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Root Canal On Thursday!! Super scared and nervous

S

Suzie814

Junior member
Joined
Aug 8, 2012
Messages
9
I have to get a root canal on Thursday and I'm so scared!! :cry: I'm 15, never had any major dental work other than fillings and I am not very good with dentists. It's for the last lower molar on the right side. I've been doing a ton of research and mostly I've seen a lot of stories with people saying it was the worst experience of their life. My dentist referred me to an endodontist and I've already had a consultation with them. They said the procedure would take 2 hours and to bring a movie or some music. I'm afraid of the noise of the drill and that I'll feel pain. I've been contemplating whether I should just suck it up and do the root canal or cancel it and ask for an extraction. Even the tooth has been hurting for a month and it's to the point I can't eat anymore (at least foods that require chewing), I still think the root canal sounds worse than being in constant pain..Please someone tell me what's it's like. I'm sorry if this paragraph is all jumbled.
 
I had my first root canal a few weeks ago at the age of 63. If a tooth can be saved, I think it's a good thing to do, especially at your tender age. I now have a crown on that tooth (it's a front one) which I am told should last 20 years.

I too went in for my appt. in a state of fear, but I have to say it was totally pain free. My dentist explained what he was going to do with the aid of a model tooth. The local injection was the most gentle I have ever had, I didn't feel the needle one little bit. I too had a two hour appt., I believe some do it in two visits.

In total layman's terms, it is drilled, the roots removed, rinsed out and then a fillling put in.

You have x-rays every now and then to check all is going well, so that gives you a breather. It did not seem like 2 hours at all. The radio was on and it took my mind off what was going on. It was totally pain free with no after pain whatsoever.

I would definately go for saving the tooth. 2 hours with a professional versus constant pain - no contest!
You sound as though you will be in good hands.

Good luck. The waiting is the worst thing. Go in with a determination to do this thing!
 
I had my first root canal a few weeks ago at the age of 63. If a tooth can be saved, I think it's a good thing to do, especially at your tender age. I now have a crown on that tooth (it's a front one) which I am told should last 20 years.

I too went in for my appt. in a state of fear, but I have to say it was totally pain free. My dentist explained what he was going to do with the aid of a model tooth. The local injection was the most gentle I have ever had, I didn't feel the needle one little bit. I too had a two hour appt., I believe some do it in two visits.

In total layman's terms, it is drilled, the roots removed, rinsed out and then a fillling put in.

You have x-rays every now and then to check all is going well, so that gives you a breather. It did not seem like 2 hours at all. The radio was on and it took my mind off what was going on. It was totally pain free with no after pain whatsoever.

I would definately go for saving the tooth. 2 hours with a professional versus constant pain - no contest!
You sound as though you will be in good hands.

Good luck. The waiting is the worst thing. Go in with a determination to do this thing!

Thank you, Toucan. Reassurance from someone is exactly what I needed. I feel less nervous as I go through the forums and read other experiences. :)
 
You're very welcome.

I was forced to go to the dentist after 20 years of neglect, and decided to have the "worst" jobs done first to get them over with. So I picked RCT as the first. The fact that it was so pain free and the dentist so gentle, set me up for the rest of my treatment nicely. Look forward to reading your:yay:post on here.
 
Hi Suzie814 :welcome: I lived in fear of a root canal treatment (rct) for years and swore I would never have one. I have had 2 since September last year. I presume you have looked on the internet about this, because what you have heard and seen is not true.

It sounds like along time but it takes time for you to get numb and they take and x ray to make sure that all the root has been cleaned properly.

Ask them to use the topical gel on your gums before they inject you, this will numb the gum, not the tooth, so that when they inject you slowly, the slower the better you will not feel it. Then you wait to go numb. They will fix a piece of rubber over the tooth to keep it dry and clean, as this is very important in the success of the rct. This is called a rubber dam and it is put on a frame which can be removed in a second if need be. I like the rubber dams because it stops anything going on your tongue or throat. You can still breath with it on as well normally.

Once you are numb properly they will use the drill for seconds, that is it with the drill. Next they will spend time with hand files cleaning the roots out this can take quite a bit of time, but there is no noise, no drill, or machines of any kind and from our point of view it is quite boring. They will take an x ray and make sure everything is fine and clean in the tooth. They may do a bit more with the files, which are so small you don't need to worry about them. They also may rinse the tooth out with a bleech as well. They will then pack it and put a temp filling in.

