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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU to ask for some positive root canal stories.

74 replies

ToomuchtimeonNetflix · 18/03/2019 15:12

Hi I have been lurking around Mumsnet for a while , though not been brave enough to post. However I have had today off of work and haven't been able to enjoy it as I keep thinking about my pending root canal surgery. I know that in the grand scheme of things it is nothing compared to other things that are happening in the world but I am such a wuss and worry about everything.

My kids and work colleagues when hearing I am off to the dentist next week have told me about all of the bad stories they have heard , there must be some positive stories out there.
is it that painful? and if you have experienced a root canal have you gone back to work the next day?

please be kind
thanks

OP posts:

whitehalleve · 19/03/2019 06:38

I've had 2 pain free ones. I think they used to be painful but they shouldn't be if you have a good dentist.

septembersunshine · 19/03/2019 10:53

I had a roof canal on my front tooth (toddler headbutted it). Honestly it was not much worse then a regular filling. It just took longer. I was expecting the tooth to go very dark too, it didn't. Its slightly darker but not noticible. It will save the tooth op! You will be fine.

DanielRicciardosSmile · 19/03/2019 11:00

I have really fragile teeth so have had loads (5? 6? Honestly can't remember) of root canal treatments and can say hand on heart I have never had any problems. In fact I'd pick root canal over a filling any day. The worst thing, as PP have said, I'd having to sit with your mouth open for what feels like ages while they kill/remove/whatever it is they do to the nerve. It's also extremely boring. And if you don't like the smell of cloves that would be a bit of putting too I guess, although whether that's just a peculiarity of whatever my dentist uses I couldn't say. Good luck, I'm sure you'll be fine!

Roomba · 19/03/2019 11:07

I had a root canal done a few years ago. I honestly, genuinely don't recall it being painful at all, so I don't think it's inevitable. Mine was my back tooth, not sure if that makes any difference. It was boring as it took ages each time (had to go twice) and the numbing jabs stung a bit, but never had any problems with it afterwards at all.

Flobochin · 19/03/2019 11:16

Root canal can be painful.

It can leave you with a weak tooth that eventually breaks.

It can create nerve damage which leads to long term neuralgia.

You can get infections in tooth.

Years later the tooth may have to have further root cabal.

All if the above I have experienced.

FlagranceDirect · 19/03/2019 11:34

OP asked for positive root canal experiences.

Just in case some pps haven't read it properly.

FlagranceDirect · 19/03/2019 11:36

I've had 2 root canals and both felt the same as a filling but took twice as long. No swelling, straight back to work. An achy jaw for a couple of days due to having to keep mouth open for so long.

mondaylisasmile · 19/03/2019 11:40

i've had one and it was just fine!

mine was done with a tooth that had been causing pain, on and off, for years - i wish i'd had it done sooner.

the only thing was that it was a very LONG appointment, my jaw ached from having my gob open for so long... but it definitely wasn't painful, no problem at all really.

i think there are people with horror stories, but then there are people who have horror stories from going into a routine manicure appointment if you look hard enough.

don't worry OP, there are many people here with clearly good expeirences

butteryellow · 19/03/2019 11:43

I've had 2 or 3 root canals (you can see they haven't left a lasting impression!) - I didn't find them any worse than fillings - although they took a bit longer obviously - but then for me the bit that I find most unpleasant is that feeling of just ughhghg you get for a few hours after having the anaesthetic.

I think the oldest I have is about 15 years old, and it's not caused me any problems at all.

Top tip - put on lip balm first, if you've got a dentist who likes to rest their glove on your lip it can really dry out your lips, and that's the last thing you need.

DanielRicciardosSmile · 19/03/2019 11:48

Yes, just trying to think back to when I had my first root canal and it must have been about 18 years ago. As I say, never had a single problem with any of them.

Flobochin · 19/03/2019 12:11

@FlagranceDirect

Should I have just lied?

Better to prepare someone for what can and often does go wrong

Some dentists are finding that long term sucess on multirooted teeth can be as low as 25%. A 75% failure rate is something to consider before making the choice to undergo this procedure.

gart · 19/03/2019 12:14

I decided to not go down this root! 😆

I felt it would be easier and cheaper in the long run to just have it out, it's probably going to happen eventually so I just cut out the middle part.

