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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Root canal or extraction?

129 replies

FancyARoot · 18/05/2020 19:51

Posting here for voting rights!

I have a hole in my back tooth. It’s started being really quite painful. Saw the emergency dentist today who said I need a root canal or extraction.
The catch is - I can’t have a root canal until lockdown is over. And who knows when that will be? The extraction I can have tomorrow.
Either way I’m terrified of the dentist.

Any experiences most appreciated!

YABU - wait for a root canal
YANBU - tooth ye be gone tomorrow

OP posts:

Slumcat · 18/05/2020 19:55

I’d go extraction if it’s a back tooth, I was a dental nurse back in the day, root canal was long and drawn out, the dentist I worked for would always say when it came to the options you’ve mentioned “ if it’s not in your smile get it removed”

redastherose · 18/05/2020 19:55

I've had both. Root canal is painful and a long process (usually several appointments and you need to be numbed up each time) but your tooth will still be there at the end of it. Extraction is a quick but you have a space left where the tooth was. Extraction is usually much cheaper than root canal and you only need to be numbed up once.

Temple29 · 18/05/2020 19:56

It depends on how important it is to you to lose a tooth. Personally I would always opt for root canal if the tooth has a good prognosis but I also wouldn’t leave myself in pain indefinitely to save it. The lockdown makes simple decisions complicated.

How far back is the tooth? Would you care if it was gone?

Original poster

FancyARoot · 18/05/2020 19:58

It’s the second tooth from the back at the bottom. It already has a large amalgam filling so it’s not a pretty tooth.

Dentist says 70% chance of success for the root canal, it’s a bendy root apparently.

OP posts:

Flamingolingo · 18/05/2020 19:59

Ideally you would keep teeth in place as often as possible, and so the root canal is usually the best option. However, it’s major dental work and if you don’t like the dentist you would likely find it difficult. Even though I would probably choose the root canal, I wouldn’t wait indefinitely in pain, so I would probably choose the extraction at this time.

jellybeanz1212 · 18/05/2020 20:00

I'm the same and I'm going to get mine pulled. Second tooth from the back, big filling, tooth has cracked away from it, no pain as yet, hoping for it to last til after lockdown.

Good luck regardless. Dentists are scary!

bookmum08 · 18/05/2020 20:02

Get it taken out. I had a tooth out a few months back. As soon as it had gone the pain was gone. It was wonderful. I walked out the dentist practically floating.

Toilenstripes · 18/05/2020 20:02

Bendy roots aren’t much fun because they can take a bit longer to extract. I’ve had two bendy root extractions. Can you have sedation?

cafesandbookshops · 18/05/2020 20:02

I had a root canal for the first time just before lock down and I was also terrified but to be honest they numbed me up completely and I didn’t feel a thing. I had two appointments in total and now the tooth looks like new! I’m the worst patient at the dentist but I’m so glad I did it and I wouldn’t be nervous of having one in the future. If you can save the tooth try and save it but if you would have to wait and be in pain then the extraction.

Coffeecak3 · 18/05/2020 20:03

I have a broken tooth and an impacted wisdom tooth behind. I'm starting to get twinges now. I have a dental appointment in July and I'm going to ask to have the broken tooth removed. Not sure what will happen to the wisdom tooth.

Original poster

FancyARoot · 18/05/2020 20:03

No they’re not doing sedation because of the virus 😭😭😭
I haven’t even got any Valium!

OP posts:

Lynda07 · 18/05/2020 20:04

Extraction. Root canals are terribly dangerous, damage the immune system.

Wishforsnow · 18/05/2020 20:05

If its removed can a fake on be put in its place?

jamimmi · 18/05/2020 20:06

This may help your decision. I had root canal work on the same tooth just before lock down. My dentist was fab and I have bendy roots. It took 6 appointments to sort out and now needs a crown. If you dont like dentists its probably not a great option for you. I'm fine with them but found this hard.

RyanStartedTheFire · 18/05/2020 20:06

I'd have the root canal. I had the same options and am dentist phobic but my dentist said it would negatively change my smile to have it extracted and my mouth would look hollow where the tooth should have filled it out a bit. I would always try and keep the tooth.

safariboot · 18/05/2020 20:07

Given the choice between treatment now and treatment fuck knows when, I would choose treatment now. Though I'd be pissed off that I am essentially being denied the first choice of treatment.

DuckALaurent · 18/05/2020 20:08

Root canal was bloody awful and then failed a month later. Tooth was taken out in end. Pain gone immediately. Don’t know why I even tried root canal tbh.

If it’s a back or second to back I’d go for extraction every time.

stardust40 · 18/05/2020 20:09

I've had one root canal that worked and one that didn't. The second which worked I was referred to a specialist. He said never have one done again by a normal dentist .... it would be like asking your gp to operate and take out your appendix! To be fair his one has lasted 10 years!

SpillTheTeaa · 18/05/2020 20:09

Dental nurse here and I'd advise root canal.
When you say back tooth, what number tooth?
You can have a root canal and a crown sometimes placed on top. It's always best to not get teeth extracted unless really necessary as once a tooth is out your teeth start to shift.
That being said if you don't care about a gap then that's completely up to you

WitchDancer · 18/05/2020 20:10

Extraction every time. I've had root canal twice and it was horrible. I swore never again and that's with the nicest and kindest dentist.

SpillTheTeaa · 18/05/2020 20:10

He said never have one done again by a normal dentist .... it would be like asking your gp to operate and take out your appendix! To be fair his one has lasted 10 years!

That 'specialist' is just on the make. The two do not compare at all and very dramatic.

mrpumblechook · 18/05/2020 20:11

I had a back tooth out and I would choose that again. There have been no adverse effects so if it doesn't affect your smile then definitely go for the simpler option.

stopandListen · 18/05/2020 20:18

Root canal 100% it's not painful as you'll be numb, just as numb as an extraction, people saying it's painful need to get a new dentist 😀
Never have a tooth extracted if you can save it and 70% success rate is high.

Original poster

FancyARoot · 18/05/2020 20:19

Thank you!
Bear in mind that I can’t actually have the root canal until some indeterminate time in the future...!

What’s the recovery like after an extraction?

OP posts:

mrpumblechook · 18/05/2020 20:20

Never have a tooth extracted if you can save it and 70% success rate is high.

Why not if it's at the back, especially at the moment. OP could end up being in pain for weeks.

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