Root canal retreatment tomorrow - trying not to back out.....

I had the original root canal almost exactly 5 years ago and it has never really felt right, despite regular dental visits and a trip back to the endodontist that did it. It goes long periods without hurting but never truly settles down and I can't eat on that side for fear of the tooth breaking. After finally insisting that we start really looking for a problem I had a 3d xray (CT scan?) and it showed 2 abscesses that, while not causing me significant pain, although i could tell there was something not "right", needed to be dealt with.

Both the old endo and the new one agreed that a root canal retreatment was needed. I decided to go to the new endodontist since her manner was much friendlier and I felt more comfortable.

Now I am looking for excuses not to go. Maybe the online reviews are planted by her team. Maybe I need someone with more experience and should choose the older person instead. The new endo thinks it will be 2 - 1 hour appointments, which is a bit faster then it was done previously - maybe she rushes you in and out to collect the checks.....etc... it never stops. Thanks dental anxiety.

I slept a whopping 2 hours last night and am freaking out at the moment thinking about cancelling the appointment. It seems extreme to do another root canal when the pain isn't unbearable. My wife took the day off of work so she could drive me tomorrow, which will help, but I fear not being totally confident and that causing mid treatment panic attacks. Maybe I should have taken longer to think about things or get some more opinions.

While at the consultation, the endodontist did take time to show me images, explain what was going on, etc... but panic is making me freak out a bit. The old endodontist didn't tell me anything other then I needed retreatment and when to come in - why would I consider that better? Ughhh....

I think I am going to go for a walk for a little while to try and clear my head. I think I am getting in my own way here.

Hi Zach,

I think they new one sounds really good.. especially since she seemed to explain things and that.. I do the same thing.. I acutally did chicken out for my retreatment then absessed a year later and was unable to save.. so... i encourage you to GO!! It will be a relief to be over and if shes an endo specialist you will probably be very comfrotable during the procedure and with great technology!! Please let us know how it goes..

krlovesherkids777 said:

Hi Zach,

I think they new one sounds really good.. especially since she seemed to explain things and that.. I do the same thing.. I acutally did chicken out for my retreatment then absessed a year later and was unable to save.. so... i encourage you to GO!! It will be a relief to be over and if shes an endo specialist you will probably be very comfrotable during the procedure and with great technology!! Please let us know how it goes..

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Thanks for the comments

I am definitely trying to stick this out and get through the appointment tomorrow and then the 2nd appointment a week or two later.

Dental anxiety is crushing me today. I spent a ridiculous amount of time looking at reviews and trying to figure out if they were written by people locally, etc... which I know is crazy.

It would make all the difference in the world if I knew a few people that went to the office and had great experiences instead of just going in blind. That isn't the case though and I need to just get through it. I'm definitely worrying about having a panic attack in the chair or on the way there, etc... She gave me valium, which I have used successfully in the past, but I am still freaking out.

I keep having thoughts about maybe she hasn't been doing it long enough, etc... what is the track-record and more....which isn't doing me any good.

I hope the online reviews are correct

I do the SAME thing.. I look for reviews , it makes me feel better when I see someone else had a good experience. and definately red flag when you see some bad ones.. Make it as far as you feel comfortable.. each step is another victory. I know the minute I drive up to the building my heart is pumping hard and my emotions are screaming ... RUN!!! its super hard to make it through the door , then.... once I hit the door I go from 48 to 8 and forget everything I was going to ask until I'm leaving back out. the great thing is in the middle of when I arrice until the time I'm done, my dentist and staff are really good at making me comfrotable in very compassinate care.. the minute I felt they were't I might ask to go to the bathroom and duck out.

I hope you make it through.. it IS hard..!! but it will be worth it to save your teeth!!

I've had a root canal, and a half since my filling and stuff fell out the first time and had to re-do it. Once you've had the root canal done another one is not going to be as bad as the first.

scaredofeverything99 said:

I've had a root canal, and a half since my filling and stuff fell out the first time and had to re-do it. Once you've had the root canal done another one is not going to be as bad as the first.

