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Root Canal...

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auroradare

Junior member
Joined
Jun 18, 2009
Messages
6
I'm getting my first ever root canal tomorrow and I'm extremely nervous! :(:oIt's on my bottom molar. I had a temp filling put in after he drilled the decay out a few months ago and he said if it still continued to hurt I'd need a root canal instead of a filling. I went back last week, and my new dentist said that there was still some decay and that it wasn't bad at all. It was just a little tiny bit over the point between a filling and a root canal. He said that he could do a root canal now or put a filling in it, but it would need a root canal in the near future. I opted for a root canal since I'd much rather go right ahead and get it over with.

It's already drilled down, so about how long will it take? Do root canals really hurt because I've heard complete horror stories on how people can't get numb or anything. My tooth is still alive and I don't have any swelling or abscess, and another fear of mine is having things like the damn in my mouth, and being able to feel them digging around in my roots, even if I'm not in pain. Alot of people have told me it fills like a filling being put in and I really hope this is true. Is it? And what exactly do you feel as they're doing it? Thanks so much, I'm an absolute nervous wreck.
 
Hi,
I just had my first-ever root canal on Monday and today is Wednesday and I feel great because the pain is GONE! I have sipped cold/hot drinks and rinsed my mouth for the first time in over a year without wincing! The procedure, for me, was not too bad. I was full of anxiety, hence the waiting a full year before I had it done. It was on an upper molar. I don't know who is doing yours, but I went to an Endodontist specialist. I think my regular dentist didn't want to ruin our relationship since he knows how I am with any work done on my mouth. My Endo perscribed me an anti-anxiety drug that I took 2 hours before the procedure. I took another with his ok when I got there. I took his advice and brought an ipod and earbuds! DO THIS, borrow one if you have to. They gave me sunglasses. The drugs helped me not get uptight about the dam in my mouth. Honestly, except for the first stick of needle in the mouth, I felt nothing whatsover. When they get down to the canals, the sensation is like a file, not drilling per se, so its different, but not painful. It was over pretty quickly, he put a rubber bite thing in my mouth so I didn't even have to work to keep my mouth open on my own and relaxed.

I hope this helps you. I am mad at myself for waiting so long. I have absolutely no pain today, only two days after and my every day pain is gone and I'm so happy! I can't stop talking about it, its like someone waived a wand and "poof" my pain is gone! Good luck, I'll send you warm and supportive thoughts tomorrow.
 
Yes, it does! Thanks! I'm fine with the first needle, that doesn't bother me. I was just scared of pain during the procedure. Everyone has told me that it just feels about the same as a filling, so I'm glad that that's about right. Thank you!
 
:welcome:AuroraDare. You've come to a wonderfully supportive place. :) I had my first ever root canal on an upper molar back in April:


and while if I had the power to go back in time 3 years and make the choice to have gotten the initially tiny cavity filled, I sure would have, I can also honestly say in a way I am grateful that the rct was necessary. No lol I'm not completely crazy! I'll never be happy or proud as I've said many a time on here that it was my own shot fear and negligence that made the rct necessary (unlike you I have always been terrified of needles and until my rct had no clue there was such a thing as numbing gel) but I will truly forever be grateful that it allowed me to develop both my trust in myself and that in my dentist to where I can now say whatever dental fears I once had have been conquered.

During my rct the only discomfort I experienced was briefly with the files when I felt the pressure of the dentist getting down there. Even that wasn't lasting. Mine was completed in 3 visits because before the second, I had had a major cleaning and my jaw was tired of being open so he only worked maybe half an hour. First visit, took maybe an hour and the third 45 minutes? So yeah about 2 hours if it's all done at one time.

:XXLhug: Hug to you and wishing you all good luck. You'll do great! :)

Mona
 
Thank you! I'm glad to hear that it isn't painful. My aunt said that hers was painless and she didn't feel a thing and she goes to the same dentist that I'll be going to tomorrow. I really hope it goes well, but I'm getting gas too so hopefully that will help alot! Thanks guys!
 
Just got back. I can't say that it was on the top of the list of most comfortable things in the world, but it totally wasn't painful AT all. I couldn't get numb at the beginning because something was different with my nerves, but he numbed everything around my tooth, put some gel on my tooth and gave me a shot inside it. He put the laughing gas on me, I blared my iPod and I was out. He also put some anesthetic on the files so that it would give me extra comfort and every so often he'd give me another shot to numb me. I got sooooo many shots, but after that first one, I couldn't feel a thing.

The only thing that could slightly be considered pain was having to keep my mouth open with that metal clamp and the rubber dam. That was pretty uncomfortable but I couldn't even consider that to really be pain, just a little annoying. They couldn't get the rubber dam out at the end!:giggle:

But all in all it wasn't a bad experience in the least. I'm so glad that I decided to go ahead and get it over with instead of waiting for 2 weeks. it didn't hurt at all! I'm a little sore right now, it hurts really bad where they gave me the shots, but I'm fine! My mouth doesn't even hurt from holding it open yet. I go back on the 30th to get it filled and fitted for my crown. Thanks for your support guys, and if you have to get a root canal, don't worry! They aren't painful, just a little bit annoying, but nothing at all to be worried about!
 
Yea! I'm so glad you posted the update, thanks. I was sending you calm happy thoughts today, off and on all day. Not sure where you are or what time zone so just covered all the basis. :yay:
 
Hooray! :jump:I am so happy to read this. Lol, rct isn't exactly on my top ten (or even top 20) list of things to rush out and do either! :p Take good care and hope you feel proud.

Mona
 
Well done Auroradare, on getting through your root canal, hope the next appointment goes as well.
 
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