AIBU to be dreading a root canal treatment on crowned tooth?

[MigrainesAndMore]

Crown has been on 20 years
Pain started and dentist said root canal needs to be done.
He will try and do it with the crown in place as although very old and a lot of metal exposed so doesn't look very attractive I am terrified on the dentist so don't want it replaced!
But really worried it will break as he's doing this treatment and I'll have to go home with no tooth! It's second from the front so very obvious too - any advice gratefully recieved!

The root canal itself will be fine. I've had loads (sadly). The worst bit is the injection, but it lasts a few seconds and then all over. You shouldn't have any more pain after that, if you do tell the dentist and they can give you more anaesthetic.

I don't know whether they will save the crown, but if they can't maybe they could do a new one? Crowns do have a shelf life, I think 20 years is good going.

I have had two root canals done on front teeth with crowns. Dentist drilled through back of crowns. I had to go back a couple of times for dentist to check infection was all gone as I had an abscess (the abscess was very painful). The root canal treatment was fine after the injections as Cheby said. Crowns are supposed to last only 7 years. I had most of mine done 20 years ago and have just lost a bridge due to underlying decay. My gold crown (at back) is 43 years old. Hope all goes well for you op.

I was bricking it when I had to get root canal after hearing lots of horror stories over the years but in all honesty it wasn't bad at all, no worse than a filling.

What do you mean lost a bridge?
My worry is the possibility of underlying decay! Im so worried I'll end up losing the tooth altogether

I'm not sure about the crown situation, but honestly root canals are probably the most over-hyped treatment in terms of pain. I was terrified about having one, but it was absolutely fine. The only irritation was having to keep my gob open for ages.

With a good dentist a root canal shouldn't hurt. The injection is like being poked with a pin, the anaesthetic works and you then feel no pain during the treatment. With a bad dentist who rushes the injection that can be very painful. In other words, if injections for dental treatment have been very painful for you then you need to find a better dentist!

Root canals have a bad rep because they're often used to treat infections that cause severe toothache, and people remember the toothache.

It's unlikely that your tooth will be lost as an immediate result of the procedure. That said root canals do have a risk of failing in the years after. Your dentist should inform you of this. But if the tooth is left untreated then the decay would progress and eventually make you lose the tooth anyway.

I've had root canal a couple of times. They inject the hell out of you and it's longer and deeper than a standard injection but after that I've hardly felt a thing. In fact I've come out of it feeling quite high (I think they might inject some adrenaline - keep meaning to ask.)

The worst part is afterwards when the anesthetic wears off so make sure you're well stocked with pain killers. It can carry on bleeding for quite a long time too so if you had any ideas about going into work afterwards, I'd forget it.

I've worried about the dentist breaking the tooth/crown but it's never happened and I guess that's part of the skill and why they get paid shitloads. Good luck.

Just remembered the bleeding was after an extraction, not root canal. Sorry for any panic caused.

Yes they do use adrenaline. I have to ask them not to as I overreact to it.

No worries! It's more the crown I am very worried about them breaking

OP, sorry I have been out all day. I had one crown and the bridge which never fitted very well on the back. That's why they decayed. I would have had implants but I have problems with my sinuses so can't. I now have a partial denture which I have got used to. All my other crowns fit well and so have no decay. My teeth have always been a nightmare and I envy people with strong, white natural teeth!!

Even if crown was to break/ come off during the root treatment the dentist could do a temporary one to keep you going and then get you back for a permanent one. Not that likely to break though...

Is this NHS or private? I ask only because I had horrid experiences with crowns with my old NHS dentist and the complete opposite for crowns with my current private dentist.

Honestly if the crown does end up breaking, NHS or private, they can do you a temporary one that day. I had temp crowns recently for about 3 weeks on my two upper front teeth - so very visible! - and they looked absolutely fine. It might take two or three weeks for new ones to be made but if you're NHS it's... well, it's £200 I think, but it might be covered in whatever you've already paid, since their treatment caused the break.

I get being horrified about more treatment, I'm the same - can you ask about sedation if needs be? Just try to remember that if the crown comes off they WILL fix it and it WILL look so much better!

Two private front-tooth crowns were £1000. :(

ps on top of the double crowns I've had 2 fillings recently and would take the crown treatment any day! It's unbelievably easy and quick - there's injections, but none of the horrible drilling and rumbling. It's really easy and not nearly as awful as I'd expected :)

Two trips to the dentist today. Back molar cracked at the weekend but previously had root canal so pain was not as bad as it could have been.

Turns out lost part of tooth but she's managed to save most of the tooth and put a temporary crown on it.

Treatment is fine, it's the injections I don't like and had to have 5 today, something to do with a bony jaw!

You'll be fine OP, relax your cheeks, don't clench, lay back and think of the bill!!!