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Root canal or extraction?

Kate Kestrel

I’ve recently had an infected back tooth - it’s been agonisingly painful but the dentist has put a dressing on the tooth and given me antibiotics- and said I’m going to have to either have the tooth extracted or have a root canal. I’ve never had a root canal before but they have a reputation for being unpleasant (and can fail) and I’m inclined to have the extraction and have the whole thing over and done with. The tooth apparently has three roots to it so I imagine that won’t help matters. So can I ask if anyone on here has had the experience of having to make this choice - and how did it go? Thanks 

Parents

  • I'd far rather have to tooth out than a root canal, mind you I'd rather have a tooth out than have one filled, so I'm probably not the best person to give any advice.

    One thing though, if you do have the tooth removed ask them to toake the roots out. I've had a couple of teeth out and they've left the roots, which I think are now starting to decay themselves and will cause a lot of aggravation to remove. 

Reply

  • I'd far rather have to tooth out than a root canal, mind you I'd rather have a tooth out than have one filled, so I'm probably not the best person to give any advice.

    One thing though, if you do have the tooth removed ask them to toake the roots out. I've had a couple of teeth out and they've left the roots, which I think are now starting to decay themselves and will cause a lot of aggravation to remove. 

Children
  • in reply to TheCatWoman

    Thanks - to be honest I can’t remember when I last had a tooth out - I had my wisdom tooth out but it was under general anaesthetic so I have little information to go on. My son had a molar out recently though and even though he said it was ‘brutal’ (the tooth broke) he said it wasn’t actually that painful and he healed quickly and well. Part of me thinks that as dentists make so much more money from complex treatments and multiple visits that they’re hardly objective. And maybe it’s just part of getting older and sort of natural to lose the odd tooth. Seems very bad that they left the roots in when they took your teeth out - that’s crazy isn’t it?! The tooth involved had the filling replaced in April - so I’m wondering if my dentist did a poor job and that’s why it’s now got infected. Plus the dentist seemed unable to tell which tooth it was - which is also odd as an infection should show up on the x ray surely? I wish I had more faith in them. But ultimately when my face started swelling up I was very glad to get to the dentist - I was quite scared by that. Thanks for your help :)