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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? Part deux

20 replies

FancyARoot · 02/06/2020 19:32

I posted about my tooth a couple of weeks ago.

TL:DR - it’s v sore, emergency dentist says I need a root canal. Can’t have a root canal due to Covid. Extraction or waiting only options.

SO. I decided to ignore the problem and hope it went away. And it did!! But now it’s back with a vengeance :(

I need to go get it out don’t I? But I can’t make decisions, so:

YABU - wait for the root canal you pansy
YANBU - hoick the hurty fucker out

Extra details - last but one tooth on the bottom. I’m terrified of the dentist.

Thanks!

OP posts:

Piglet89 · 02/06/2020 19:50

With a tooth in that position (ie not smile zone) I wouldn’t hesitate to get it out.

mrsjg · 02/06/2020 19:53

With the current dental situation how long would you have to leave it for root canal?

I would vote for extraction.

I'm frightened of the dentist but would be more frightened of living with toothache and not knowing when I could get treatment.

If I can get a wisdom tooth extracted anyone can.

littleredsky · 02/06/2020 19:56

I had a root canal and crown and still ended up getting the whole thing pulled out 2 years later anyway, because of a trapped abcess. If I'd had the choice again I would've gone for the extraction from the start. This was a rear molar though.

TeacupDrama · 02/06/2020 19:56

I'm a retired dentist in your case I would get it removed unfortunately even with mulitple lots of antibiotics the longer a tooth has been infected the less likely it is to be successful if you have at least one other lower molar on that side that has good contact with an upper molar it will almost certainly not affect function and it is not in your immediate smile line, personally though I would be loath to have a tooth out inside of root canal as a dentist I would not wait till January for root treatment I might wait until August unless pain stopping me sleeping

TeacupDrama · 02/06/2020 19:57

sorry a bit of punctuation would have helped above!!!

Original poster

FancyARoot · 02/06/2020 20:00

With the current dental situation how long would you have to leave it for root canal?

They told me today ‘at least July’ but no one really knows.

Why now!? I never have tooth trouble! First world problem I know but I’m TERRIFIED.

How bad is an extraction? How bad is it afterwards!?

OP posts:

Original poster

FancyARoot · 02/06/2020 20:00

Thanks teacup. Yes all the other teeth are present and contented (for now...!)

OP posts:

NoRoomInBed · 02/06/2020 20:01

For me I'd have it out no contest. I'm so scared of the dentist. For me getting a tooth pulled takes less time but dunno about others.

FabulouslyElegantTits · 02/06/2020 20:04

I was in this position before Covid, I chose extraction as the tooth had been a twat intermittently for years.

You can't see it but It's a PITA as I get food stuck in it when I'm eating, another word of warning, it was a bastard to anaesthetise, I think it been grumbling for ages and I had a tiny abscess that wouldn't clear up .. So, go get it hoiked out!

cutthegraa · 02/06/2020 20:06

I had the first part of root canal done yesterday at an emergency dental hub. They took out the nerve. Absolutely fine! I know I still have the second part to go but the dentist said the first part is normally the worst.

She said they’d rather keep a tooth if they can and she thought it would respond well to root canal. She said if she didn’t, she’d had wanted to extract.

I’d been in strong painkillers all lockdown until dr and dentist said no more and passed to me to emergency hub

mrsjg · 02/06/2020 20:10

Ive had 2 wisdom teeth removed (separate occasions) and a root canal treatment. I would take the extraction every time. For me the injections to numb the area are the worse bit. The first time I had a tooth out, I don't think it was even a minute before the dentist said it was out. My reaction was "was that it" as I could believe how quick and painless it was.

Don't be frightened, you can do it.

Original poster

FancyARoot · 02/06/2020 20:10

I had the first part of root canal done yesterday at an emergency dental hub.

How!? Our emergency referrals place says no root canals at all!? They won’t even give me sedation!?

OP posts:

incinemasnow · 02/06/2020 20:10

Id go for extraction. Im also terrified of the dentist but extraction is so much quicker & with local anaesthetic it doesn't hurt. You have to be careful what you eat for a couple of days & no hot drinks the day you've had it done. I had a root canal in a front tooth but it didn't work properly so had to have the tooth out anyway, with hindsight i wish I'd just gone straight for the extraction. Good luck

cutthegraa · 02/06/2020 20:15

I’m in scotland, don’t know if that makes a difference?

Previously no drilling was allowed but I think restrictions in terms of emergency treatments have happened. It was in a dental hospital with them in full PPE and everything in the room covered in plastic like they were about to murder me!

No sedation.

cutthegraa · 02/06/2020 20:17

I should add that I went for an assessment there (they discussed it directly with my dentist) and they x-rayed it etc and suggested that as a treatment. Not ALL hubs in Scotland can do it

kenandbarbie · 02/06/2020 20:29

I had the choice between having a rear molar pulled or root canal last year. I had tooth pulled because I thought otherwise I'd just keep needing things done to it, probably ending with it being pulled eventually. I am delighted with result. Gap doesn't show. Can eat perfectly. And I like the feeling of food in the gap when I'm eating!

Bertucci · 02/06/2020 20:35

I'd be inclined to save the tooth if possible.

I'd be worried about bone loss where the tooth was and also the risk of the remaining teeth shifting.

Troels · 02/06/2020 20:42

I had mine pulled just before lockdown. Started last november, antibiotics, seemed to stop. Back in End of Feb with a vengence.
Back tooth already had a crown on.
So either remove crown, root canal and new crown.
Or
Pull it.
I'm not made of money, I had it pulled. The idea of a root canal and a new crown filled me with dread.

Piglet89 · 02/06/2020 21:16

@FabulouslyElegantTits

tooth had been a twat.

That did make me chuckle!!!

Longwhiskers14 · 30/07/2020 08:41

Reviving this thread to find out what you opted for, FancyARoot, because I'm in the same boat now!

I had the first part of a root canal done in early March and was about to get a temporary cap fitted while the proper one was made, then Covid hit and dentists closed. Since then, I've had no end of issues - the tooth itself is painless but the gum around it has been constantly sore. I finally got an emergency appt three weeks and had the temp cap fitted with a view to getting the cap done, but I'm in worse pain, keeping me awake at night, and I'm so fed up I just want it extracted. But I keep reading that it's really bad to lose a tooth and that it buggers up the rest of your teeth and can make your face sink!

It's the very last molar on my upper left side, so you wouldn't see it had gone even if I smiled widely. I'm also nearly 50, if that matters.

Would love to know what you did in the end, OP!

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