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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to consider extraction instead of root canal?

57 replies

aliceinchunderland1 · 23/07/2018 08:39

I've been told it's not the easier option, but I'm 15 weeks pregnant and don't want xrays or any more anaesthetic than absolutely necessary. I know extraction is painful but can't be any more painful than the current tooth/face ache I have! I've also read so many horror stories on root canals not actually fixing the problem and having to have the tooth extracted at a later date anyway. I have been extremely poorly through the last 10 weeks of this pregnancy I just want some relief and I don't think root canal will offer it Sad

OP posts:
Coolhotsummer · 23/07/2018 08:41

What does your dentist advise? Also it depends where the tooth is and can you live without it. I have personally chosen extraction as the easier option but the tooth was at the back and wouldn’t have affected eating.

I find dentists will advise you to save the tooth. I also had root canal on another tooth which took ages but did work.

Matilda1981 · 23/07/2018 08:45

I am going to have an extraction rather than a root canal. I had a root canal done about 12 years ago and last year had to have that tooth out as the root canal hadn’t been done properly and the tooth ended up cracking and being too bad to save. An extraction really isn’t that bad - just check with your dentist about whether or not it will affect chewing, I’ve had mice checked and the dentist says I shouldn’t notice a difference without my tooth.

Changingeveryth · 23/07/2018 08:46

I had a busy abscess on holiday in France, while suffering pregnancy sickness. I had the root canal which sorted it out. Still have tooth 5 years later. Having it done was fine. I hate dentist visits but it was easier than my wisdom tooth extraction.

Original poster
aliceinchunderland1 · 23/07/2018 08:47

Dentist has advised trying to save the tooth, it's second from the back on the top right, not really one I can't live without. I'm just after a quick fix if I'm honest! How long ago was your root canal and how long was recovery @Coolhotsummer?

@Matilda1981 I've seen so many of these stories, makes the root canal totally pointless!

OP posts:
Urbanbeetler · 23/07/2018 08:48

Honestly, as someone going through tooth hell in my 59s, I really would advise hanging on to as many of your own teeth as possible. Unless you are very rich or very fond of soup and the Mountain Dew look.

mando12345 · 23/07/2018 08:48

My husband has had several root canals done, neither painful just long, both have fixed the problem completely. Our lovely dentist discussed it with him and said the important thing with root canals is that you get every bit of muck out which she makes sure she does.
She didn't xray afterwards.
I sincerely hope you get this sorted ASAP.

Urbanbeetler · 23/07/2018 08:48

59s?? Not quite there yet!

50s

HuckfromScandal · 23/07/2018 08:50

Having an extraction will also change the shape of your face.
And the bone that the tooth is currently in will over time, lessen.

Listen to your dentist.
Have the root canal

hopefulmama36 · 23/07/2018 08:51

I had 2 teeth out over the last 6 months. Way less painful than fillings, they injected me into the gum and then the teeth came out quite easily. I needed pain relief afterwards for a few days and you need to be careful with food and be thorough with aftercare to prevent infection. Of my two one had to come out and the other one was recommended as the dentist felt root canal and crown option would likely be unsuccessful and that the tooth would eventually come out anyway.

SparklyLeprechaun · 23/07/2018 08:55

I've had a root canal 20 years ago or so, still have my tooth. Not a problem. Why give up on your teeth?

TheHobbitMum · 23/07/2018 08:56

I've always opted for extraction I have heard too many stories of ending up without the tooth anyway. I don't find extractions painful but it's a very personal decision

BellaShLex · 23/07/2018 08:58

I felt exactly the same as you but was talked into a root canal, I'm so relieved after that I got to keep the tooth! Mine was the second to last on the bottom at the back.

There was no pain during the first session which took around an hour and a half, it was just a bit dull looking at the ceiling! I was expecting a bit of jaw ache from having my mouth open so long but it was fine, they do give you time to close it and relax.

I went back a week later for the rest of the procedure and again, absolutely no pain and no pain after either. I've had not one minute of trouble since and the root canal was two years ago.

