Root canal or extraction?

I had root canal treatment that failed once because I left it too late. There were precarious immigration/self employed financial issues going on the time alas. Since then I've lost both wisdom teeth that both went bad, memorably on one occasion with an agonising dental abscess that came on whilst on holiday abroad. S

ince had it again, but this time the tooth was saved as it was caught earlier. And I paid for an implant to replace the first tooth I lost. I had extensive periodontal treatment in recent years, being told.I might lose all my teeth otherwise, and agreed to it as there are to many tales about this condition bringing on heart disease, dementia, and worse. 

The pain can be controlled, but the i ital injections are no fun. It's important to explain to the dentist if your pain thresholds are low I think. They know many people fear that side of dental work.

With dental abscesses the important thing is to get that pain dealt with. It's no fun, and a medical emergency really! Luckily in the city I live on there is a 24-four hour emergency dentist. 

Hi Nexus11 - thanks for your reply - it sounds like you’ve been through a lot with your teeth. It’s far from easy isn’t it? The pain I had last week really shocked me - it was so severe. What is having a dental implant like? Is it better or worse than a root canal? And can you tell the difference once they’re in? Do they just feel like normal teeth and do you forget all about them once they’re in? 

Hi Kate Kestrel

I suppose these things are to be expected as Time marches on, I'm glad I had it done. Periodontitis and dental sbscesses can sabotage so much lore than your oral health. 

I had promised myself a implant once my financial situation was stronger. It isn't really the same colour my other teeth though you do forget it is there once it is in. And it did improve eating, being able to chew properly on both sides.

You won't feel the procedures done to position it, which basically is a screw to anchor the tooth. You do have to look after it though, so now it's a checkup and dental cleaning once a year.

My most recent one was in the spring, and and it hurt!!!! But when the dentist came in to plunge the needle in to numb it all, it was too sudden, and I screamed! So I had to apologise and explain that I'm not too good at dealing with these things always. The two surgeries I had before were more manageable in fact, that's when they mine right under your gums and roots to get rid of the plaque. 

So no BS, they aren't just trying to make money out of you, and it will help maintain your health as you get older. I

One of my cats needs dental resent too, and I feel horribly guilty about that as the last intervention failed, they insist on ultrasound ING the heart once they are older, and my cat 'went wild' and became unmanageable. Both ultrasound and extraction are very expensive, so the question is, how much trauma should I put her through? The vets I've been dealing with can be paragona at times, and someone who I work for commented it would take a lot of work with them to have that all paid for if I do do it. She's 14 now, the cat in question 

No, you can't explain things to an animal. My other cat had several teeth removed just before she was deemed too old to have it without having her heart checked on ultrasound, she did becomeess fearful after the opp. But she can't really chew now. 

This is so interesting - thanks for sharing your experience, I really appreciate it. It’s so helpful to hear of people’s real experience of these things. I’m glad it was worth it for you and that it’s been a success. I hadn’t really thought about cat dental health - none of the cats I’ve had (many years ago now because my son is allergic to cats and gets asthma if he’s around them) lived long enough to require dentistry. That must be a hard decision to make for you - i hope it works out ok either way. Tricky. I remember years ago we had to take one of our cats somewhere and she went absolutely crazy in car and we had to turn back - but she was a farm cat and semi wild in a way. It made me cry - it was so upsetting to see her so terrified like that. 

This is so interesting - thanks for sharing your experience, I really appreciate it. It’s so helpful to hear of people’s real experience of these things. I’m glad it was worth it for you and that it’s been a success. I hadn’t really thought about cat dental health - none of the cats I’ve had (many years ago now because my son is allergic to cats and gets asthma if he’s around them) lived long enough to require dentistry. That must be a hard decision to make for you - i hope it works out ok either way. Tricky. I remember years ago we had to take one of our cats somewhere and she went absolutely crazy in car and we had to turn back - but she was a farm cat and semi wild in a way. It made me cry - it was so upsetting to see her so terrified like that. 

No, you can't explain things to an animal. My other cat had several teeth removed just before she was deemed too old to have it without having her heart checked on ultrasound, she did becomeess fearful after the opp. But she can't really chew now.