Root canal or extraction?

[FancyARoot]

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

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

I had a similar situation - the back of the tooth was rotten. The dentist advised me that it would be very difficult to save. I had a specialist dentist look at it and he said the same, so I had it removed.

However I had a root canal and crown in the tooth in front of it, and that was very successful, and has lasted 15 years so far.

I'd just have it out op. I know the thought of it is awful but once it's gone, it's gone! I had 2 wisdom teeth taken out and I'm the ultimate dentist wuss! If I can do it, you definitely can! Bring headphones and try to use music to distract yourself. I told myself stuff like "by the end of this verse, it'll be over". Good luck whatever you decide.

How old are you? .....and how rich are you?

I’ve had too many root canals and am now getting dental implants. They cost a lot but I like the idea of not having more root canal work.

Thank you so much

I am so crap in these situations. I just want the dentist to say ‘do xxxx.’ But I know they can’t. But I can’t decide either because I don’t have the knowledge and skills :(

I've had root canal and a crown and I'd honestly not do it again if it was a back tooth. I have a hair trigger gag though and it really was awful. Not painful though. I also got a bit of dental equipment snapped off in there so it might have to come out later if it causes problems.

For the future OP I advise investing in a water flosser. I’ve got a Panasonic. I just flush any debris out with water. I really struggle to get dental tape between my teeth.

I recently had root canal and like u I was debating between both, I'm so glad I went with root canal. Years ago it was a drawn out process but not now. I went for first appointment to dress the infected tooth with hole and give me antibiotics. I went back the following week for final appointment and was done in 90 minutes. Dentist advised to def hold on to any tooth u can and he wasn't just saying this to get money from me cos I had already told him if its extracted I wanted an implant. He said no need. If u leave yourself toothless back there, you will affect your bite and the bone in you gum and can run into problems esp in later years if other teeth need extraction, save any teeth u possibly can, please don't do what I did years ago and pulled teeth unnecessary, biggest regret I have

@mortforya Agree completely. I had a healthy tooth removed for cosmetic reasons in my 20s which I greatly regret. Nowadays, it could be orthodontically repositioned.

If you have it extracted look at implants and bridges to fill the gap or having a brace and move down the wisdom tooth into it's place.

I had a persistent abscess in my early 20's and tooth was eventually removed. wisdom teeth overcrowding caused issues with teeth at front of mouth and gap following extraction caused other issues. Long period of orthodontics in early 40's followed with the need to pin gum by extraction to straighten roots on next tooth which had been allowed to move sideways due to gap. Wisdom tooth was moved down to fill the gap created 20 years ago by extraction.

I hate dentists so I'd go for extraction. I had the option a year or so ago but was told the root canal didn't have much chance. I was sat in the chair there and then so said just get it out now and have done.

Has it been x rayed and definitely needs root canal or extraction? I was given that choice by one rather abrupt dentist, when I went to another they took an x ray and decided to try a temporary filling for a month - luckily the decay didn't spread and I got away with just having a normal filling. Took antibiotics at first to get rid of the infection

If it weren't for lockdown I'd say save it. They said one of mine was likely to fail, 3 years in and I haven't had any trouble. The other crown I've had 18 years and not had a peep from it in that time. It comes down to whether it can wait. If it hurts then really you just need it sorted. I have a tooth that I'm 90% certain has decay under a filling where its jammed up against the next tooth. It is sensitive and twinges a bit but doesn't really hurt so I'm waiting to get it filled.

I've had 3 root canal treatments and they've definitely got quicker over the years - mine were fine.
One tooth then had a crown fitted and has been fine.

Crowns were never suggested for the other two teeth and both teeth have cracked this year and had to be removed. Apparently it's quite common after root canal as the teeth can get brittle, and especially if you grind you teeth, which I do!
Extraction was a 20 minute appointment and has caused me no issues since.

In the meantime can you get clove oil, it’s amazing and after a dab on your tooth with a cotton bud the pain will be gone. I tried the clove oil after taking about 24 paracetamol!

I might add I ditched the tablets and used just the clove oil. Amazing stuff, tastes horrible though.

Thanks!
Well it’s actually ok this morning! 🤷🏼‍♀️🤷🏼‍♀️
I’ll speak to the dentist on the phone today and see what they suggest. I’d like to try the root canal if I possibly can.

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

Exactly this. I went through several appointments and expense to have root canal in that same tooth. 6 months later it cracked and was unsavable so it's out. I don't miss it.

I’d go for extraction. I had root canal followed by extraction of the tooth 6 months later.

I don’t like the numb feeling in my mouth with the needles in the gum so I never have any for dental treatment.

I had root canal and crown done over twenty years ago it has been fine.

The pain is momentary when they are drilling and I can cope with that.

Definitely go for the root canal.

I’ve had 7 teeth out over the last 6 months & have a dental plate for the missing teeth.

I had back molar out first last year - easy & painless. Worst bit is the injection which is really just a little bit of pinching but it goes numb almost instantly. Having Tooth pulled took about 30 seconds. I’d just have it out if it’s painful

I've had both. And the root canal ended up having to be taken out eventually anyway. It was brittle, and crumbled slowly.

When it was eventually extracted it was horrific, infected and I couldn't eat for weeks. Conversely I had a wisdom tooth out recently which was out in 5 mins and I went straight back to work with nurofen.

Just do it. A root canal is not a nice experience, you may still get pain from it and may end up extracting it eventually anyway.

I’m also facing this decision so do you mind if I jump in with a question? Those of you who have had extractions, what do you have there now? Have you just got a hole? What are the alternatives?

Extraction if it's a tooth you won't see! I had a dental abscess first week of lockdown and managed to see my dentist - a week later I would have struggled. I was in agony and my dentist said with an already filled tooth it's just way easier to extract. Save yourself pain!! I just have a space there now, it's the second tooth from the back. I don't even notice it.

You just have a gap. I now have two teeth missing on one side at the top - it's a large gap now as they were next to each other so when things get back to normal I will have some sort of denture Putin.

• put in - obviy!