This is usually done in two appointments but can be done and finished in one. They will usually wait for a few months to make sure the tooth is settled and then put a crown on it.

I would rather have a rct than a filling any day it is so peaceful and quiet, and as they get going and you know you are not going to feel anything you can get quite relaxed. Which I know sounds impossible, but it is true.

I am more tense having a clean, so that tells you a lot. I cannot stand the drill and I shake when it is near me, but once the drilling was over in seconds, it was fine.

I hope this helps you, please don't listen to the people telling you they are bad, they are either trying to frighten you, or they haven't had one themselves. I am the most phobic nervous person, and I would not worry about having a rct done with a trusted dentist.
The endodontist you are seeing does these all the time and they are highly skilled, you will be okay.

Good luck :clover::clover::clover: let us know how you get on. The stress and worry you are feeling now is the worst of the treatment. :butterfly:

I felt nothing, but if you feel even the slightest twinge tell them and they can give you more numbing stuff. If it makes you feel better arrange a stop signal before they start just incase you need a break. Tell them how afraid of the drill you are as well.
 
I will definitely post an update after I get the treatment. One of my biggest concerns is that because my tooth is already sensitive and hurts, that the anesthetic won't work and it will hurt when they drill into it :o
 
Hi Carole! Wow, it's only a few seconds with the drill?? I read somewhere that it takes like 15 minutes and I hate drills as well. Thanks for the rundown of the procedure! It sounds very simple :jump:
 
That is how mine was done, I had one done in two 45 minute appointments and the other rct I had was done in one visit. You won't feel the drill, make sure you feel numb to you before they start, but from what I understand these specialists bring out the big guns in regard to numbing you, so you won't feel a thing.

It doesn't feel that it takes as long as the appointment either, the time will soon go.

YOU WILL BE FINE, they are very clever and caring people :butterfly: they want you to feel as comfortable as you can, it makes their job easier. So you see it is very important to them that you are okay.
 
ahh I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. ;D I think they're planning on doing the entire treatment in one appointment which I prefer, because it's less times for me to be anxious :p What does the drill feel like?Is it like during a filling? (I don't know if thats the same type of drill though.. lol)
 
I don't look! A drill is a drill is a drill. As soon as I know there's any kind of implement coming I shut my eyes!
(I do open them and chat in between.) As long as I'm numb, I have no fear of treatment now I've finally got to the dentist. For me the worst bit of drilling is the smell. Teeth being drilled have an aroma all of their own. But as that doesn't hurt me I can live with that.

Yes I suppose it does feel like a filling, no pain, just a bit of pressure. You'll be fine!
 
Hi suzie814 and welcome to the forum

Your lucky you are taking care of this while your young trust me this is a good place and honestly the people here are good people and they are so nice and supportive it's like a family here and I know how you feel I need four root canals done so I am very scared but I know I must do it for me

So hang in there be brave and let us all know how It goes :XXLhug:
 
ahh I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. :) I think they're planning on doing the entire treatment in one appointment which I prefer, because it's less times for me to be anxious :p What does the drill feel like?Is it like during a filling? (I don't know if thats the same type of drill though.. lol)
Hi Suzie814,

The drill part of the procedure is just like having a filling done, only there's usually much less drilling for a root canal. You should be numb enough to not feel any pain, so it just feels like some vibration in your mouth (usually I'm numb enough to where I can't even tell which tooth the dentist is touching), and it lasts maybe a minute or two. Same drill as for a filling, same feeling, and then once the drilling is done, it's all very quiet work with little hand files.

I will add to the chorus of people saying that root canals are no big deal. Carole's description is right on, and you can also check out DFC's article about root canals, or this thread. I've had something like a dozen root canals done now, and almost all of them were completely painless (one hurt for about a second, literally).

I'm kind of a control freak so I like to have the dentist tell me what she's doing at each step, and she always asks me "are you feeling anything?" You really shouldn't feel any pain at all, and if you do feel even the slightest bit, raise your hand and get some more anesthetic. Don't be worried by the fact that your tooth is hurting already: I had a tooth this spring that I couldn't touch without extreme pain. Within about a minute of getting the injection, the pain was gone, and I never felt a single thing during the root canal. And I'm a big baby about pain! Never felt a thing.

