Having a Root Canal on August 12th....petrified.

I went to the endodontist and he is doing a root canal on August 12th, Petrified? Can someone walk me through this procedure? Will I be able to take breaks during the root canal? Do they prop your mouth open cause I wont be able to hold it open for an hour and half? Why does it take an 1 1/2? I can deal with the pain, I have 2 kids and I had back labor with the second so pain is okay. What I fear is that I will loose control, not be able to have breaks if I get panicky? etc. Not being able to breath through my mouth? Plus I have Menere's Disease so any type of motion. like drilling and jarring to my head sets off a Menere's episode.....So anyone had a root canal and what can I expect?



The root of my dental fear is, no pun intended....I am scared of loosing control, not being able to breath, the sights and sounds of the dental torture devices , and I am scared that I will get all panicky and start crying. I'm pretty sure I freaked the receptionist out at the endodontist office, I forgot my appts card and she ran it out to the car where I was crying like a baby.....so I'm sure she will definately remember me.


On a positive note, i did get 3 fillings and that wasnt a horrible experience, actually was nothing to it.

I was talking to my hair dresser this morning, and i told him after so many years i managed to go to the dentist but had to be sedated.

He goes on to tell me he had to have a root canal and had 4 nerves poking out the top of his tooth, he said he was petrified but knew he had to go.

He said after he had the injection in his gum that was the worse bit as he never felt anything else, he said they had to cut his nerves and drill his tooth out then cap it and it took 20 minutes, and now he wouldn't be affraid of going again.

I've never had a root canal, and even if i did i would have to be sedated so cant answer first hand.

Hi CrazyCatLady.

I haven't had a root canal yet but, based on the experiences of others here, I wouldn't be too worried about having one if my dentist deemed it necessary. According to almost all the posts I've seen, there's not really a lot of difference between a root canal and a regular filling. Once you're numb, you don't feel a thing. Given that you've handled regular fillings nicely, I wouldn't anticipate any trouble with a root canal.

My main piece of advice for you (and for everybody) is to communicate with your dentist/endodontist. If it would make you feel better, call their office and explain your fears and issues and ask about what sorts of arrangements you can make. I can't keep my mouth open for long periods of time, either (for me it's because of TMJ dysfunction). Knowing this, my dentist and hygienist allow me to take frequent breaks so that I can relax my jaw.

Talk to the person who will be doing the procedure and arrange a signal for when you feel like you need to close your mouth. Many people raise their hand when they feel like they need a break or they need to stop for what ever reason.

I'm sure that after your appointment, you'll be back here posting your success story.

Im due to have a root canal too, the earliest appointment they could book me was 1st October and Im in agony NOW!!! I saw him this morning and he gave me some antibiotics for the infection thats totally inflammed my face, and Im to go back next monday to have a hole drilled in and the tooth filled. The dentist said it would actually be possible to do a root canal with no LA as the tooth is dead, but obviously thats were the saying (id rather have open heart surgery than a root canal!) so he`s going to numb me up and then pull the roots out and try fill it. They call it root filling now, not root canal. He also said its more like a filling, and ive had a few of them which were uncomfortable but not gripping chair screaming in agony pain, no way. So im not that worried now, but other people opinions seem to be pushing me towards having my tooth pulled as they said thats less painful, but its like how can it be when ur numbed up?? I think it may be the after pain, your jaw will ache from its unatural operation. I cant close my mouth properly and when i eat cos my tooth is so swollen it bangs and it hurts so f**kin much, it took me 1hr 30 mins to eat a bag of crisps today (not again). One thing that bothers me also is my dentist says the dead tooth once filled is more likely to chip and break in the future.....makes me wonder what the point is then because its eventually going to get to the point of having it extracted and then fake toothed! Im a real wuss at the dentist an all, but I trust my dentist and his judgement. I had a look into going private for this procedure, and the root filling and IV sedation (which i realllllyyyy want!) will cost me £500, at the NHS it will cost £50 but no IV. I do have 1 note of advice, ask him to thoroughly numb you up, and I mean gel anaesthetic first so you dont feel the needles, then the injections. There no harm in asking for extra numbness to be on the safe side. I swear it wen I tell you I am a real terrified wuss when I go the dentist, I cry my eyes out at check ups, but I truly believe from what people have said on here, if people say it doesnt hurt then it doesnt hurt. You will be fine, if I can go through with this then so can you But because your having it first you will have to tell me what you thought of it, promise?? xx

Hello

I have had a root canal done. It was on my top, back right molar, I am being honest with you when I say this. The pain that I had wasn't from the tooth but in my back from sitting for so long! Everything else was a piece of cake. I found what helped me cause just like most people I was very anxious I found having the dentist talking was calming me down. He had a full conversation with the assistant about the car he was looking to buy. It was a real distraction and it helped greatly. I hope that you don't have any problems and I am confident you won't!