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Thanks. That helps.

Most of my current anxiety is on the quality of the endodontist. Online reviews seem great, but I am freaked out since I don't really know. I wish I knew she was awesome, it would mean a ton of relief for me.

Are you in the US? if you are did you look under healthgrades.com and your state board of dentistry to see if there were any complaints. usually i feel better if there are none in there.

krlovesherkids777 said:

Are you in the US? if you are did you look under healthgrades.com and your state board of dentistry to see if there were any complaints. usually i feel better if there are none in there.

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Healthgrades was perfect (3/3)and facebook has her with 31 - 5 star reviews and nothing worse. Yelp is 8/8 perfect reviews. Vitals had 9 perfect reviews and 1 subpar, but in it, the reviewer said he liked the Dr. but had billing issues with the front desk. My wife asked on a facebook forum and a few people seemed happy. They recommended another endo as well, but I didn't go there (see below).

It has only been 5 years total in practice (plus 2 as a regular dentist) and 2 on her own. I don't know why, that stuff freaks me out. There was another endodontist in the same area who has been at it for 20+ years but there are a few bad reviews and he was ex-military, which I didn't think would lead to the compassion I need to get through the appointments.

It is so hard to trust the online stuff and wish I had first person or more longevity, etc... I am definitely overthinking this, but I am freaked out right now. Maybe she hasn't seen that many retreatments compared to someone that has done it for 20 years. I hate myself right now. I never ask these questions during the appointments and now it is too late.

Did you do google reviews too? Its really hard not to overthink.. I have to go in next week for implant part 2 and already finding myself a bit overthinking... its really hard not to!! as nice or good as they are.. honestly older dentists scare me more a bit..You can do it!! its going to be hard to geet there but once you are there she sounds like she'll do a good job

krlovesherkids777 said:

Did you do google reviews too? Its really hard not to overthink.. I have to go in next week for implant part 2 and already finding myself a bit overthinking... its really hard not to!! as nice or good as they are.. honestly older dentists scare me more a bit..You can do it!! its going to be hard to geet there but once you are there she sounds like she'll do a good job

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5/5 on google too. I just hate not knowing the people leaving the reviews. In hindsight, I wish I had asked more questions, etc... but I guess it is too late for that now

I started at the endo's office that did the root canal originally and it was such a bad appointment that when I made this one and it went reasonably well, I just scheduled things without going into more questions. I never remember the questions, even with my sheet of paper, when I'm in the middle of the appointment.

I don't know how I will get through tomorrow and then the week of anticipation between appointments if I don't love her manner, etc...

I definitely don't want to be the first one of these she has ever done.....lol

Good luck to you as well. My understanding is that if this doesn't cure things, I will have to have the tooth pulled and do an implant. I can't even think about that yet.

This has been a brutal night. I know it is only the anxiety taking space in my thoughts, but I am having such a hard time shaking whether the new endo is qualified since she has only been in practice 5 years (plus school). It isn't like the procedure changes much, so i suspect she has it. I just wish I had done a better job of asking questions, etc...

Sorry to keep writing the same thing, I am definitely struggling right now. I'm trying to come up with something I can ask when I get there that will (potentially) settle my mind a bit.

Thanks for your patience

The anxiety is real and its easy to go over and over it and just be anxious.. super easy to do this.. I've been there !! its like we want to convince ourselves and we probably will be fine but we really want to KNOw we will be. and until we have done it . its a leap of faith so to say. What I can say is .. I met one of my dentists professors the other day , he's a friend of a friend, and my denist is probably about 5 years into practice so relitively young but he said very complimentary things.. I think 5 years personally is a decent amount of time to be practicing and at the same time not burned out yet

krlovesherkids777 said:

The anxiety is real and its easy to go over and over it and just be anxious.. super easy to do this.. I've been there !! its like we want to convince ourselves and we probably will be fine but we really want to KNOw we will be. and until we have done it . its a leap of faith so to say. What I can say is .. I met one of my dentists professors the other day , he's a friend of a friend, and my denist is probably about 5 years into practice so relitively young but he said very complimentary things.. I think 5 years personally is a decent amount of time to be practicing and at the same time not burned out yet

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Im trying to convince myself that 5 years is enough to have the latest schooling and still have time to perfect it.

as an added bonus, while going over the Dr.'s website for the 100th time, she is a member of a few endodontoc study groups. While that might not be a big deal, at least she is involved in thinking about things beyond the limitations of her solo practice. That has to be a good sign.

