Root canal vs extraction opinions needed

[Gryffindor86]

Long time dental phobe looking advice from dentists and/or people who have been in similar situations. Had a root canal done on a lower first molar on Friday. Found the procedure quite sore and was in a lot of pain over the weekend, tooth was constantly throbbing/pulsating. Rang dentist for advice and they said that root canals are difficult to do and some nerve may have been left behind. Pain hasn't been as bad today but still can't eat solid food or I get a searing pain in the tooth. Rang private dentist who said they could either refer me to endodontist who could redo the RCT (for £800) or they could extract and fit an implant at some point. I'm wondering should I get the root canal done by the specialist and hope for the best or go straight for extraction and save for an implant? Ideally I would like the tooth out and just do nothing but dentist explained that the other teeth could shift and the upper molar could super erupt etc. Has anyone had lower 1st molar out and just left it? Or would my chewing be compromised? Just to complicate matters I also have tmj disorder so I'm worried that extraction could cause even more issues with my bite

Tmj can present as severe tooth ache.

Triggered by dental treatment. It's always better to save a tooth.

Had 2 root canals NHS this year. Very well done. Have also had an extraction. Prefer RC to save the tooth.

Extraction. Root canals cost more, don't last forever and you will end up having them extracted one day anyway. Save yourself some money and get of it.

I’m waiting to get a second molar extraction done. The root is curves so any RCT will be “complex” and cost more. The original dentist that filled the tooth made a bodge job and it deteriorated from there. I paid another dentist for a second opinion on whether extraction is the way forward and they agreed it is.
I have been waiting since Feb due to Covid. I need sedation as it is a complex extraction and the only nhs dentist round here who will do it isn’t seeing patients due to Covid. I cannot afford to pay privately, I just do not have the money. So I am on painkillers for toothache, the nerve was taken out but the infection is still there. Feeling very fed up about it all.

Upper left 6 eventually extracted after 2 expensive RCTs. It just never felt right and got reinfected; it was a complete nightmare for several months.

It’s not ideal; I have a denture now, but I personally feel better having it out.

@BluePeterVag you poor critter I really feel for you! Toothache is absolutely the worst.

So if hes only finished the first part of the rct discussions of re treatment with a specialist or extraction are irrelevent.

If he hasnt finished the rct if there is some pulpal tissue left he will remove it next time, normally a medication is used in the tooth to settle pain and kill off the remaining pulpal tissue. It sounds like he has dressed the tooth to get it out of pain, it can take a couple of days if you were in pain pre rct. You have finished rct round 1 yet so you dont need to be thinking about specialist re treatment

@stayathomegardener

Dd had a root canal at 16 on a cracked tooth. Quote was around £1,200 five years ago for a root canal specialist. I thought it extortionate but actually it was drilled then cleaned and packed three times over three weeks until they were confident enough to fill it and not to trap any infection. Apparently 90% of root canals fail in the first few years. I'd remove unless you are confident in your dentists ability.

90% of root canals fail? What utter bollocks. More like 90-95% of root canals are successful.

I gave no molars on my bottom left side and it has never bothered me at all. Toothache is so incredibly painful (and worse than childbirth as you don't get the incredible gift of a baby at the end) that in your position is have it out.

I had the lower molar next to my one remaining wisdom tooth extracted a couple of years ago (had cracked it due to teeth grinding and it was painful). Dentist was keen for root canal and referred me to specialist but cost was extortinate and due to grinding I was not convinced it would last.

Extraction was easy and I don't believe it is visible that there is a gap to others. I haven't had any issues with movement (but do wear a night guard due to grinding to prevent further damage).

However in your situation I'd give it a bit more time to settle and possibly get a second opinion before doing anything further.

If you go down the extraction route then I would recommend something in its place asap. I had a molar extracted in early 20's which left a gap. Between that and wisdom teeth overcrowding 15 years later I had issues. I was told by a dentist outside the UK that a gap should never be left. Ended up with a brace and needed a metal pin to move the roots of the tooth next to the gap which had moved sideways die to the gap. A lot of money and inconvenience plus some pain later all is well but having a gap for 15 plus years did me no favours.

Thank you everyone for the advice. Went to dentist and he suspects the pain is from both the tmjd as well as the tooth settling. He shaved the tooth down a little to correct the bite (as was filled high) so hopefully that will help. If not then I can reconsider the root canal or extraction. He's in favour of keeping the tooth but said extraction wouldn't be a disaster either as my other teeth are in relatively good condition

@Piglet89 when you say reinfected do you mean decay