I need to have 2 root canals and one tooth extracted

[kevinlad]

I don't know if anyone's ever got so many problems as mine. I was told I need to have root canal treatments in two teeth (both molars one on each side), then there is a "split" bottom left molar which needs to be extracted in the hospital! Also another tooth's filling needs to be replaced (this is minor in comparisons to the other problems).

My first scheduled appointment for the first root canal is the 13th July. I just want to have everything done as soon as possible. But I suppose I should leave a time gap between treatment of each tooth. My scheduled tooth extraction is on the 2nd August. Do you think I can have two root canals done before then, how many days should I leave between each root canal treatments, and how long should I leave it before the tooth extraction (the tooth to be extracted is right behind the one to be root canal treated).

Also I was trying to "persuade" my dentist not to have my split tooth extracted as it wasn't causing pain, but she said sooner or later it will have to be extracted. Is that true?

Sorry too many questions, hope an expert out there could answer! But if there isn't one, any support would be nice

 

[carole]

It sounds like your dentist has given you some good advice, I would follow what she has advised you to do. Don't be worried about the rct they are not bad to have, ask the dentist to check that you are numb before she starts and you will be fine, you won't feel a thing. They are usually done over two 45 minute appointments, then left to see if they settle for a few months with a filling in, then if the dentist thinks they need a crown that will be done later.

A cracked tooth is open to getting infected and that does hurt, so it is best to get rid of the problem before it does give you pain and possibly an abscess.
Are you being sedated or given GA for the tooth removal?

I don't know about the time scale between treatments, I think it is something you could discuss with your dentist and if you think that you could sit for both doing at once maybe she may do that. I personally would have one done at once. I don't know enough to give you a correct answer to that one.

GOOD LUCK

 

[kevinlad]

It will only be a local anaesthetic. I'm not too worried about pain during the extraction, but I just hope everything will be over as soon as possible. Now I have at least 3 problem teeth, I just don't know how long the whole process will complete.

I don't mind to have two root canals done at the same time but not sure how I will manage to eat! (one tooth on each side)

 

[Steve In Cleveland]

Sorry to hear about your news, kevin. If it's any consolation, lots of people here have had similar problems with their teeth (I think I'm up to 8 root canals, one extraction), and have gotten through just fine.

The good news is, root canals and extractions are both painless and fairly simple procedures. Root canal therapy takes about two hours and is completely painless, you can read some success stories here. Despite it's horrible reputation, it's not really much worse than getting a cavity filled, although it costs more. Often a second visit is required to finish up but this isn't an indication of any complications, it just allows the tooth time to clear up any infection between visits.

Extraction is actually even easier than RCT, and much quicker. My guess is that you were referred to a hospital because they have better equipment, not necessarily because there's anything very complex. Extraction is a very gentle process and doesn't involve any pulling or tugging. They gently push the tooth back and forth a few times and it should release and come out on its own in just a few minutes. I had trouble believing it was so easy until I had a big molar extracted and didn't even believe they had removed it.

There is no real recovery time for RCT. Sometimes the tooth will be a little sensitive for 12-24 hours after the first visit, so take a couple ibuprofin or other OTC pain killer. If you have RCT at 1pm you'll be able to have dinner that night.

There is a little recovery after extraction, just in the way you eat. Plan on eating only soft foods (pudding, apple sauce, yogurt) for 2-3 days after extraction to let the socket clot up properly. Some OTC pain killers here too, but no need to plan to be "out of commission" for any length of time.

I don't know of any medical reason not to have both RCT's done at the same time or very close together. Ask your dentist what he/she recommends. It's really such a minor procedure that your mouth doesn't need to "recover" in any real sense.

If you plan on having a crown placed on your RCT tooth next to the extraction, you might want to ask about that. My dentist recommended having the extraction first, because there was a small chance that the tools used in the extraction might damage the new crown. I waited about two weeks after my extraction to get the crown prepped, and it worked out very well-- the extraction site was healed enough to not be sensitive during the crown prep.

Good luck on your upcoming procedures. I think you'll find they're not nearly as bad as you expect them to be-- really you should be in and out with little or no pain at all, and when you're done you'll have much happier teeth.

 

[kevinlad]

My dentist did recommend a crown, so I will ask to have it done after the extraction. Anyway the scheduled extraction is only half a month away from the first RCT appointment, so I doubt it will be that quick to have the crown.

But that makes me think of a question - since the root treated tooth is right in front of the tooth to be extracted. Would the tooth extraction affect the RCT tooth in anyway, given that the RCT tooth is still in a settling process?

 

[Mikey Boy]

I know how you feel man. I need four root canals and I just can't beleave it but I gotta take it and run with it I know you'll be ok man just hang in there .

 

[FearfulInMA]

I've had 2 root canals and all 4 of my wisdom teeth extracted. Like Steven In Cleveland said, there should really be no recovery time after RCT. After my first one, I went home and ate a normal dinner -- I was pain free for the first time in weeks. I can't imagine that have an extraction after RCT would affect the RCT tooth in any way (except what was already mentioned about not having the permanent crown before the extraction).

Good luck with everything!

 

[Steve In Cleveland]

My dentist did recommend a crown, so I will ask to have it done after the extraction. Anyway the scheduled extraction is only half a month away from the first RCT appointment, so I doubt it will be that quick to have the crown.

But that makes me think of a question - since the root treated tooth is right in front of the tooth to be extracted. Would the tooth extraction affect the RCT tooth in anyway, given that the RCT tooth is still in a settling process?

I'm not a dentist, but I can't imagine the RCT would affect the extraction in any way, or the other way around. Having said that, this is a perfect thing to ask your dentist!

These are definitely not dumb questions; you really have no way to know what it's like to recover from a root canal or what effect an extraction has on a neighboring tooth. So don't be afraid to ask lots of questions of your dentist. He/she is in the best position to tell you if you need to plan for anything out of the ordinary or if there's any considerations with your particular teeth.