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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:

mrpumblechook · 18/05/2020 20:23

What’s the recovery like after an extraction?

Very quick in my case. You do have to watch out for dry socket for a few days though.

MillyMollyMardy · 18/05/2020 20:29

Dentist here, extraction sorts it out immediately,root canal is successful most of the time but you will also need a crown on it as well. If you don't like having treatment these are both long appointments.
Previously I would have encouraged you to always save the tooth if possible however currently I can't even tell you when we'll be working again.
Second from the back it's a first or second molar. Functionally the first molar is more useful however I had one taken out six months ago and was due to get an implant that Covid-19 has scuppered for now and I'm not really missing it.
I think weight up how much pain you're getting versus how you'll cope with long treatment I don't know how once dentists are open easily you'll access sedation for root treatment. Long procedures with sedation are difficult as as the sedation wears off so gets a lot of topping up.

SierraHotel · 18/05/2020 20:29

Get it out!
As long as you follow your dentists instructions you should recover fine, dry socket is a thing to look out for though..google will tell you how best to avoid it.

Inituntiltheend · 18/05/2020 20:31

Is there any option to be referred to a specialist dental service like in a hospital or is that all stopped too?

Has he a way to manage your pain while you wait on the roots canal?

DeeplyMovingExperience · 18/05/2020 20:31

@FancyARoot - you can get a prescription for sedation from your GP. Just ring up and ask for it - tell them it's for dental work. They do it all the time. But don't drive!

Daisy169 · 18/05/2020 20:33

Normally, I'd go for the root canal and have, twice (different teeth!). I was terribly scared of the dentist but root canal #1 cured me of that! Wasn't as bad as I thought.

Current situation - extraction.

VenusTiger · 18/05/2020 20:35

When I was given the choice a few yrs ago, I did some reading, and found some horrible information about how your teeth effect your whole body's health! If not all of the rotten tooth is removed it can make you ill - go for extraction, that's what I did. Who want's a dying tooth still in their body?

Original poster

FancyARoot · 18/05/2020 20:36

Thanks very much.

Milly the one behind it is a wisdom tooth so maybe first molar? The wisdom tooth meets it at almost a right angle which is why I think food bits must have got stuck there :(

OP posts:

wannabeadored · 18/05/2020 20:37

My 2nd from back tooth has been an issue for years, couple of days ago a corner of the tooth fell away.

Once the dentists open back up I'll be having it removed .

helpfulperson · 18/05/2020 20:37

Normally I would say give the root canal a go but given the current situation and it being a back tooth I would just go straight for the extraction. I'm guessing 'really quite painful' is probably an under exaggeration. It might be different if we knew in a week or two you could get the root canal but honestly it may well be months.
.

VenusTiger · 18/05/2020 20:38

@FancyARoot just realised, same tooth as mine that was extracted - on my right side - can't see a gap unless I pull my cheek across. Warning though, I had dry socket and O-M-G it fucking really hurt!! had to have antibiotics - this is because I was spitting and using a straw (idiot!) so follow the aftercare procedures and it'll be fine!

antipodalpizza · 18/05/2020 20:39

Two dentists have told me in the past to go for extraction not root canal with back teeth.

QuestionableMouse · 18/05/2020 20:40

I'd have it extracted. Had a root canal on a back tooth that failed and the tooth is crumbling away but I can't do anything about it atm. A crown was never mention.

MillyMollyMardy · 18/05/2020 20:41

If it's a second molar I'd probably recommend having it out, we use our second premolars and first molars to chew, second molars not so much.
Decay where the wisdom tooth sits against the tooth in front is really common. It will also lower the risk of you ending up with decay in your wisdom tooth (won't straighten it though)
Once it's numb it's lots of pressure and wobbling to remove it and once it's gone boy does it feel better. My tooth had been hurting for months and I'd got so used to it being in the background once it was gone it was like a silence. What ever you decide will be right for you.

Waiohwai · 18/05/2020 20:43

In my experience, the question should be 'extraction straight away, or root canal first followed by extraction in a year or so?'

JudgeRindersMinder · 18/05/2020 20:44

I had root canal work with a crown completed the day before dentists had to stop working-total cost was £600.
I’m not sure what an extraction costs but it won’t be anywhere near £600, in case that has any bearing on it

nitgel · 18/05/2020 20:47

Ive had lots of root canals they're fine wpuld not want to lose a tooth and I've lost a few. Surely they would give you antibiotics to get rid of the infection

Once they're hone they're gone and im surprised any dentist would recommend extraction

Original poster

FancyARoot · 18/05/2020 20:49

Thank you so much everyone! Hoping they can fit me in tomorrow now.
It’s not actually too bad now, typical. But it’s not going to get any better is it!?

OP posts:

pinkmagic1 · 18/05/2020 21:00

Extraction every time for a non visable tooth. I seem to recall root canal only lasts so many years and then you have problems again.

ShandlersWig · 18/05/2020 21:20

I second the dislike of leaving something dying in the body. I had the same tooth and options as umyou OP and had the extraction. Ive never looked back.

shas19 · 18/05/2020 21:23

Root canal shouldn't hurt! I've had so many believe me and I'm terrified, extraction is very quick and effective though!

nothingcanhurtmewithmyeyesshut · 18/05/2020 21:23

Root canal is not painful. I've had 3 and didn't feel a thing with any of them. I'd always try to save a tooth but if you are in pain then I'd go extraction because we don't know how long this is going to last. You don't want to wait months in pain.

Weathermonger · 18/05/2020 21:26

I opted for a straight forward root canal, there was a problem and the procedure damaged my sinus cavity. I spent the next two decades in intermittent pain, before finally having it extracted. Unfortunately the damage was already done and I'm facing a lifetime of pain killers. After that I opted for extraction over root canals twice (poor genes not poor dental hygiene) with no issues whatsoever. Good luck with whatever you decide

Cailleach · 18/05/2020 21:26

Had a tooth out ten days ago - abscess - this is my sixth extraction and if I had the money I would have them all out tomorrow and dentures put in.

I am not joking btw.

AgeLikeWine · 18/05/2020 21:35

I’ve had both. My root canal wasn’t painful after a bucketload of local but the amount of drilling wasn’t much fun. Extraction of a molar was a much quicker process but also a much more traumatic one and my face hurt for days. If you have never had an adult molar extracted, lucky you.

In OP’s position in normal times I would always opt for doing everything possible to save the tooth, so I would have the root canal done. In the current situation, my choice would be determined by whether I could put up with the amount of pain I was in for a few weeks.

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