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Terrified about upcoming root canal/questions (long post)

  • Thread starter Thread starter lady14j
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lady14j

Junior member
Joined
Oct 13, 2009
Messages
4
Location
Boca Raton, FL
Hello. i'll apologize in advance in case this post becomes too long.
Tooth #18 (bottom left molar, right next to my wisdom tooth) has had a large silver filling in it since I'm a teenager. (I'm 37 now.)
About six months ago, one piece (I guess you call it a cusp) broke off while I was eating grape nuts. It didn't hurt, and because I am TERRiFIED of going to dentist, I didn't go.
About a month ago the tooth started to hurt, not constantly though, the pain was coming and going. Sometime the pain was worse than other times, so I finally decided to go to the dentist before the pain became unbearable as I've had happen before with a different tooth I got taken care a 3 years ago after putting it off as long as I could.
So my dentist took an x-ray and examined my tooth, and said it has a crack in it that goes below the gumline. She said she was 95% sure it could be saved but she wouldn't know 100% until she actually drilled and got in it and removed the decay that was there below the old silver filling.
She said she believed that because the crack went below the gumline I would need a crown lengthening in order for there to be enough room to place a crown.
So I scheduled the appointment to have the work started (and because I really was not in pain anymore and I was so nervous I rescheduled the appointment a few times.)
I finally went yesterday, after staying up all night terrified and barely being able to get out of my car to go inside the dentist's office due to my fear.
She gave me novacaine, and as she was working I kept feeling jabs of pain and she had to give me shots 2 or 3 more times. As she was working she said the decay went down to the nerve and I would need a root canal. She did a lot of the crown lengthening procedure and made me an appointment for the root canal for this Friday.
Yesterday afternoon I became in the worst pain I've ever experienced. (I get migraines, and have had back surgery, but yet nothing compares to the pain I was in.) I had to take 800 mg of advil to feel even just a LITTLE relief. I called the dentist and she said I was in so much pain because I needed a root canal. But I didn't have pain lie that the day before, so I feel that the reason I was in so much was not just because I needed a root canal but because I had work done on a tooth that needed a root canal, and because she did most of the crown lengthening procedure. (She said there is a little bit more of soft tissue she has to do but will do that after I have the root canal.) So now the pain and swelling I had is a little better than yesterday, but it's still there, and I feel like even my ear on that side hurts.
So finally, here are my questions.
1) Does this mean that this is a "hot tooth" and that the root canal will be painful? (The tooth barely hurt before she worked on it yesterday but has hurt tremendously since then.) I am worried it will hurt during the appointment, and especially afterward like what I went through last night.
2) I was warned about having to wear dental dam during the root canal procedure, which terrifies me? What can I do to relax while I have the damn on and also while they are putting it on me? Will I feel like I can't breathe? Will I gag or feel like I am choking?
3) The endodonist's office said that the root canal appointment will take two appointments. Each one taking about one hour. Then afterward I go back to my dentist for the completion of the crown lengthening and for the crown. So if the endodontist doesn't do those things, what exactly does he do? What will he do at the first appointment, and what will he do at the second appointment?
Thank you so much for any advice. I am really really really terrified. Crying over the though of this. I truly need some support.
 
Hi Lady14j:

I can help with some of the questions.

The tooth is probably acting up due to the work that was done it. The nerve can get very sensitive. It does not seem like it is infected. If it does not settle down you can ask for a course of antibiotics which will kill any infection. This tooth does not fit the profile of a "hot" tooth. You should have no problems getting it numbed. The root canal will not be painful. Endo's are experts at numbing procedures for root canals. Once the root canal work starts the pain should go away because the nerve is removed. It might be sore for a day or two but ice and ibuprofen should take care of any discomfort.

The dental dam is easy to deal with. It simply goes around the tooth and does not interfere with breathing or swallowing. If you have a sensitive gag reflex you can breathe through your nose or have a bit of topical gel put on the back of your throat.

If you anxiety is very high you can ask the dentist or your family doctor for an anti-anxiety medication like Ativan or Restoril to calm you down. These meds work quickly and are very effective at taking the edge off the fear. They are not exotic and are routinely prescribed for anxiety. They should be able to give you 4-5 pils with no problems. It does not hurt to ask.

You are going to do great. Root Canals got a bad reputation from decades ago when the procedure was new and the techniques were not refined. They are not much more difficult than a filling. Much of the appointment time is spent waiting for X-rays and other stuff. The actually working time on the tooth is rather short.

I hope this helps.

Blessings and peace :D
 
Thank you, thank you, thank you. Your reply relieved me so much I started to cry.
I was wondering if you can tell me what the definition of a "hot tooth" is, since you said you do not think I have a hot tooth.
Also, is it normal that I have an earache on that side?
Also the receptionist just called to confirm my appointment and while I had her on the phone I asked her what is done in the first and second appointments. She said that in the first one he cleans out all the canals, and in the second one he fills the canals. Will I be in pain after the first appointment if the canals aren't filled yet?
Thanks!
 
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