• Replies 57 replies
  • Subscribers 12 subscribers
  • Views 1233 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
Related
Hints and tips
  • To quote someone's message, first select/highlight the relevant text, and then use the Quote button that appears
  • To "mention" someone, type @ followed by the start of the forum name, and choose from the list; that person will get a notification of being mentioned

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've never had a root canal, but I have had an extraction due to a wisdom tooth coming in on the outside and side-e-ways to the rest which was causing issues. You have to get injection to numb the area, but after that it was fine as I couldn't feel anything of it getting pulled, despite the awkward angle.  

    This year I had to get a tooth crowned, but then he said the decay went deeper and ended up going sideways into another tooth, and he drilled that too. As he needed to check if I could continue and do the other same time, he showed me a photo of it, and that made me freak out internally but I just said okay. It took a long time and was far worse than the quick extraction (it was numb so couldn't feel anything apart from him leaning on my glasses a bit which hurt, but not much you can do.  But as B said, it would depend on what the space means for eating?

  • in reply to Cinnabar_wing

    Thank you Cinnabar_wing - this is really helpful - I so appreciate you taking the time to share your experience. That must have been very upsetting to have the dentist suddenly say he wanted to do the drill the other tooth at the same time so unexpectedly - that’s not what anyone wants to hear is it? I’m sorry that happened to you. And him showing you the photo - I really don’t like looking at the x rays of my teeth at the dentist - they look so bizarre. I have health anxiety so the whole thing is a bit of a nightmare for me tbh - but the pain I’ve had with this tooth has been some of the worse pain I’ve ever experienced in my life - it was absolute agony and painkillers barely made a difference - so I was actually glad to get to the dentist in the end. The dentist gave me really strong antibiotics to treat the infection (my face was starting to swell at this point which really scared me) and the antibiotic gave me terrible stomach ache and nausea. I did find though that eating a bowl of porridge before I took the tablets really helped with the stomach pain and nausea (which has meant I’m eating a lot of porridge as I have to take the tablets 3 times a day). Thankfully I like porridge. Re. The positioning of the tooth involved - I always eat on the other side anyway (I’m not sure why I just always prefer it) so in that way it won’t make that much difference if I have an extraction. My partner thinks I should do all I can to save the tooth - but I find the idea of 45 mins of treatment and multiple visits so incredibly…..just horrible. My son recently had an extraction and he said it was bearable - and after 3-4 days he was fine. I haven’t made my mind up yet but these replies have been massively helpful and I’m so grateful to be more informed about what this involves from people who have actually been through it. Thanks again.

Reply
  • in reply to Cinnabar_wing

    Thank you Cinnabar_wing - this is really helpful - I so appreciate you taking the time to share your experience. That must have been very upsetting to have the dentist suddenly say he wanted to do the drill the other tooth at the same time so unexpectedly - that’s not what anyone wants to hear is it? I’m sorry that happened to you. And him showing you the photo - I really don’t like looking at the x rays of my teeth at the dentist - they look so bizarre. I have health anxiety so the whole thing is a bit of a nightmare for me tbh - but the pain I’ve had with this tooth has been some of the worse pain I’ve ever experienced in my life - it was absolute agony and painkillers barely made a difference - so I was actually glad to get to the dentist in the end. The dentist gave me really strong antibiotics to treat the infection (my face was starting to swell at this point which really scared me) and the antibiotic gave me terrible stomach ache and nausea. I did find though that eating a bowl of porridge before I took the tablets really helped with the stomach pain and nausea (which has meant I’m eating a lot of porridge as I have to take the tablets 3 times a day). Thankfully I like porridge. Re. The positioning of the tooth involved - I always eat on the other side anyway (I’m not sure why I just always prefer it) so in that way it won’t make that much difference if I have an extraction. My partner thinks I should do all I can to save the tooth - but I find the idea of 45 mins of treatment and multiple visits so incredibly…..just horrible. My son recently had an extraction and he said it was bearable - and after 3-4 days he was fine. I haven’t made my mind up yet but these replies have been massively helpful and I’m so grateful to be more informed about what this involves from people who have actually been through it. Thanks again.

Children
No Data