Front teeth root canals

[Ploughingthrough]

Any experience? I look to be staring down the barrel of needing RCT after chipping and cracking my tooth, then having dental work which may have irreversibly irritated the nerve.
I have a veneer on the tooth but I understand they can go in from the back. Any experiences of this? Was it okay? And if you've had one has your tooth lasted a long time afterwards?
My biggest fear is the rct failing and ending up without a front tooth. I am using a specialist dentist.

I had root canals and crowns (caused by an undiscovered inflammation) done about 30 years ago on three upper front teeth. They are still looking fine and doing their job, though my current dentist thinks I should start to have the crowns replaced in the near future.

30 years, that is reassuring. I have veneers at the moment but could replace with crowns in future. Did the 3 include your incisors?

It is ok! I had one as a young teen on a front tooth; over 20 years later it's still going strong, although I am very careful with it (no biting into apples).

Yes, they can go in from the back. The tooth can darken a little, so you probably want to keep the veneer. The injections were not nice (into the roof of your mouth), but very quickly over and the rest wasn't too bad. If it fails you have options re: implants etc.

Thank you! I had the veneers because my teeth were so gappy and misaligned from various other issues, so I'll def keep hold of them. 20 years is also reassuring. I'm hoping that by having it done by an experienced endodontist that I increase my chances of success.

I have a bridge on my front teeth as I lost one when I was a child. Its lasted 33 years so far!!!

That has done well! Everything I Google leaves me with a feeling that I'll be front toothless by my 40s! I've had such a drama with my teeth over the last 5 years- it's all really starting to get me down. I was recommended veneers to cover a multitude of cosmetic problems caused by other things, but now my tooth doesnt seem to be holding up. Finding it all a bit depressing!

I had it done (not on a front tooth) over 30 years ago. It's been discoloured and the filling showed through for a long time but was stable and gave me no pain. It finally had to come out yesterday.

The actual RCT procedure was surprisingly painless but make sure they use numbing gel before the injection - makes a MASSIVE difference.

Is an implant an option?

I guess an implant could be in my future but I don't think I need it yet. I understand root canal to be recommended before extraction as it can keep hold of a tooth for a long while. But I could be wrong!

And I understand how depressing it feels. I'm coming out the other side of a LOT of work at the moment which has gone on for years. But I keep gurning in the mirror because I'm finally happy again with my smile - even if half of isn't "mine"

I've had RCT on my front tooth which has had a crown on it for many years due to a childhood accident. The RCT was done about 8 years ago through the crown at the back, the actual procedure wasn't half as bad as I expected and I've had no problems since.

Nomoregardening thanks that's reassuring that they went through the back of your crown and that you've had no problem since. Starting to feel a bit better...

I had root canal done about 23 years ago! My tooth is fine although it did go a manky shade of grey so I've also had vaneers on top!
I also eat apples and corn on the cob etc never had any issues

I think this thread will reduce my anxiety a lot! Its reassuring to hear of so many people who had it so long ago and teeth are holding up okay. I have heard front teeth have a better success rate than back because they're not used for chewing....

My front tooth was done 16 years ago. It started to go dark and 6 years ago my dentist took all the filling out of it so I could whiten it from the inside. Took 2 weeks and it looked and still looks like all the others.

OMG are you me? I have my first specialist appointment soon. I'm bricking it in case it can't be done and I'm also worried about having it done. I asked my regular dentist what would happen if it failed and she cheerfully told me I could have an implant. At 2.5k I don't think so

Northernsoullover what makes you think it cant be done? No one has indicated this to me yet...yeah implants are mega expensive I'm really hoping not to need those yet

@Ploughingthrough
Yes, my upper incisors (2 middle and 1 left of middle) and I forgot about the implant on the other side so basically my 4 upper front teeth were involved.

[quote Prokupatuscrakedatus]@Ploughingthrough
Yes, my upper incisors (2 middle and 1 left of middle) and I forgot about the implant on the other side so basically my 4 upper front teeth were involved.[/quote]
sounds like a dentist did a great job for you.

My stepson had one when he was about 8 because he snapped the front tooth in half. It was done by a newly qualified (lovely) NHS dentist and it's still there, absolutely fine, no discolouration etc and he's 18 now.

Had one a few years ago, still there, very happy with the work (very good dentist even though he talks like David Brent!!).

Good to hear peak2021 - was he a root canal specialist?