Serious advice needed- Root Canal

[Midnight_Shadow18450]

A little while ago I developed an abcess... this was treated with antibiotics, but wasn't successful.

I have just been to the dentist, and found out that I need treatment on the tooth.

This is where I need your advice. I have two options:

1. Root Canal
2. Extraction

Both of these options terrify me, as i'm not a good patient and have a severe phobia. I have to have diazepham (SP?) for even a filling, and sedation doesn't work (I had it once to try and get 2 teeth out but it wasn't successful cos of the severity of my phobia). The root canal looks really painful, and I really don't like the thought of it, plus it would mean at least 2 dental visits, but with an extraction, it would mean losing the tooth.

I need serious advice here, as I really don't know what to do...

 

[annie778]

A root treatment is not painful - it should be less painful than a filling because if you have an infection then the nerve is dead or dying and the tooth should therefore have less feeling. The second visit is usually fairly quick and you shouldnt need an injection for that one at all because there is no sensation left in the tooth. Root treatment has a lot of bad press, but it's really one of the more pleasant procedures Ive had done at a dentists. Plus the fantastic feeling of no pain and healing afterwards makes it one I remember very positively.

Of the two the extraction is likely to be quicker but less pleasant. The only time I've ever been in a lot of pain when numbed was during an extraction of a molar. Plus you have healing, plus as you pointed out you will lose the tooth.


So I would always go for a rct over an extraction. What I don't understand is why dentists give antibiotics for infections rather than immediately suggesting treatment. Either way it's important that you have this treated as soon as possible.

 

[angel43]

i had root canal last week and am going back this week to have it out as i am still in pain so if it were me i would NEVER have root treatment again.
sorry, prob not what you want to hear but when its gone you won't have pain.
good luck
xx
p.s i should also say whilst they were doing my root treatment i had no pain what so ever, it was fine even for scardy cats like u n i xx

 

[annie778]

I think it's important not to see some of the problems we read about on this forum as the norm. In general people who do not have problems do not post on a dental forum. I read about some of the issues people had immediately after root treatment and it's the complete opposite of my experience. The sooner you have it done after an infection appears the better the prognosis. I think because a lot of people on here have a phobia they will wait as long as possible and then the infection can take longer to shift.

 

[sudzs]

I had root canal treatment years ago - probabloy 10-15 years ago, and it was totally pain free. And no problems with it since.


Having had 2 extractions, I can say now that extraction would be my last choice for a tooth. If there's a way to save a tooth I would save it. HTH!

 

[Midnight_Shadow18450]

I'm still debating, but these posts have helped.
If I were to get it out, I would have it done under general (i'm having four wisdom teeth out at some point).

 

[loubyyy]

I would deffo choose root canal! i've had two of them in the past year and they are nothing!! i'm the biggest wimp ever.. and i got through them! alot alot alot better then having a tooth extracted.. you dont feel a thing at all, i had no pain during or after.. must be alot less painful then a sore gum after extraction?? (never had a tooth extracted.. so can't say!). Root canal gives a very good opportunity to save a tooth and doesn't hurt i overcome my fear slightly by having this done because it made me realise it wasn't bad at all!! youll be fine good luck!!