Matt

finally someone who has had one done, and thank you matt for those words of confidence I am sure you have cheered crazycatlady.....and youve definitly cheered myself up. I dont think there will be anything to worry about hun, so you just do your stuff until the day comes and then after you have had it done you will feel like the sun is shining for you and that all that worry and upset was over nothing I know I feel like that when I have a check up and filling lol youll be fine dont you worry! x

I will let eveyrone know how it goes! I still doesnt understand why it takes so darn long......Im in tears just typing this, it has to be done. So we will see..

Thats the spirit! I spoke to a guy today who told me he had a root canal done 1 month ago and he says it was a piece of cake and he didnt feel a thing, which gave me some confidence i hope it gives you too. If you trust your dentist not to rush or not care about hurting you as some emergancy dentists do then you should be fine.

If its a male dentist, go in and tell him you want to make this a clear understanding, if he hurts you.....you hurt him (their dangly bits are at the right level were you can reach out and grab em!) haha

Hi, just a few answers to your questions -

crazycatlady said:

Will I be able to take breaks during the root canal?

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Yes, make sure you agree a stop signal with your dentist for when you need to take a break.

Do they prop your mouth open cause I wont be able to hold it open for an hour and half?

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Your dentist may be able to use a bite block - if you want this, ask about it because it may not be offered automatically.

Why does it take an 1 1/2?

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Most of that time is spent cleaning out the root canals with tiny handfiles, and flushing them with an irrigating solution between each file. This is really important because it gets rid of any bacteria which might lurk there (so you should be happy that your dentist is planning to spend an hour and half, because quickie root canals are much more prone to fail).

The good news is that this - by far the longest part - is actually very easy. There's no drilling involved and some people have even reported falling asleep. It just takes a long time.

What I fear is that I will loose control, not be able to have breaks if I get panicky? etc. Not being able to breath through my mouth?

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See above - make sure you agree a stop signal with your dentist (e.g. raising an arm), and explain that you're worried about getting panicky. If your dentist knows this, they will be better able to put you at ease. For example, some people like to have things explained to them during treatment, so they know what's going on and what sensations to expect, while others might prefer to listen to music on their mp3 player.

A lot of people are scared that they won't be able to breathe through their mouths with the rubber dam (a thin square of latex which is put on a frame). However, the rubber dam has lots of space at the sides and you will be able to breathe. Sadly few dentists think of explaining this (maybe because the thought has never occurred to them that people might be worried about this). Still, it would be a good idea to let your dentist know about this concern, so that they can reassure you and demonstrate it to you.

I am scared of loosing control, not being able to breath, the sights and sounds of the dental torture devices

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If you managed to get through 3 fillings just fine, do not fear ! The equipment used for root canal treatment (other than the initial drilling which is like for a filling), the devices look very unthreatening!

It might be a good idea to write your concerns down and briefly ask your dentist about each of them (stop signal in case of panic, breathing, prop, and whatever else you feel you need to know) before the procedure.

Wishing you all the best

Hi crazycatlady,

I have had root canal on more than one occasion and after your mouth is numb you cant feel a thing. They use files to get rid of the nerve and bacteria and then put a filling in the back. If you have any questions or concerns speak to your dentist. Mines always talks me through what shes doing and what I might feel which is great and at least then I know what to expect.

Hope this helps.
Kinkz

I almost called the endodontist today to reschedule but after reading all the posts I think Im ready for this.....maybe. I just need to keep reading all these positive posts and it really is reassuring.

crazycatlady said:

I almost called the endodontist today to reschedule but after reading all the posts I think Im ready for this.....maybe. I just need to keep reading all these positive posts and it really is reassuring.

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Awesome, and you are seeing a endodontist! Nothing to worry about I am sure you are in good hands. When it is all done and over with you will be happy trust me. I choose to get a root canal over a extraction and I am happy to say I am pain free on that molar for 2 years now

Matt is right, if you are seeing an endodontist then troot canals are what they specialise in.

Your being very brave about all of this, dont pick up the phone or you will regret it. If you reschedule you will be punishing yourself for something that you can have over with before you know it.

