Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Root canal or extraction?

57 replies

hillarypcof · 08/03/2021 19:33

AIBU to opt for an extraction over RCT?

It is the very back tooth before a wisdom tooth, with a deep filing which my own dentist did not fill correctly (his own admission) that now requires "root canal or extraction" (his words).

It is a lot of expense for a tooth which nobody would know anything about, apart from myself who is ridden with the anxiety of the recurring infections and abscesses returning bringing with it EXCRUCIATING pain!!! :(

What would you do? Is RCT worth it? Would you just get it extracted?

Dentist told me he is "only 75% confident" RCT would do the trick. It is just my luck that I would have a flare up whilst on holiday/a wedding day etc!!

Tia xx

OP posts:
Hoppinggreen · 08/03/2021 19:46

Get it out
I had a tooth in the same position that gave me trouble for years, it was more filling than tooth.
I changed to a a Private dentist who said it should come out as a RC would take ages, be expensive and not necessarily work. I was terrified but let him do it
It really wasn’t bad at all, totally numbed and even when that wore off it was ok with a bit of ibruprofen.
Don’t eat rice for a bit though

1990shopefulftm · 08/03/2021 19:44

I d go for extraction, I was given that option for a similar tooth and it's so expensive and not 100% guaranteed I wanted the problem gone.

Anniegetyourgun · 08/03/2021 19:42

Out with it, I say. Right at the back there it won't have much impact on your eating and as you say, nobody bar your dentist is ever likely to see it. Besides, do you trust this incorrect-filler to do the RCT properly?

Jennyennidots · 08/03/2021 19:41

I had a root canal recently, same tooth you mention. It wasn’t painful, but it wasn’t pleasent. Apparently they last about 10 years and usually the tooth ends up needing to be extracted in the end. In my case the dentist was in favour of RCT so I had one.
If yours says either is fine I’d have the extraction and be done with the bugger!

justanotherremainer · 08/03/2021 19:40

I have a similar thing with a similar tooth. OP. Dentist did a temp fix before lockdown 1. I thought it would flare up but not so far. But as soon as I can I’m getting it extracted. I was worried it would start to compromise the next door tooth.

muddyford · 08/03/2021 19:38

I was in a similar situation. I opted for RCT. I can't see why it wouldn't succeed. I have another tooth where the same choice may be needed and I shall opt for RCT again.

Whatwhyhowwherewho · 08/03/2021 19:38

Had I known that RCT had a high failure rate I would have gone straight for extraction.
The dentist had one attempt then referred me to the dental hospital. They had 2 separate attempts and I ended up with extraction anyway!