Even going home and being able to be normal straightaway was such a shock, I'm glad I didn't have to deal with a hole in my mouth and possible dry socket etc. I'd always go for root canal now, people shudder at the sound of it but I've never met anyone that's actually had a bad experience.

LisaSimps0n · 23/07/2018 08:58

I had a very expensive (was living overseas at the time) root canal about 10 years ago on the same tooth as you, and then had to have the tooth extracted a few years later. Once the tooth was out, it looked very much as though the root canal had been botched and the dentist had drilled right through the end of the tooth. I wouldn't bother with a root canal again.

MeltingPregnantLady · 23/07/2018 09:00

Root canal isn't as bad as people make it out to be. Certainly the least painful option to extraction

KERALA1 · 23/07/2018 09:04

I was in extreme pain. Had root canal, didn't really hurt, worked brilliantly tooth saved that was a few years ago now so all good touch wood. Would definitely go for that over extraction.

MagicFajita · 23/07/2018 09:04

I had that tooth extracted on the bottom right. I was given the option of saving the tooth many times before finally being listened to and offered the extraction.

I can honestly say that it has had little impact on my mouth. My face shape is the same , it healed nicely. I just have to eat crisps more carefully!

Go with what you want to do.

Einszwei · 23/07/2018 09:04

I had this option for my second to back molar when I was in my 20s and went for the extraction. So glad I did. Instant relief and the extraction itself is really not that painful. Never had any issues since.

didyouseetheflaresinthesky · 23/07/2018 09:08

I find root canals the better option myself. I've had both and the teeth I've had root canals in and crowned are still going strong, one of them 15 years later. The other I was strongly advised to have out but I insisted they try and save it and I was right. Its fine. Root canal you are over by the next day once it's finished. I try to get it done in one session. Its long and boring and you get jaw ache but once it's done it's done. You get more injections for an extraction ime and x rays for both so it's swings and roundabouts as far as that's concerned.

Dungeondragon15 · 23/07/2018 09:14

I had an extraction rather than a root canal. The dentist said afterwards that I had made the right choice because the root canal probably wouldn't have worked. It was a tooth at the back of the mouth. This was about five years ago and I have had no problems since. I was influence by the fact that a friend had a tooth extracted about 30 years ago and she has had no further problems either.

Dungeondragon15 · 23/07/2018 09:16

Certainly the least painful option to extraction

That's not true if they use enough local anaesthetic.. I didn't feel a thing when my tooth was extracted.

PipeTheFuckDown · 23/07/2018 09:18

I tried a root canal on my front molar bottom right. The whole tooth shattered resulting in it being dug out. Fortunately I was off my tits on Valium Grin as I went to a private dentist for it as sedation not available on the NHS in my area .

It hasn’t affected my chewing and not noticeable unless I actually show someone.

MeltingPregnantLady · 23/07/2018 10:32

I'm talking not just the procedure but the aftercare as well. Extraction can take a lot longer to recover from especially if you have problems.

MereDintofPandiculation · 23/07/2018 10:46

Extraction may seem the best short term option, but long term you have probably 50 years life ahead of you - foolish to start unnecessarily losing teeth now.

Root canal treatment isn't painful, it's just boring.

After extraction you have three choices - 1) an implant - expensive and complicated 2) a bridge - which trashes the two adjacent teeth 3) stay with a gap, which in due course will be joined by another gap, and then another ...

And before you decide, google "dry socket".

CeridwensCottage · 23/07/2018 10:52

Don’t get a root canal. They are effectively mummified teeth which frequently develop infection which can leach out into the body and cause systemic problems.

Due to the root canal tooth being dead and having no nerves, the usual warning signs of infection aren’t present, so you wouldn’t necessarily know if it’s going down that route. Mine was chronically infected and I only found out when it abcessed, but not before causing me health problems in other areas.

I had it extracted, but the dentist won’t extract the other root canal tooth as she says it’s not causing any problems. I’ll get it removed eventually though as I hate having it.

Cailleach · 23/07/2018 10:56

When mine are bad now i just have them out. Cheaper and easier in the long run. Money saved on root canals is being saved for dentures.

Dead, mummified chunks of bone in my mouth? No ta.