A question for anyone in the know about root canals..

[Februarymama]

I’m a bit embarrassed to be making this thread, but I’m feeling quite anxious about a dental appointment tomorrow and would feel a lot better I think if I understood what was about to happen.

I went to the dentist 18 months ago complaining of pain in one of my teeth. The dentist could see the problem and performed a temporary filling. It was temporary because I was pregnant.

I went back after my daughter was born and had the tooth filled with a permanent filling. He had to go quite close to the pulp as the decay had spread underneath the temp filling.

After about a week I was still experiencing pain in the tooth and so he said a root canal would be necessary. He used something (a small metal thing?) to remove the nerve. From what it felt like, he just poked the instrument in and out of the tooth until it was done. He then did a temporary finish on the tooth and said he couldn’t finish the procedure now due to the inflammation in the area. That was 4 months ago, and I’ve had absolutely no pain in the tooth since. All good.

I’m due to go back tomorrow to have a root canal procedure done on the tooth… but I don’t understand. Is removing the nerve not already the root canal procedure? I thought so, and I thought that I’d just be going tomorrow to have the tooth properly filled with something permanent. When I last spoke to him though he explained the root canal would likely take several different visits.

I had some awful issues with my teeth about 18 months ago and was in pain for a very long time. I’m so worried that I will be having a root canal done tomorrow and I might end up experiencing pain afterwards. Can anyone please explain to me what they will be doing, and why the nerve being removed wasn’t already the start of the root canal? I feel like I’m missing something!

Thank you. I’m sure my post sounds quite silly. I definitely have some health anxiety left over from my births/ pregnancies/ ops and I need to work on that, I know.

I’m sorry I don’t know, but I just wanted to say it doesn’t sound silly to me or health anxiety driven, and please insist on the dentist taking the time to answer your questions before he starts. It’s your body and you need to be comfortable you know what’s going on. All the best.

I had a root canal about 4 years ago. I think it is more removing the pulp, any infected tissue, decay etc inside the tooth right into the root, then filling the inside of the tooth with something and sealing off the top. Perhaps adding a crown.

The process was long, but absolutely painless. They put a rubber wedge between the teeth on the opposite side to keep my mouth open which was much easier as I usually get a painfully achy jaw holding it open. They didn't use the big horrible rattly drill which I hate, but there was a little bit of filing inside the tooth to throughly clean it out, but that was quick.

Cant remember any pain after the local wore off. I am a big feartie, regularly faint after an injection, and I can remember coming out of the appointment wondering what all the fuss people made about root canal was all about.

Hope it all goes well.

I’ve had three root canals done in 3 years to save my teeth. I don’t know the technical terms but the canals will be cleaned and packed. On the next visit if all is well the canals are filled. I didn’t experience “pain”afterwards just a dull ache. I need crowns on mine to protect them at some point. I haven’t had any issues since though ☺️ I’d take this any day over loosing the tooth.

I had my first root canal done this year, it took 3 appointments (after the initial one because I was in pain to diagnose the issue), the first one was to clear out the decay, widen and smooth the area and find the roots (I think?) And clear the decay out, he then put something temporary in those and a temp filling (that fell out within about 5 minutes 🤣) in the tooth itself, I had local anaesthetic for that one and it was tender after. (I think you may have already had this bit done? I had to take antibiotics after my first appointment to see what was wrong, and so any inflammation had settled down by the first root canal appointment)

The second appointment he flushed it out, removed the temp dressings in the roots and used a tool to widen and clean them and then temp filling as before (that also fell out 😜) the third appointment was a repeat of the second but then a permanent filler in the roots and permanent tooth filling - I didn't need anaesthetic for the last two appointments and it wasn't painful, though uncomfortable having your mouth open so wide for a while.
I haven't had an issue with that tooth at all, it's so much better than it was before and although it's not an experience I'd volunteer for if I needed it done again I wouldn't be worried.
🤞🤞🤞that all goes as well for you.

Thank you all. It’s reassuring to hear that it’s typical for it to take a few appointments, and that hopefully the worst part is already behind me.

A root canal treatment must be done by an experienced dental practitioner otherwise you risk your health as in mrsa leading to superbugs necrotizing fasitis no dental health care professional will tell you this as they are not allowed to this fact is not in the public domain trust me it's horrendous for you if they fail to steralise inside the tooth must be done with rubber dam and two endontal treatments it's unbelievable the pain and disability if they fail to steralise and seal the tooth lve experienced this myself excruciating pain and tinnitus from poor treatments causing very serious health issues as in ME autoimmune issues this has been kept below the radar for 70years if any one has ME this is the most likely cause