Ugh!! Ok- I feel a little like I had something like this coming. It's the longest I've ever gone without regular dental check ups ( 2 yrs) and I knew I had a small cavity when we lost our insurance. We've had dental again for a while now and I meant to make an appt. Now a few days ago my tooth started hurting, sensitive to cold etc. I went to the dentist today expecting a filling, or maybe my tooth being chipped or something. I about fell over when he said I need a root canal!! he said its not as bad as it sounds but it sounds so extreme. I have to take antibiotics and my appt. is on the 12th! I don't know why I still feel so in shock about this, but I do! My dentist is really, really nice though.

By Mrsheidi on Wednesday, November 29, 2006 - 12:10 am:

did they do xrays? did he try a filling first though?

By Vicki on Wednesday, November 29, 2006 - 07:04 am:

Root canals are much worse than they sound. Well, maybe it depends on how good your dentist is, but I have had 2 and while they are time consuming and your mouth does get tired from hanging open etc., I has no pain at all. Try not to fret over it, when it is all said and done, I bet you will be saying "that wasn't near as bad as I thought it would be."

By Ginny~moderator on Wednesday, November 29, 2006 - 10:06 am:

Vicki - I think you meant that they sound much worse than they are.

Rayelle, I've had more than one root canal, and while it is not my favorite thing to do, it beats the heck out of an extraction. In the short run, recovering from an extraction is, for me, much more painful, and in the long run, the more of your original teeth you can preserve the better off you are.

The reason for a root canal is that the infection from the original cavity has gotten into the nerves and infected it, and usually killed the nerve (which is why it sounds a lot worse than it feels - I can't stand the drilling noise). So, you are taking antibiotics to get rid of the infection in the nerve canal (the hole in the middle of your tooth, going down through the roots, where the nerve lives). The reason to do this is to prevent infection from getting into your gums, causing an abscess or worse. Usually when the root canal is done the dentist will put in a temporary filling and, in a couple of weeks, check to be sure there is no sign of infection and then put in a permanent filling.

This is probably more information than you wanted.

By Rayelle on Wednesday, November 29, 2006 - 11:39 am:

Ginny- that's exactly what my dentist said. It's just not fair, lol! My dh hates the dentist and hasn't gone in years. He just went 2 weeks ago because I made him and he has a few cavities but none like mine. He's been teasing me a little but he feels for me. The pain killers are on the way from the pharmacy as I type. I woke up and was in tears for a few hours in the middle of the night. I'm ok for now but I do not want that pain again! It affects about 3 teeth around the one the cavity is in. It was hurting sooooo bad.Oh- I did have x-rays. I was talking to one dentist at the practice( I went to school with his son) when my dentist came in with my x-ray and asked him if he thought I needed the root canal or if he could do a filling. They agreed we better not chance anything. My dh has been a dear though. He got up with me last night and did everything imaginable to try and make me feel better. I love him!

By Vicki on Wednesday, November 29, 2006 - 02:04 pm:

Oh lord, yes, I did mean they sound much worse than they really are. LOL Teach me to get on the computer that early in the morning before many cups of coffee. LOL

By Cocoabutter on Wednesday, November 29, 2006 - 02:51 pm:

Never had one, and I hope I never do. My mom just had one, and she was on pain pills for a week.

No advice, just good wishes!

By Annie2 on Wednesday, November 29, 2006 - 08:07 pm:

I had one done a few years ago.

It was not physically painful (except when the DDS did the root sensitivity test....OUCH!!!!)at all but we did not have dental at the time and it hit our pocketbook very heavily.

If I remember correctly the root canal was $2000. Then I needed a crown put on the tooth.

By Breann on Wednesday, November 29, 2006 - 08:12 pm:

I think the worst thing about a root canal is that it takes so long. Not too painful, IMO Root canals here are less than $500. $2000 is insane Annie2!!

By Annie2 on Wednesday, November 29, 2006 - 09:01 pm:

I'll have to look back into my records but I do believe that is what I paid, out of pocket; for the DDS.