Root Canal Fears

[Little tiger]

I went to a dentist every 6 months until I moved out to a different area and went to a new dentist who shocked me by informing me I need a filling and he drilled without warning and put temporary filling, I was so shocked I never went back - it was shock with the sudden drill and shock that my last dentist said I had good teeth and all the sudden I found that was wrong.
Some years later I had moved again and went to a new dentist and was in pain and needed a tooth extracted. This dentist thought I never been to a dentist before as he was shocked with the state of my teeth. I felt very let down with my 1st dentist as my dentist as I had trusted him. The extraction went fine but I had to move to a different area again.

Fast forward some years again - the drilled tooth broke. I forced myself to go to a new dentist and I had a filling with was very deep and near the pulp. I was told it might fail as it was so deep. I was so frightened - the smell, the sound and I was shaking the whole time and thinking I was going to die!
It did failed. I had a lot of illnesses most of the year and was scared to go again... I found I had a swelling under my jaw and knew it was an infection.
So the dentist confirmed it was an infection. I haven't had much pain at all so I didn't notice, I couldn't feel any pain with the tapping test and I couldn't feel the cold test.
So my choice is a root canal with a crown or extraction. I want to save the tooth but people I know who've had it done all say their root canal failed and it was the worst thing ever.... I'm just hearing horror stories. Some people make me feel crazy for even thinking about it!
The dentist consent form with the list of risks is really scaring me as well. Like saying infection may reoccur and continue, during and after I could experience some pain, swelling, bleeding etc.
I'm scared of it failing as well and being in pain afterwards.... I'm also on very limited money so I can't afford sedation.
This is also a lower bottom molar but the dentist said it didn't look too difficult from the xray... I do have a problem trusting dentists now though. I was told recovery time (if nothing goes wrong) can take up to 14 days and I might need antibiotics.

I love to hear some words of comfort!

 

[feelingbetter]

I have had three RCs. One by an NHS dentist and two by private dentists. The first failed after 5 years as the tooth was cracked and had to be extracted. The second is still going after 9 years, touch wood, and the 3rd failed because of my gum disease. None of the three procedures was gruesome at all. The first two I felt nothing and the third she had to give me extra anaesthetic to get me numb but after that it was okay. Nothing horrible at all. Just goes on a long time. No pain afterwards. Can you ask for oral sedation?

 

[Little tiger]

@feelingbetter
Thank you for your reply!
I was told a lot of people have an extraction instead to save time and money but after a few years I will lose the upper tooth as there'll be no tooth underneath so I would need to think about an implant afterwards... but I'm scared of implants as well as the cost of them!

Were you quick to recover? I worry about suffering afterwards and it being a waste of time of money. It took me a long time to get courage to see a dentist so I don't want all that being undone. I do still have a distrust for dentists though.

I think my dentist only has IV sedation but it's something I can't do.

 

[feelingbetter]

I didn't suffer pain after any of these procedures. I don't like the LA or antibiotics in my system so they took a few days to work through but I wouldn't call it suffering. If the dentist offers IV I would be surprised they don't offer oral sedation as well - it's just a matter of writing a prescription.

I have just had a tooth extracted (upper back molar) and I am not going down the implant route. If the gap really annoys me I would get a single tooth denture. I lost a lower molar too and again I haven't bothered with an implant. I see your point about losing upper and lower teeth but that hasn't happened yet so it may be fuelling your fear now?

Plus it doesn't help to speak to people about 'dental horror stories.' In contrast, find a lot of the posts on this forum measured and helpful.

 

[Aviara]

I will chime in as well. I also had root canal late 2020 (my first one). And for very similar reasons (filling was very deep and damaged the pulp) I was also terrified and kept postponing it, because I had no symptoms, so why bother. I also "failed" the cold test. Didn't feel a thing. I was also contemplating sedation and what not.
So here is some "good" news for you. If you don't feel anything right now despite infection, then your tooth is most probably dead. Which means there shouldn't be any pain signals anymore. My tooth was declared dead. During the treatment I felt absolutely nothing (not even pressure). I did ask for a second shot, but I guess it wouldn't have been necesssary, but it helped my anxiety. It's certainly no more uncomfortable than a simple cavity filling. It takes quite some time, but most of it is rather un-noisy work. Drilling for instance is just a minimal part of the whole procedure.
As for pain afterwards? There was some for about 3-4 days, but not half as bad as I expected. My (fully erupted/simple) wisdom tooth extraction was far more uncomfortable post procedure than my root canal.
And they haven't touched it since then, which is more than 3 years ago. And X-ray also has been clean since.
There is no guarantee for anything unfortunately. But my first (and thankfully only until now) root canal experience was one of enormous relief. The pre-treatment anxiety was by far the worst part of it all.
If you don't have any symptoms now, which is a very strong indication of a deseased tooth (I am no dentist though), then you should have even less reason of requiring sedation, etc..!

Btw. Mine is also a bottom molar.

