had root canal today

[patient]

Had root canal today on a back molar. It was fine and did not hurt and so I am glad about that. I have no problems and no pain which is also good. This is the first appointment of three to get it completed (including fitting a crown). However as this is the first one, he has put in a temporary filling but I do not know what he used but it tastes funny and has left me with a strange taste in my mouth. I keep running my tongue over it and getting this strange taste. I keep telling myself its only temporary and does not hurt and that I go back in just over a week for the second part of the treatment so I can put up with it for the time being. Has anyone else had a strange taste from a temporary filling?

 

[krlovesherkids777]

Patient,

Sounds like a pretty good appointment all in all. .. Sorry about the funny taste, I don't remember having funny tastes, but I'm thinking they may have more than one or a few different materials possibly to make them? Maybe it would be worth just a quick email to ask if you had the email or a quick call. ?

 

[patient]

yeah its not too bad. Why do people say root canals are painful because the two root canals I have had by my current dentist were not in the slightest painful during or after and the previous tooth was smaller than this one I had done yesterday? It is not scary at all if you get the right dentist who knows what they are doing and I have an absolutely brilliant dentist who does not judge and happy to answer any of my questions. I had a tooth out a few years ago and I have had a gap ever since so I am going to ask him if he can put a bridge or whatever in its place not that it has cause me any issue over the years but it would just make closing my teeth a bit better and my bottom tooth would have something to bite down on on that side rather than a gap and I guess it would feel more normal. But as I said I have lived like this for years with no issue at all.

The funny taste is not that bad so I think I will put up with it for a few more days and keep rinsing my mouth out and mention it at the next appointment. I then said to my dentist its all very well having marvellous pain free root canals but ideally I do not want to have any more so I need to find a way of dealing with my teeth so I do not get into this situation again because obviously prevention is better than cure

I am not a nervous patient because I have a fantastic dentist so he can do anything to me and I will just sit there and let him do it and then go home again. However I do understand that some patients are nervous and need sedating or whatever. I have to say I actually like going to the dentist but that has not always been the case at previous dental practices when i have had nasty dentists

 

[Sol]

Why do people say root canals are painful because the two root canals I have had by my current dentist were not in the slightest painful during or after and the previous tooth was smaller than this one I had done yesterday?

Some people have a harder time getting numb than others, if there is an active infection that can make it more difficult and not everyone has the same skills for administering the numbing. It sounds like you are comfortable with your dentist and they are skilled so that can make a world of difference.

 

[patient]

I used to have a hard time getting numb for root canals but not from my current dentist. The only thing I do not like is the vibration from the drill and having jaw ache from keeping my mouth open so long. I thought root canals took about an hour but mine only lasted 40 minutes and it was a large molar.

 

[kitkat]

yeah its not too bad. Why do people say root canals are painful because the two root canals I have had by my current dentist were not in the slightest painful during or after and the previous tooth was smaller than this one I had done yesterday? It is not scary at all if you get the right dentist who knows what they are doing and I have an absolutely brilliant dentist who does not judge and happy to answer any of my questions. I had a tooth out a few years ago and I have had a gap ever since so I am going to ask him if he can put a bridge or whatever in its place not that it has cause me any issue over the years but it would just make closing my teeth a bit better and my bottom tooth would have something to bite down on on that side rather than a gap and I guess it would feel more normal. But as I said I have lived like this for years with no issue at all.

The funny taste is not that bad so I think I will put up with it for a few more days and keep rinsing my mouth out and mention it at the next appointment. I then said to my dentist its all very well having marvellous pain free root canals but ideally I do not want to have any more so I need to find a way of dealing with my teeth so I do not get into this situation again because obviously prevention is better than cure

I am not a nervous patient because I have a fantastic dentist so he can do anything to me and I will just sit there and let him do it and then go home again. However I do understand that some patients are nervous and need sedating or whatever. I have to say I actually like going to the dentist but that has not always been the case at previous dental practices when i have had nasty dentists

I do not recall having any type of funny taste from the temp filling. Is it possible they packed it with something medicinal? I know sometimes they will place a medicated dressing over a tooth if infection is present. Root canals have a very bad reputation. When I was scheduled to have one, several of my coworkers told me how awful and painful it would be and it was nothing of the sort. I watched a movie throughout the procedure and didn’t need to stop the endodontist even once. I have honestly had a worse time with fillings.

 

[Enarete]

As kitkat mentions, the first part of a root canal involves putting a medication into the tooth which is there to kill the bacteria and make the tooth ready for the next stage. The medication can produce a weird taste for few days. Glad you are happy with your current dentist.