Im also trying to remember that I liked her initially and it is only the anxiety that is making me have doubts and second thoughts. I need to trust my first opinion, dozens of reviews, etc,,, and take a leap of faith here and get this over with.

Thanksmfor listening

that IS a really good thing!! to be in the study groups.. I hope you make it and things go really really well !! it is great to have this page so we can vent our fears and anxieties .. because they are very very real and have a strong grip

krlovesherkids777 said:

that IS a really good thing!! to be in the study groups.. I hope you make it and things go really really well !! it is great to have this page so we can vent our fears and anxieties .. because they are very very real and have a strong grip

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For sure. It definitely helps to hear from others that we aren't alone and that other people experience the same doubts, etc...

good of luck with your appointment as well.

I just took the valium so I hope to get a decent nights sleep. I'm not sure if I'll take 10 or 20mg in the morning. The Dr. recommended 20 but I've never taken that much before for anything. I might split it and go with 15. Thankfully my (super patient) wife took the day off to drive me and come into the room with me.

You're wife is awesome .. thats perfect!! you have encouragement right there.. please let us know how it goes. !!

P

krlovesherkids777 said:

You're wife is awesome .. thats perfect!! you have encouragement right there.. please let us know how it goes. !!

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Her patience and willingness to help get me through this stuff is amazing and something I'll always be grateful for. I also have an 8 and 5 year old and am trying to convince ,shelf that this should be reasssuringnformthem too...we can get through the tough appointments

I'm slowly feeling better about the endodontist thinking about all the reviews And study groups etc,,, I just don't think you do that stuff if you don't care about your patients on some level. She wanted to keep my flash drive with the 3D X-ray to spend some time studying my tooth. When I get there I'm going to ask her if she feels confident after more thought that this is something she feels good about. While I know that is mildly offensive, I think it will help me feel good about the situation. If the answer is sketchy, then I can depart at that time. Mince then drilling starts, I'm committed.

Im going to give this a good try in the morning and will definitely report back. Thank you for your patience and discussion, it means a lot.

This went better then expected, and surprisingly, shorter then I thought. Total time in the office was about 70 minutes. The treatment was much faster then the original root canal. Both needed 2 trips. For the original root canal, each trip was about 90 minutes or so. This was much less treatment, but I guess that makes sense since most of the shaping, etc.. was done the first time.

I took the Valium last night and went to bed 30 minutes later and slept through the night (yay). I woke up this morning and still felt somewhat calm. I got the kids off to school, had toast and took more valium before begrudgingly getting into the car with my wife.

After the treatment the endodontist told me she had good and bad news. The good was that she thinks this will resolve the issue and that the tooth is not cracked. The bad was that there is a small curve at the end of one of the 3 roots and that, due to how it was originally treated, there was no way for her files to get to the curve. Essentially the first person that went in went straight instead of turning and made a ledge that the tools just won't go into.

With that said, she thought the problem was a terrible seal with the filling in the tooth and that there was leakage causing the infection. She put some chemical in the bottom of the root that hopefully will "kill" the last bit of root that is inaccessible. She put medicine in the roots, gave me a temporary filling and I am supposed to wait a month before coming back for part 2, which is supposed to be an easier appointment.

I know the Valium and your help made a big difference. Now I have to really stay away from messing with the tooth for a month, which seems like a long time for the temporary filling, and get through this and move on.

Thanks again for all the help - it was a definite success!