 

[Little tiger]

@Aviara Sorry I took so long to read this! I haven't had it done yet due to illness.
Thank you so so much , that's was extremely helpful for for me!
I feel more braver to try now though I don't feel I have so much trust in the dentist. I mentioned to my dentist that I wanted to just warn I was sure if I have a panic attack having a dam on (I had problems with face masks) and my dentist attitude was just kind of like "tough I will not do it with one!" which put me off. I didn't say I refuse to have one just I was sure if I'll be ok.
I had many bad dentists so I find them hard to trust.
The biggest fear is if something wrong happens afterwards. I find it strange how Dr Google says root canals can be about 80% successful but people I've talk to make me feel like they're more like 80% chance of failing!
Thank you again for your post!

 

[Little tiger]

Update and hope someone can give me some encouragement.

Due to illnesses I wasn't able to have my treatment. Then my dentist left and I waited for the new dentist to start.
My gum had swollen up so luckily the new dentist has started so I had him look at it.
I was given Amoxicillin and told the infection has affected my bone. This new dentist advised on an extraction. He said the root canal will only be 60% chance of success and the problem could happen again. I will have to go in for a full examination to see how bad the other teeth are first.
The problem with extraction is I will have one molar left which is also in bad shape but I know my upper tooth will come out after a time as there's no tooth below.
I got told it's either a plastic denture or as preferred an implant. I worry about the cost but I'm not sure what to do - if dentures will be ok (I'm embarrassed to have them at 39!) and with an implant the idea of metal in my jaw bone scares me somehow.
Can anyone offer any words of wisdom? I feel I should extract and not sure what to do afterwards but I would like to hear from anyone else.

 

[Natzuk]

@Little tiger hello .

I had an attempted root canal done , felt like I had no choice and now my tooth is worse it’s turned dark colour so I think it’s completely dead ! Terrified of it being taken out ( going to try get IV sedation ) it is up too you but I believe if they didn’t attempt the root canal my tooth would still be okay !

Also I have partial dentures and they look better than my normal teeth plus no more worry and pain for those teeth now !

I actually wish they would rip them all out

 

[Little tiger]

@Natzuk Thank you that's help me think more. I didn't like the 60% success chance and the problem might come back, I feel it's too risky since I've just seemed to have bad luck with all my dental so far!

Can I ask how the procedure for partial dentures are? I'm hearing different things so I'm little confused. My tooth is one bottom far right one and I've already got my wisdom tooth extract back in 2017.
I'm not sure how extraction will be for me, it sounds strange but I preferred over it over my failed deep filling! I was at a different dentist but they luckily brought in an expert and it was done so quickly but the smell and noise with a filling made me panic!

 

[Natzuk]

@Little tiger . So basically you have to wait I think 3/4 months for your mouth gums etc too heal . Then your doctor will take moulds and then they do your denture . You then go in and try it and they will get you to bite down on paper etc and make sure it fits you ( basically alter it for your mouth) it takes a while to feel normal but now I hardly notice it and if I accidentally forget to put it in after I brush my teeth I definitely notice lol

Also mine is at the top right hand side as I have just one tooth and the rest have gone.
So I have three teeth on my denture . I can eat with it in then at night I put it in a denture box with a denture tablet with a bit of hot water and leave it to soak over night . Then in the morning after I brush my teeth I then brush my denture and wear it all day .

I actually want all my teeth as dentures as now this stupid tooth that had an attempted root canal on keeps hurting and it’s turned a different colour . Honestly fed up. I see a special care / community dentist due too disabilities ( autistic) and mental health plus mainstream dentists haven’t been great with me which is why my teeth are a mess and I am so scared honestly I think it would be best they take them all out and just give me dentures. I now have too wait too be seen again under the special care dentist as I’ve moved . So basically have to have this tooth in my mouth for a while as I will not let anyone take it out unless under GA or sedation never had sedation but it might be my only choice .

 

[Little tiger]

@Natzuk Thank you that was very helpful! I was told by someone else that they had a little post stuck in - it was glued in and not an implant so I got confused as I was thinking they had metal hooks.
I'm suspected autistic actually so I think that's why I'm so bad! I think my last dentist was fed up with how I was as I was so worried and asking so many questions!
I hope you can quickly find a special care dentist, my child is seeing one now, I'm luckily there is one not far from me!

 

[Natzuk]

@Little tiger honestly when I was with the special care team in Manchester they were great am just not happy with the root canal they really should have left it . Yeah I have to wait till October now as I I’m in the midlands but I just wish they would see me earlier due too all this that’s happening.

Yeah you can have the metal with the dentures but I am now use to the plastic one

 

[Little tiger]

I'm due to have a full check up but I still unable to decided what to do as I'm so scared.
Costs are scary as well as I'm on limited income.
Root canal was given 60% chance of success and the problem might happen again. So different from my last dentist who gave it up to 90% and said it looked like a simple tooth though it's a back lower molar. I was mentally prepared for this option so I'm sad this opinion has changed.
Denture, I read it can be a pain having to keep taking it off after eating to clean, can be loose and uncomfortable and doesn't stop bone loss. Not to mention I feel embarrassed having one at my age.
Implant. Super afraid of surgery, having metal rods in my jaw and again thanks to Google I hear so many horror stories (all choices have horror stories!). My least favourite option and scariest to me.