Please, please, please don't get an extraction! The extraction procedure isn't any easier than the root canal (which is to say, both are really easy and painless), and you'll be so much better off saving the tooth. After they crown the tooth, it will actually be stronger and prettier than the original tooth, and should last you a lifetime.

I have no doubt that you'll be back here tomorrow posting "That's it???" If you've had fillings, root canal is really no worse, just a little longer to sit in the chair.

Good luck, you'll do great!!!
 
I had a molar pulled in April instead of getting a root canal treatment + crown and I am sort of regretting doing that now. I kind of wish I still had the tooth but I was too scared to get the RCT. After lots of experience in a dentist's office recently, if I had it to do all over again, I think I would get the RCT.
 
I was just hoping you are okay and that things went really well for you. :butterfly:
 
It didn't go as smoothly as I'd hoped for. Even though they gave me more anesthetic throughout the procedure, I still felt pain. Mostly during the drilling and at the end when they are pressing down the the filling material in the canals I cried during the whole thing but that was mainly from my nerves than the actual pain itself :giggle:. Even though it was rough, I'm glad I went through with it :thumbsup: I feel immensely better now, just a little jaw soreness. Thank you for all the support!! Without your encouraging comments, I wouldn't have been able to even go to the appointment :):):):). :respect:
 
Congrats on the victory its just too bad you had to feel more pain than you expected for that I'm sorry but congrats
 
Well I'm glad you feel better and that the appointment is over for you. Well done that girl! Did you let the dentist know that you were in pain still? As someone on here wisely said to me, you don't want this experience to put you off having further treatment. (As many on here, including me have said, rct is usually pain free).

I was a bit of a martyr with my last extraction, I just gritted my teeth :)rofl:) and carried on to get it over with. I think it hurt because it had a badly infected abscess attached to the tooth. But I need to talk this over with my dentist when I next go. Local numbing injections are my default choice, and I don't want one bad experience in 63 years to shatter my faith.

Did you say how you felt afterwards? Or did you (understandably) just head out the door? Having said what a doddle rct was, I feel a bit guilty at your discomfort, and would like you to be able to have any further treatment you need without having been put off.
xx
 
I am also sorry that you had some discomfort and pain, you shouldn't have felt a thing, I am surprised.

I had no pain of any kind when I had mine done. I am hoping this hasn't put you off. In future if you feel anything at all please tell who ever it is because you shouldn't feel a thing. I do wish all dental professionals would make sure we are fully numbed before they start and make sure we stay that way. Surely it can't be that hard.

I am glad you got it done, I hope you are feeling a lot better today. Hopefully the fact that you haven't the worry will help. :grouphug::grouphug::grouphug::grouphug::butterfly:
 
Hello all, thank you for all your kind words :):):) Sorry, now that I don't need any dental work for about 6 months, I've stopped checking the forums as much :giggle: I did tell the dentist to stop many times. They were very nice folks and kept injecting me with more anesthetic and let me take breaks. About half way through, I just decided to stick it through because it wasn't getting any better :dunno: Afterward they asked how I was and gave me pain meds before I left to combat any discomfort. I will say this experience has changed how I look at the dentist....not for the better :hidesbehindsofa: but hopefully I can work past this. I've done it once, I can do it again ;D;D I certainly don't think any of you mislead me, you were just stating your own experience :) Even if mine wasn't all that great, I'm glad I did it anyway. Not everything in life is going to be pain free.

Now I'm just worried about getting a crown on the tooth :( more drilly noises...


Thank you all for the support and good luck with your own adventures at the dentists!! :grouphug::grouphug:
 
I am really happy that you made it through your treatment, despite the fact that it wasn't as 'pleasant' as you had hoped, and of course we are all so different and all have different pain levels - me - I think mine is non existent which is partly why I get so scared all of the time :giggle:

Can you when you go back for your crown take your I-pod with you? I have heard of a lot of people who do that, and they have said it really helps, both to relax them and to keep the horrible noises out ;)

You take care, and really well done.

Kim x
 
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