Just think if you have to reschedule and they cant fit you in til near christmas, you`ll be panicking and getting yourself worked up when everyone is getting excited for christmas. Once its all over and done with you can look forward to the soon to be end of the year

If you need more reassurance then why not book an appointment to have a talk with the endodontist your seeing? He may be able to ease your mind by telling you exactly what hes going to do, and if your worried the needle will hurt then he can just apply the topical gel and the pain from that is gone, if your worried you wont numb properly he can easily give more, dont suffer in silence. If you dont voice your worries and concerns to him then he may think you have no phobia and theres no need to reassure you.

Your being very brave and I admire you for not cancelling!

People wouldnt give such positive feedback if they were lying. If root canals hurt, then we wouldnt have a success story board here! People would come back screaming blue murder that we are all liars and that its all a con and it does hurt............but they dont, because 21st century dental treatment doesnt hurt anymore.

Root canals really aren't much different than the regular fillings you've had from the chair perspective. More time-consuming, but no more scary. I had one done with LA, and one done without because I was pregnant at the time and my dentist assured me he could do it with no pain using only cold water on the tooth.

I was terrified starting out, but he was right. No pain at all, just some discomfort as he pushed the post into the root, and that was from his fingers on the outside of my jaw applying counter-pressure.

You'll be able to breathe and swallow. As mentioned before, your dentist should give you a clear signal to use if you need a break, but I have yet to need him to stop during a procedure. Just knowing I have that power makes all the difference.

Keep reading here as your appointment date approaches. It's helped me so much already. Stay focused on August 13th... when it'll all be behind you and you'll wonder what the fuss was about.

I know this is someone else thread and I originally posted for support, but cielo your post really gave me some courage. I have appointment number 1 tomorrow morning at 11am were my dentist will drill a hole at the top of my tooth and pack it with antibiotics so the root canal can be done properly on the 1st october, im really worried, mostly due to anxiety. I like reading other peoples experiences, it really does help. Im glad you said it was like a filling, as thats what my dentist said its like, and other people have also confirmed that. And im glad you said it doesnt hurt with LA, because thats what im having, I havent the option of IV sedation, too costly.

Im gonna keep reading these posts for support too because the anxiety is reallllyyyyyy setting in for me.

Anxiety can make your life miserable. Anxiety tries to force you to dwell on what may happen, might happen or could happen but has not happened.

There is an equal possibility that everything will go superbly and without incident. The following exercise may help with calming the anxiety.

1. Write a list of every way your life will improve by having this problem fixed, be very specific.
2. Imagine one of your best friends is having the same procedure done and comes to you for support, what would you tell them and how would you help them to get their mind off the problem.
3. Write a list of everything that can go right during the appointment. Your mind is focusing on everything that can go wrong. Chaning the perception will help.
4. Use you mental energy to focus on everything in your life that you are grateful for in every area of you life.
5. Go out and do some positive and helpful things for other people. Getting the focus off you is an excellent way to divert your energy to something positive.

I have found these things are very helpful for people with anxiety. I hope these help.

Stress Doc, I used the breathing technique you advised to calm my nerves for my driving test last thursday.........and I passed

It really does work.....hurt my eyes though I think I look up too much haha

Well done! That is great.

I am glad that helped. That technique can strain the frontalis muscle a bit, but it does work.

All the best to you for your appointment tomorrow.

Absolutly poopin maself here! got huge butterflies and cannot calm down for the life of me lol. its only a 10minute appointment so i know ill be out before I know it, it annoys me that im so bloody scared! just charging the mp3 player to make sure its all fired up ready to drown all the noise away. Im not as bad as i used to be i have to be honest, I was really bad a few years back that I used to dream about my dentist (he is good looking though so not too bad haha)

I had the root canal on August 13th, I did remarkably well but wasnt expecting the pain that hit me the evening of the root canal. One, the dr. I call him the Prince of Pain, but oh well, couldnt finish the root canal because the canals were infected so he put meds in them, put a temp. filling and is going to finish the root canal next week. Well, the office called me, asked how I was doing and I said it sucked cause whenever I bit down on something, it was really painful and the pain would last sometime after that and that was with soft foods, so I wasnt eating. So I went back in and he adjusted the bite and all seemed well, well last night, I couldnt sleep the pain was so bad. He said that the pain is probably because the tooth was badly infected, and that why he put meds in there and will finish it next week. SO I am living on ibuprofen and tylenol. My worst fear was it would be painful after the treatment, I had NO pain before treatment and I'm thinking why the heck did I have this done, there was no pain before treatment. Im ready to NEVER EVER go back to a dentist after this. My husband and I work for an orthodontist and my hubby has braces on right now, I can get them if I want, I'm choosing the, HECK NO route. After this, Im done with all things dental, I cant stand the pain. I thought I was headed in the right direction, but I hit a u-turn.