in the tooth (and therefore less chance of later pain) than just having it filled.

[IRescue452]

Me. I've got an extensive dental history. Unfortunately genetics has handed me very weak teeth. Anyway it sounds like yours is just preventative if you haven't had any damage to the nerve tissue. In other words, if you don't have a toothache from it, then try the filling if you want. If you do, then I'd get the root canal.
It isn't all that painful like people try to say. If I could afford it I'd get a root canal on every tooth. What they do is remove the nerve tissue from the tooth, along with everything elso from the inside, and fill it. You don't need this nerve tissue once your teeth have grown in. It just allows your teeth to feel hot and cold. A real pain if you've got sensitive teeth.

[Craftlady]

I've had 3 and they were no big deal.

[Sara luvs her Tinky]

Unfortunately genetics has handed me very weak teeth.

UGH.. ME TOO!!


Thanks everyone for your responses... I'm going to try the filling first since it is only going to cost me 23.00 whereas the root canal will cost me around 300.00

but i wanted to get other peoples experiences with root canals... to see if the procedure is even worth the money .... if the tooth ends up having to be pulled later anyway.

[borzoimom]

I have had 3 as well. Only one turned bad that first night. It was my fault though- they tell you to take advil before its done- and I didnt.
Having a root canal is done if the tooth is basically healthy, but the root is not. To seal " a root canal tooth" doesnt make sense to me.. That would seal in the infection. Maybe you need another opinion from another dentist..

[catnapper]

I'm the root canal queen. I think every single one of my molars has had root canal. Not something I brag about, but its the truth. I have awful teeth despite brushing and flossing like a good girl.

Root canal these days is an easy procedure... if they do it the modern way with little tiny rubber tubes. Ask which method she uses. If its the rubber tubes, no biggie!

Now if money is a huge issue, like it is for me, ask for a payment plan. Motre than likely your dentist will be able ot set one up. I paid $50 a month for my last root canal.

OR if its an un-seen tooth, you can have her pull it. I also had one tooth that I had pulled when I was in college and had no dental insurance. Nobody knows its missing and every dentist since then has warned me that if I don't get a false tooth put there that my teeth will shift to fill in the spot. 15 years later and nothing moved even a millimeter.

[Sara luvs her Tinky]

To seal " a root canal tooth" doesnt make sense to me.. That would seal in the infection. Maybe you need another opinion from another dentist..

She told me what she will do is dig all the infection out before she fills it...

I'm the root canal queen.
OR if its an un-seen tooth, you can have her pull it. I also had one tooth that I had pulled when I was in college and had no dental insurance. Nobody knows its missing and every dentist since then has warned me that if I don't get a false tooth put there that my teeth will shift to fill in the spot. 15 years later and nothing moved even a millimeter.

I would rather have it pulled than a root canal.. only because.. most of the people i've talked to said the tooth ends up needing to be pulled anyway.. and all that money is down the drian...

TOo '.... i'm already missing the last two molars on the top.. and this is the next one in line.. so i really want to try and keep it... even though you won't see it if it is missing... i just hate to think i will be missing that many teeth..

*see attached* the ones with the X i'm missing (wisdom teeth and two molars) and the one with the red dot.. is the one she wants to root canal...

[Queen of Poop]

I've had 2 root canals. I tried the filling route first in one of them and ended up in so much pain that they had no choice but to do a root canal. Since it got so bad I now have 3 dark spots in my jaw under the specific tooth. I've seen a dental surgeon twice to ensure that these dark spots that show up on the xray aren't "doing anything weird". So far nothing. I would definately go to the root canal directly next time, not the filling route after this experience.

[Cataholic]

Well.. she wants to give me a root canal on one tooth... but I honestly can't afford it and.. from what my mom says.. it isn't even worth it. The dentist said we could fill it.. and see if that works.

Your mom is absolutely right! Assuming you don't want to maintain your natural teeth.

I would ask your dentist for an alternate plan. I had one root canal, and ended up a year later having the tooth pulled, and now have a bridge. So, pulling the tooth could be an option, but, my bridge was 1500 or so.

I don't see how filling it would be a long term solution. But, if he/she says so, it must be possible. Any sort of payment plan, with a significant amount up front?

[Sara luvs her Tinky]

I've had 2 root canals. I tried the filling route first in one of them and ended up in so much pain that they had no choice but to do a root canal. So far nothing. I would definately go to the root canal directly next time, not the filling route after this experience.

that is one of my fears... the tooth doesn't bother me now.. even thought i know it is "bad".. i am afraid after she fills it, it will start hurting!

I would ask your dentist for an alternate plan. I had one root canal, and ended up a year later having the tooth pulled, and now have a bridge. So, pulling the tooth could be an option, but, my bridge was 1500 or so.

I don't see how filling it would be a long term solution. But, if he/she says so, it must be possible. Any sort of payment plan, with a significant amount up front?

They do have payment plans... but i would rather pay for the tooth to be pulled and a bridge or something... than pay for a root canal, pull and bridge or something...

and she didn't guarantee the filling would be a long term solution... but she said we would try it. I figure if she is at least willing to try.. then there must be some hope for it to work...


*i hate going to the dentist* **whines**

[lvpets2002]

Yes I have 2 of them & all is okydoky here.. No bother..

[jackmilliesmom]

I have my root canal ten years now and its fine the only time a root canal tooth has to be pulled is if air gets in the tooth while the process is being carried out and now with all of the wonderful new inventions dentists have that is 1 in 10,000 chance of happening if at all and more than 99.9% of people who have one done do not get that happening and besides my husband got one recently and the dentist told him that if he has pain that night after all his medication and so on then the tooth has not been packed properly so he will have to have it re-done at no cost or have it pulled but it would be his decision.

[Vela]

The dentist will do a filling if the patient doesn't want a root canal. Often that just ends up in a root canal, as the tooth gets painful. I have had two, one resulting from a broken tooth in a car accident and one from my canals calcifying in on my tooth and causing great pain. Since the root canals, no pain, it's been years now. My husband has had three, same thing, no pain, no problems. So out of 5 together we haven't lost any teeth from it up to now. I would root canal it and try to keep the tooth. Usually pain results after a root canal because the dentist was not thorough when doing it and left a piece in there that later becomes irritated and inflamed. I wouldn't trade my dentist for anyone else though, he's great and VERY thorough, and guarnatees his work. It all depends on what you want to deal with or your partircular problem. I would advise against the filling though, it probably will hurt and be very sensitive after that it done, if it's that deep.