M
mike42
Junior member
- Joined
- Nov 28, 2013
- Messages
- 2
Hi
Firstly, just to say I've long been reading this site because I do suffer from depression and anxiety and often find it particularly difficult lying on my back at the dentists. What makes it worse is I'm now not sure whether my dentist is a genuine professional or whether I should get better treatment elsewhere.
I had a root canal on an upper molar performed by my regular dentist about 6 months ago. Around 3 months ago I went back due to a clearly visible abscess on the gum above that tooth (well in between that tooth and the tooth in front). My dentist isn't sure which of the two teeth is causing the problem. He first prescribed me a week's course of amoxycilin and asked me to book an appointment 4 weeks later.
At that subsequent appointment, he still didn't know which tooth it was and said he will buy some equipment that (I think he said) would help determine if a tooth is alive or dead. I last checked 2 weeks ago (during a routine hygenist appointment) and he said it still hasn't arrived.
The abscess isn't painful unless I touch it and it shrinks/grows regularly. The dentist said it is safe since it is "draining ok". If I rock the root-canal tooth to/fro it feels sensitive - if I do the same with the other tooth I feel nothing.
So my question really is should I expect better than this? I mean, I'm thinking if there is any question at all of his root-canal failing shouldn't he just refer me immediately to an endodontist? Or even if he doesn't know which tooth it is, perhaps a specialist would have a better idea than him?
A side note is the first part of the root-canal was performed without a rubber damn - the second part with one (after I mentioned it at the first). No loupe was used and certainly no microscope.
Thanks for reading and any advice gratefully received.
Firstly, just to say I've long been reading this site because I do suffer from depression and anxiety and often find it particularly difficult lying on my back at the dentists. What makes it worse is I'm now not sure whether my dentist is a genuine professional or whether I should get better treatment elsewhere.
I had a root canal on an upper molar performed by my regular dentist about 6 months ago. Around 3 months ago I went back due to a clearly visible abscess on the gum above that tooth (well in between that tooth and the tooth in front). My dentist isn't sure which of the two teeth is causing the problem. He first prescribed me a week's course of amoxycilin and asked me to book an appointment 4 weeks later.
At that subsequent appointment, he still didn't know which tooth it was and said he will buy some equipment that (I think he said) would help determine if a tooth is alive or dead. I last checked 2 weeks ago (during a routine hygenist appointment) and he said it still hasn't arrived.
The abscess isn't painful unless I touch it and it shrinks/grows regularly. The dentist said it is safe since it is "draining ok". If I rock the root-canal tooth to/fro it feels sensitive - if I do the same with the other tooth I feel nothing.
So my question really is should I expect better than this? I mean, I'm thinking if there is any question at all of his root-canal failing shouldn't he just refer me immediately to an endodontist? Or even if he doesn't know which tooth it is, perhaps a specialist would have a better idea than him?
A side note is the first part of the root-canal was performed without a rubber damn - the second part with one (after I mentioned it at the first). No loupe was used and certainly no microscope.
Thanks for reading and any advice gratefully received.
Last edited: