Fourth Canal??

[bicardibutterfly]

Ok so i went in and had a root canal by a general dentist. It took alot from me to even attempt to walk into his office but the pain overcame my fear. First of all, the shots hurts like hell and totally wasn't expecting the pain. The dentist was rude and after all the drilling and stuff flying all over, not to mention I had a panic attack of everything that is going on, he informed me that he could not get to the fourth canal on my #19. He discovered it during on one of the xray. He then patched me up with temp cement and referred me to an endodontist.
Needless to say, I am totally traumatized by that experience but I still summoned up whatever courage and went in for a consultation. The endodontist then scheduled me for another thorough root canal on Oct 03. My question is the general dentist said that he does not have the tools to get to my fourth root. What is the endodontist going to do? How is he going to proceed doing it? Is he going to clean out my tooth this time and complete the procedure because it is not cheap at all? I am now highly afraid of shots...

 

[littlestar88]

Hi
I'm sorry i cant answer any of your questions. I just wanted to say that the dentist you had been to sounds horrid. And to let you have a panic attack and not offer to stop or help you at all. Maybe you should look at changing dentist.
For now at least you wont have to deal with him. Just explain all your fears to the endo and he can be especially patient. Even if all the endo does is the same thing again with a nicer person you will be calmer and it will all be much easier.
Injections can range from not hurting at all to being quite bad depending on the tools and the dentist. maybe you should enquire if the endo uses 'the wand' as i hear that is much more comfy...and not injection looking so may help you. also if he is more gentle then it shouldnt hurt as much either.
Good luck...I hope it all goes to plan on your next appointment.

 

[brit]

Injections can range from not hurting at all to being quite bad depending on the tools and the dentist. maybe you should enquire if the endo uses 'the wand' as i hear that is much more comfy...and not injection looking so may help you. also if he is more gentle then it shouldnt hurt as much either.

I have now had local anaesthetic from my current dentist twice and even though I wasn't aware of numbing gel being used, the shots were completely imperceptible...one was palate as well...you don't feel anything at all and then you are asked to rinse...it is done very slowly.....so it is clearly mainly in the technique I would say and you can expect the endo to be totally different and much better (couldn't be any worse)...you could also maybe arrange some nitrous to relax you even more..good luck.
Your dentist sounds terrible and you need to find a new one pronto...do not give this guy any more business.

 

[Gordon]

The "tools" that your dentist is going on about is most likely a microscope as well as some specialised ultrasonic equipment for going after hard to find canals. It's really nothing to worry about compared to what you've had done already.
Although the dentist's chairside manner obviously left a lot to be desired, it's quite good that he stopped working on the tooth before he'd gone too far and made a referral for you.

 

[brit]

Although the dentist's chairside manner obviously left a lot to be desired, it's quite good that he stopped working on the tooth before he'd gone too far and made a referral for you.

There is a much more detailed account of how badhis behaviour was, in the thread in Support in case you think we were maybe overreacting a bit . To think you men aren't supposed to get PMT.