Root canal or tooth removed?

[cjt110]

Backstory - had 2 fillings done a month ago. The one done top left back of mouth has given me immense pain and trouble since when eating/drinking. Gone back today and filling is very close to the nerve. Was given 2 option, first being the best - to have my filling drilled out, medicine put into the tooth and a temp filling put on or 2 have antibiotics. That I will need a root canal following both of these. Went for option 1. They gave me as much anesthetic as I could have and still i could feel him drilling. I've ended up with antibiotics and have to go back for band 3 (£255 treatment) of a root canal and cap/cover. Absolutely gutted. I'm 30 and until last month I've only ever had 2 fillings. I cant afford that kind of treatment so it looks like now I'll be having my tooth removed so am absolutely gutted.

Im also really cross because to me, this is as a result of the work he has done and so they should repair my tooth free!

roomster , the OP asked for opinions , I've given one , with my experience why the need to single me out , when loads of other posters above have said the same .

Because you said "you do miss" the tooth as if it is a universal experience.

Time for tea - it can be all of those things. Obviously i cannot comment on OP's case.

The pulp (the nerve/blood vessel complex that exists in the root canal) can die for all sorts of reasons, and sometimes none at all. I've seen front teeth that were banged 30 years ago die and need root canal treatment.
The most common reasons are bacteria, trauma, or exposure from wear. A lot of the time the nerve dies quietly without symptoms and can stay like that for years before a patient gets an abscess, and sometimes we see the resulting abscess on the end of the tooth as a chance finding on a x-ray which surprises the patient.

It's really difficult to gauge how a tooth will react to the process of having a filling, there have been teeth where I have said to a patient, let's try to avoid root canal but I am pretty sure you will be back, and years later the tooth is fine. I placed a filling close to the nerve in my brother's tooth at dental school and my tutor said he'll be back next week for RCT. 17 years on it's still there, no,problems, so it's worth a try in the hope that once the decay has been removed, the pulp,will recover and the tooth will have a good prognosis. If you leave it, the decay will progress and RCT or extraction will be a certainty as the decay will progress to the nerve. If I don't expose the nerve while removing decay, even if it's close I will place a filling as there is a better than not chance of it being fine. Sometimes it is just bad luck, and toothache is just horrible.

Google reversible and irreversible pulpitis if you need further explanation.

Following with interest, I have had the first part of a root canal done yesterday and it's more painful than previous! Going back next week for it to be finished, then twice more for pre crown prep & crown appointments.

I think I'm going to wait until it calms down before call the dentist although he did say it shouldn't hurt at all.

Sorry to hijack the thread OP but I'd go for saving the tooth over extraction every time. I'd rather has teeth than not.

If you have a teaching hospital near you, you can often get free treatment if you are prepared to let a student practice on you. I would save the tooth if possible.

I'd have it out. I had root canal years ago and I really regret not having it out. I still get pain and I have a crown that I know might not last as the stupid dentist used my tooth as a post but filed it down so much there's barely enough for a crown to hang on to. It's on it's second crown and when that goes it's coming out, I don't care how much the dentist tells me to try to save it.

I've had 3 teeth pulled and 2 root canals.

But I have extra teeth and none of my others have moved.

After the pain of a failed root canal I'd rather have them pulled now.

I am also very unlucky when I was a child I was really really sick and the medication I had mucked up my teeth and bones, hence why I have arthritis in my fingers, elbows and left hip.

Get the tooth pulled out. I had the option of Root Canal or tooth removal, a root canal might fail, and could need further work done - a lot of $$ (sorry can't do pound or euro signs). Happened to a friend of mine and it cost them heaps more! If it is the back tooth, no one will notice it missing (teeth you can see I would obv say keep). I had my 2 back teeth pulled for same amount as root canal and apart from a few hours pain and 2 days on antibiotics, have not noticed anything.
Anyway, just my opinion.

Sorry I may have been unclear yesterday. I came away having been told I have an inflamed verve, not an infection, with amoxicillin (which is for an infection?) and that I have to complete the course and return for RCT after the course is finished.

I really an torn about what to do, and quite upset. Until I had this done I had only had 2 fillings ever and I'm 30. I spoke with the practice manager yesterday expressing my upset at this, how i wasnt warned how deep the filling would be and possibility of RCT - she said the dentist should have warned me. No xrays were taken of the tooth prior to drilling either. She is going to look into it for me and get back to me.

Strangely, my mum who is at the same dentist (different actual dentist though) was told they don't do RCT in the surgery and she was sent to the local dental hospital.

Oh and it's the third tooth from the back on the top left so borderline noticeable when I smile.

I've had about five root canals done by my usual dentist they're fine definitely glad I still have them so much scare mongering on this thread !

Strange the dentist won't do rct bizarre still I suppose of they send you to a hospital it would be free

cjt110 Try not to be too upset. It's just one of those things. I have never had any fillings apart from the one in the tooth that was taken out (I am nearly 50) so it isn't necessarily a reflection on how you look after your teeth. Personally, I was more than happy to have the tooth removed as my one filling have me so much trouble over the years and in retrospect it was the right decision for me.