SuziQ10 · 19/03/2019 12:19

The worst part is the infection and all the 'before'. Once the root is extracted it gets better if infection is kept at bay. The actual root canal is a bit uncomfortable. I had a specialist do mine as had thin canal and it was a tricky procedure. Took two to goes.

I was in the car straight after driving a half hour journey and back into work! It's fine.

thesnapandfartisinfallible · 19/03/2019 12:38

I've had 3 and they really weren't that bad. It doesn't hurt any more than having a filling but your jaw does ache from having to keep it open for nearly an hour. I laughed through one of mine so they had to keep stopping. They'd given me this massive rubber block with.a bit of chain attached to hold my mouth open so I could relax it a bit and all I could think was that it looked like a bath plug and to me this was absolutely hilarious. I kept choking on the water spray because I just couldn't shut up laughing and kept inhaling it. Another dentist came in after a while to find out what was so damn funny.

thesnapandfartisinfallible · 19/03/2019 12:41

My first one kept falling out so eventually they ground it down and put in a post and crown on it and 16 years later havent had a peep from it since.

Autumnchill · 19/03/2019 13:04

Well I've just had 80 minutes in the chair and 2 injections. The worse but was giving the impression of my teeth, the plate with gunk in makes me gag.

Now an afternoon of drooling 🤤

runninguphills · 19/03/2019 13:06

I had one when when children were tiny, 4, 2 and 1. It was a rare outing without children as childcare is scarce. Completely pain free and I enjoyed the peace and quiet.

Elephantina · 19/03/2019 13:11

Honestly OP, with the equipment and anaesthetic and knowledge they have now it's dead easy.

The worst is having to have your gob cranked open for so long, but it's just boring and uncomfortable rather than awful and painful. I had a tricky oval shaped tooth with 5 roots that my dentist slaved over for 90 minutes, as one of the roots broke off and he had to rummage around for it.

I can't even have normal adrenalin based anaesthetic, I have to have (what was then) crappy Citanest which isn't as long lasting and they had to keep topping up - but I honestly didn't feel a thing.

I wasn't working that day anyway so I decided to go to the shops straight afterward - that may have been a mistake, but I just felt a bit woozy from being pulled around for so long. Nothing major, I was perfectly alright.

There is nothing to fear - just the boredom!

FlagranceDirect · 19/03/2019 13:15

Should I have just lied?

The OP said she'd had plenty of bad stories from colleagues, and specifically asked for positive ones. Yours wasn't a positive one. Not what OP asked for.

eastegg · 19/03/2019 13:17

My DS age 9 is just coming up to what is hopefully the last appointment in a course of root canal treatment after he had his teeth broken at school 18 months ago. Although the whole episode has been horrid, more for me than him, the root canal itself has been fine! He's gone back to school the same day when he's had it in the morning.

Good luck, you'll be fine.

ginyogarepeat · 19/03/2019 13:23

I've had two and they're not much worse than a normal filling, just uncomfortable as they take longer.
I've always went into work straight away afterwards?!

TooManyPaws · 19/03/2019 13:30

I have had root canals in most of my teeth due to congenital problems. I find them routine and boring rather than anything else, but so much better than an infection! I have no idea how they could lead to infection as a PP said as, once I've had a root canal, I've had not a single infection in that tooth again, and I had got to the stage where I could diagnose one myself at the first tingle. No nerve problems, no infections since. Aching jaw during the procedure, yes. I've gone to work afterwards, using a straw to drink until my face unfreezes.

I'm currently undergoing treatment at the local dental hospital and I'm off to work after most of the appointments too - only exception was an extraction.

TOADfan · 19/03/2019 13:31

I had one last week...well half a one. I need to go back tomorrow to get it finished.

It wasn't too bad. My nerve is agony though, so she ended up injecting my tooth pulp with the anesthesic which did hurt but then meant everything after was painless.

I was very worried so pleasantly surprised..i just hope tomorrow goes ok when the actual nerves are being removed!

littlebillie · 19/03/2019 21:25

It's fine the time in the chair is the worst bit.

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