 

[Mike]

Some of the temp fillings we use have clove oil in them which has quite a strong taste, should gradually lessen!

 

[patient]

why do some people go to an endpdpmtost? Is it because their regular dentist is not confident enough to do it? I have never needed to see an endodontist. When I told people at work I was having root canal a few of them said they had never had a root canal done so that means they have much better teeth than me and one woman said she only has two fillings. Well bully for her we are not all that fortunate

 

[Sol]

Think it depends on a few things. It can come down to how experienced/comfortable the dentist is with doing it, the anatomy of the tooth (curvy/twisty roots, multiple canals, etc.) and patient preference. (I know its also different in the UK, in the US not all general dentist are trained to do root canals.) Whether the procedure is done with a specialist or not, it should be done with the focus being on how to get the best long term out come for the tooth.

 

[kitkat]

I think in the US it depends on the dentist and what their area of expertise is. My dentist refers out for all extractions and root canals however, she does implants, bridges, partials, crowns, dentures, fillings, etc. I know some people who have had root canals done by their general dentist as well as extractions. My mom had a root canal done by a general dentist at a dental chain once and it was botched very badly and she ended up with a nasty jaw bone infection and she had to go to an endodontist and have the whole thing re-done so I will stick to endodontists just to be safe!

 

[patient]

do you go to the same dentist as your mom? If not then you need not worry. Just because she had an issue with her dentist, if her dentist is not your dentist and you have someone different then your dentist might be good at root canals and you cannot base every dentist on one bad one. Anyway I found this online as a way to avoid having root canals... Root canals are not horrible but nevertheless can be easily avoided by following these methods

Brush twice daily.
Floss once daily.
Avoid hard foods such as hard candies and lollipops
Avoid acidic drinks and foods like soda and citrus juices.
Have regular dental checkups and cleanings.
Get your tooth pain checked out immediately!

 

[kitkat]

do you go to the same dentist as your mom? If not then you need not worry. Just because she had an issue with her dentist, if her dentist is not your dentist and you have someone different then your dentist might be good at root canals and you cannot base every dentist on one bad one.

This is true that dentists all have different skill sets. My mom and I were both attending the same dentist but we have since left that one and moved on to a better one. But the one we go to now always refers out to endo for root canals and oral surgeons for extractions which I'm okay with.

 

[krlovesherkids777]

I go to a dentist who is an emergency dentist but also does all types of care, being so I know he can do most root canals but not all.. There was one retreat that he sent me to an endodontist for, but he also did another retreat himself. I trust his judgement . I also really myself prefer not to go to specialists, they have scared me in the past (oral surgeons).. plus I really trust my dentist,so.. I pray that my dentist can handle whatever my teeth bring. but my one time endo experience last year was really great I have to say for a specialist!

 

[MountainMama]

why do some people go to an endpdpmtost? Is it because their regular dentist is not confident enough to do it? I have never needed to see an endodontist. When I told people at work I was having root canal a few of them said they had never had a root canal done so that means they have much better teeth than me and one woman said she only has two fillings. Well bully for her we are not all that fortunate

My dentist does do root canals, but they do not have the microscope or 3D x rays, so if they think the tooth has any possibility of a crack, they refer to the endodontist.

 

[Aurora10]

yeah its not too bad. Why do people say root canals are painful because the two root canals I have had by my current dentist were not in the slightest painful during or after and the previous tooth was smaller than this one I had done yesterday? It is not scary at all if you get the right dentist who knows what they are doing and I have an absolutely brilliant dentist who does not judge and happy to answer any of my questions. I had a tooth out a few years ago and I have had a gap ever since so I am going to ask him if he can put a bridge or whatever in its place not that it has cause me any issue over the years but it would just make closing my teeth a bit better and my bottom tooth would have something to bite down on on that side rather than a gap and I guess it would feel more normal. But as I said I have lived like this for years with no issue at all.

The funny taste is not that bad so I think I will put up with it for a few more days and keep rinsing my mouth out and mention it at the next appointment. I then said to my dentist its all very well having marvellous pain free root canals but ideally I do not want to have any more so I need to find a way of dealing with my teeth so I do not get into this situation again because obviously prevention is better than cure

I am not a nervous patient because I have a fantastic dentist so he can do anything to me and I will just sit there and let him do it and then go home again. However I do understand that some patients are nervous and need sedating or whatever. I have to say I actually like going to the dentist but that has not always been the case at previous dental practices when i have had nasty dentists

I'm really glad you have such a great dentist that you trust! I'm also glad you had great RC experiences, I should come to your dentist!