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AIBU?

To ask you to talk me out of cancelling root canal at the dentist tomorrow

68 replies

stressedmind · 28/02/2016 22:23

I am dental phobic, having root canal treatment tomorrow. Already cancelled once because I wimped out. Have to go tomorrow or may lose dentist.

To make matters worse I am at a show tomorrow for dds birthday. I'm going to be in agony aren't I? Sad dentist said because it was so infected I would like have problems afterwards.

Please help :(

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abbsismyhero · 28/02/2016 22:25

if you don't do it your tooth will split and you will have to have it removed which is what im currently facing not one but three pieces of my wisdom tooth need removing plus three fillings i seriously need to woman up too

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abbsismyhero · 28/02/2016 22:26

to be fair when i had a root canal of an infected tooth done during pregnancy it felt better instantly because she washed most the infection out

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MyKingdomForBrie · 28/02/2016 22:28

I'd be much more scared of the potential pain of the infection than the educated professional fixing a nasty medical issue. Just force yourself to go through with it, it can only get worse and worse.

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gamerchick · 28/02/2016 22:30

Just get it out of the way and buy some oragel for when the numbness wears off, no point in putting it off man.

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OMGBabyNo3 · 28/02/2016 22:31

Honestly I hate it too but leaving it is the worst thing you can do. You would end up in so much more pain in the long run. My 'considerable' experience of having root canals done are that its not painful at all just uncomfortable at times. Take a deep breath. You'll be fine. Good luck x

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acasualobserver · 28/02/2016 22:31

I think the term "root canal treatment" sounds a lot worse than it is. Mine didn't hurt. Also, if I understand it correctly, part of the procedure is to remove the nerve so the tooth can't give you any more pain.

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LilacAndLovely · 28/02/2016 22:32

I've had two root canals done.

I hate the dentist but it's really not that bad op. Longer, but not really any different to a standard filling.

It is uncomfortable afterwards but shouldn't be agony...regular paracetamol/ibuprofen (I alternated them and took painkillers every 3 hours) for a couple of days will see you through.

It's so worth it in the long run, much better than loosing a tooth and having a gap there (plus an extraction/infection if the tooth stays in untreated).

Just take a deep breath and do it. By this time tomorrow it will all be over and you'll be so glad you did.

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PurpleDaisies · 28/02/2016 22:32

It'll be so much better when it's done. I am also dental phobic and broke a tooth last year. Because j hadn't been in years I needed loads doing, including a root canal.

I won't lie, it was mildly uncomfortable for a little while afterwards but the relief of knowing it was done and wouldn't need doing again was absolutely worth it. It's totally settled down now and as if I never had any problems with it.

Go get it done, and plan something nice to celebrate. Flowers

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Musicaltheatremum · 28/02/2016 22:34

It's really not too bad. Pain better than letting infection take hold or loosing the tooth.

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SelfRaisingFlour · 28/02/2016 22:35

It's an awful name, but really they're fine. They take quite a while, but it is so much better than the toothaches you want to get rid of/avoid. I was so grateful to one dentist after his root canal got rid of the awful pain I'd been suffering for over a week.

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Leeds2 · 28/02/2016 22:35

I had root canal treatment recently (November). It was uncomfortable whilst she was doing it (not painful, but she put a "mat" in my mouth to collect any bits), and I can honestly say I had no pain during or after treatment.

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stressedmind · 28/02/2016 22:36

Is the pain from your experiences likely to be bad enough that i spoil dds concert that night?

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PortobelloRoad · 28/02/2016 22:37

Don't pre empt any pain or upset. Let anything come as it comes instead of expecting it to be awful. You might have problems, but you might not. I have overcome a serious, serious dental phobia and being present in the moment and accepting what was happening one stage at a time has really helped me.

You will be fine. You'll feel so much better afterwards, physically and mentally, facing this will give you a huge boost. Get yourself a treat afterwards.

I have 2 implants because I ditched out on root canals, not worth it.

It's going to be absolutely fine, relinquish control and accept what's happening. 24 hours from now it'll be done and dusted.

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emwithme · 28/02/2016 22:39

The fear of a root canal is far worse than an actual root canal.