I had finished my antibiotics and the swelling only went down slightly. As I can't think of what to do I'm at least waiting for my full check up as the molar next to it is also bad and needs a filling (might be different now having a new dentist).
I'm angry as well because this was all because of dentist neglect in the first place and have very little trust in them.

 

[letsconnect]

A couple of ideas - you could get an endodontist's opinion on the chances of success and see if their opinion differs (the only problem is that a root canal treatment done by an endodontist will be even more expensive).

The other option would be not to replace it at all, especially if it's the very last tooth in your lower arch. There is a risk of the opposing upper molar overerupting (which could lead to losing it years down the line), but this doesn't always happen. You could let your dentist monitor the situation and intervene if it turns out to be necessary. There's some more info here:

Do I need to replace a 2nd molar?

I had a root canal done on #18 about 10 days ago, but I've had constant issues ever since. My endodontist suspects I have a vertical root fracture and is leaning toward extraction, but he wants me to try some more antibiotics first. After months of anguish I am actually looking forward to...

www.dentalfearcentral.org

 

[Little tiger]

@letsconnect Thank you that was very helpful!
The dentist I'm with are already more expensive in the county I in but I hope to ask about an endodontist.
I was told by the 1st dentist that I could lose the upper tooth in some years but I didn't know it doesn't always happen. Is there a reason why it doesn't always happen? The link you provided DrMike was talking about a upper molar tooth?
I was told I have already got bone loss due to the infection but I'm guessing with an extraction I will risk more bone loss if I leave it or just have an implant?

 

[letsconnect]

I read Mike‘s post to mean that if the upper molar still has something partially opposing it, it’s less likely to overerupt. But I‘m not a dentist, so it might be best to post the question (about what will happen to the opposing tooth with a missing lower second molar) in the “Ask a Dentist” section! Gordon would likely know how common supraeruption is and if it always leads to the loss of the opposing tooth…. I’d be interested in finding out myself!

 

[Little tiger]

@letsconnect Yes it does say that! I think I missed it out. I guess it depends of teeth shifting as well.
I checked Wikipedia which says: "Not all teeth lacking an opposing tooth overerupt, even in the long term. Unopposed upper jaw molars overerupt more than the unopposed lower jaw molars. It is more severe in young people and periodontically affected people. The changes are most visible in the first year after the loss of the opposing tooth."

I will see what happens at my check up first but I guess it's not recommended leaving it due to bone loss risk... I do know someone who had tooth lost after some years but it was an upper molar that was extracted but the person just left everything due to also having distrust of dentists after a bad experience.
I never regretted extract my wisdom tooth though, I had strong pain in my cheekbone due to it so it was a huge relief to get it out!

 

[letsconnect]

Yes, please let us know what happens at your check up!

Personally, I'd be inclined to get an endodontist's opinion on this one - the British Endodontic Society used to have a search function for the general public on their website, but unfortunately they got rid of it some years ago. So the easiest is just googling for "endodontist" and your town/adjacent towns/county. You can also double check if a dentist is actually a registered Endodontics specialist by searching the registers on the General Dental Council's website:

SearchRegisters

olr.gdc-uk.org

(tick Specialist Lists, put in the name of the dentist, and select Endodontics under the specialists drop-down menu. It only works if you put a name in - the "town" search doesn't work at all, unfortunately, so leave that one blank or nothing at all will show, in my experience, anyway)

 

[Little tiger]

@letsconnect I ended up getting myself in a big mess of fear.
I asked about an endodontist but I was told he only attends 1 or 2 Thursday in a month which Thursday are not great days for me. They would full new patient price (they've charge me that 3 times already and I just went in a few days ago), this place unfortunately is very expensive and I feel I can't afford him and not happy with the 1 or 2 visits a month. He's suppose to be a member of the British Endodontic Society but he's just under general dentist with the link you provided.
I'm now thinking I'll will have to go through my dentist though I'm so scared as it's a molar. I think he's good with nervous patients but I'm not sure about the success with a general dentist.
There's not many good dentists I know in my area and I can't keep affording to go different dentists for their opinions. Also I think this tooth needs to be sorted asap as I think it's affecting my ear.
I read so many horror stories which doesn't help. I wish I could've done it earlier but I've just kept getting ill - I've had uncontrollable coughing for months which would've made it impossible to had work done!
The dentist didn't sound very confident and just said "as long as you know the risks" but all treatment has risks. I'm in a stuck situation!

 

[Tigerlily]

I just had a molar removed because the canals had all closed up and my Dentist didn't think a root canal would work ... I probably should've asked for an Endodonist to see it but it wasn't offered and I didn't think to ask for someone else to see it. I'm hoping to not need a reconstruction because filing down two good teeth to fit a bridge doesn't sound like anything I'd want to do and the Maryland Bridges seem to be for front teeth only ... no way I could afford an implant. If you can't afford an Endodontist, removing it isn't too bad and you get time to think if a reconstruction is needed or not x