I have had issues with dentists since an issue with an evil bastard in my teens. My last root canal did not hurt one teeny tiny bit (with my lovely dentist who is literally round the corner from my house)

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Squeegle · 28/02/2016 22:41

I honestly don't think it's that bad! No terrible pain after (but a lot before).
Be brave, gird your loins and go. It will all be finished this time tomorrow :-).

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Knackered69 · 28/02/2016 22:42

I've had two RCT's done. Tbh the hardest bit was boredom (it takes a wee while) and having to keep my gob open for so long. I didn't have any pain afterwards, but the first one when she took the nerve out gave me instant relief 😌. The second time I wasn't in much pain to start with, but I ll never forget the relief of the first time! Glad I had them done.

Had no problems afterwards either.

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NannyR · 28/02/2016 22:42

It really doesn't hurt, I'm in the middle of having a complicated one re-done (1hr 20 last week then another appt in a few weeks) and once the local is in (unpleasant for a minute) it should be completely numb, if it isn't let the dentist know. I didn't even find it uncomfortable once the local had worn off.

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LilacAndLovely · 28/02/2016 22:42

Definitely not that bad op.

Any 'ache' in the tooth is pretty much controlled by paracetamol/ibuprofen.

The most pain I was left with was the 'sting' around the injection sites because painkillers don't really work on that...but that's an irritation more than anything, not actual pain, just a bit sensitive to touch.

Honestly, you'll be fine. IME the pain isn't enough to limit you or put you out of action at all.

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BaconAndAvocado · 28/02/2016 22:42

I've had 2 done and they didn't hurt because the dentist used anaesthetics??

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Mumofsophie · 28/02/2016 22:43

I've had lots of root canal work over the past few years, including two different lots in the last couple of weeks. I think your tooth will probably feel better afterwards because the infection will have been treated and with a bit of luck all you will have afterwards is a bit of a dull ache in your jaw which you might need to take paracetamol for.

You might get a flare-up due to infection but it is not a foregone conclusion. It has happened to me once, but it took more than a day to become a problem,. I got antibiotics and it settled down. Despite the infection, it was still worth getting the root canal work done as it solved the problem of the tooth in the longer term.

Please go and get the work done. It won't be as bad as you think, and it will hopefully save you a lot of future pain and hassle. Have paracetamol and ibuprofen handy in case you need them after the treatment. Maybe also try taking some Bachs Rescue Remedy before the appointment...

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PurpleDaisies · 28/02/2016 22:44

The pain was definitely manageable enough not to ruin a concert. It was a dull ache with codeine and ibuprofen. I wasn't keen on eating but soup was fine. It's much better to have it over than still to come.

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LilacAndLovely · 28/02/2016 22:45

Have paracetamol and ibuprofen handy in case you need them after the treatment

Also worth remembering, there's nothing wrong with popping a couple of paracetamol just before you get in the chair. That way they'll be fully kicked in by the time the numbness starts to wear off.

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BabyGanoush · 28/02/2016 22:46

I had one which was fine

Anaesthetics so good now.

Think not of the treatment, but on how you will feel AFTERWARDS: proud and relieved! Look forward to that.

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bertiebow · 28/02/2016 22:46

I don't really know why root canal has this horror status, because mine was absolutely fine and so were those of most people I know. I can honestly say that mine was painless. The worst bit was that it was boring, and also tiring because I was scared. My jaw and neck also ached from lying back with my mouth open for an hour. Like others say, it's just like having a filling that takes an hour. The only time I felt the tiniest bit of pain was that after I had the last session the tooth did ache a little. That was it.

I have heard some horror stories, but all those have been in situations where the tooth was already badly infected so the anaesthetic wouldn't take. I don't think yours is infected, is it?

I had mine after a tooth abscess and that hurt like hell. Chances are you will end up with an infected tooth and therefore pain if you don't have the root canal.

It will be fine! I was really panicked, but my dentist promised me that if I lifted my hand he'd stop immediately (I didn't have to in the end). Maybe you could ask your dentist to do the same?

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grannytomine · 28/02/2016 22:48

Have you had antibiotics? I had a root canal a few months back but I had a course of anti biotics first and the root canal filling wasn't painful, I suppose it was a bit achey for a day or two but nothing to worry about.

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