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Original poster

still in pain after root canal..aibu to have the damn thing out!? :(

31 replies

Baddz · 27/07/2015 21:43

I have been in pain since April.
Went to dentist...3 fillings done in a 4 week period. All large old fillings, alleft side and the teeth themselves were cracked.
After the 3rd...(upper left molar) I was still in pain some weeks later...hot and cold sensitive and hurt to bite.
He took x rays...no infection.
He Gave me Steroids for inflAmMation and made me a nightsplint.
STill in pain 2 weeks later so go back.
He does A root canal.
By this point I have spent £800 :(
It was ok for a while - or at least not as bad.
It's now as bad again! How can I be hot and cold Sensitive again if I have no nerves!?
I cAnnot Afford more costly treAtment...can I ask to have it out at no charge and will.it look awful?....It's a first molar :(
Am really fed up :(

OP posts:
Mrsmorton · 27/07/2015 21:46

Is the root canal treatment finished? Do you know how many canals he found? Did the treatment progress well with no issues like blocked canals etc?

YWNBU to have it extracted but you might miss it one day?

Can you describe the symptoms? Just cold? How long for? On biting? Spontaneous etc?

Mrsmorton · 27/07/2015 21:47

It won't look awful. I have dentist friends who couldn't be bothered to go through RCT and had extractions. You can't see the gap during normal function.

hhhhhhh · 27/07/2015 21:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
Baddz · 27/07/2015 21:51

I had 4 cAnals which is not normAl apparently
It throbs, and when I bite down its hurts and it's very sensitive to hot and cold again :( worse with hot things.
How can it be hurting with no nerve?
I have had other rc with no issues at all :(
I simply cant afford more costly treAtment and Tbh am fed up
I had dry socket some years ago which worried me too

OP posts:
Original poster
Baddz · 27/07/2015 21:53

To be fair to dentist I think he has done all he can
But I wouldn't like to hAve to pay for the extraction on top of everything else but wondered if iabu?

OP posts:
Mrsmorton · 27/07/2015 21:54

4 canals is quite normal. Some teeth have six or so! I think about 60% of first molars have 4.

The symptoms sound like there may be some nerve left behind (hot/cold) plus some inflammation around the tips of the roots (pain on biting). These are variable though and can (for example) be caused by a filling that is too high. Or occasionally by a fractured tooth. These are notoriously difficult to diagnose as the fractures can be all but invisible even when you're looking through magnification.

How long since the treatment was finished?

amothersplaceisinthewrong · 27/07/2015 21:56

I had RC done at a cost of £300. When I went back three weeks later to have it checked the dentist said it had not worked, the tooth was completely cracked and would have to be extracted there and then. At a cost of another £300.

Where else other than the dentist do you have to pay so extortionately for such pain. I bloody hate dentists.

Mrsmorton · 27/07/2015 21:56

You could try to negotiate a discount on the extraction. I'd be quite amenable to that (but I don't work in private practice) after all the time and money you have spent.

Any idea how much he's charging for an extraction?

Mrsmorton · 27/07/2015 21:57

Well done amothers highly original post there. Amazing that most people suspend their manners when talking about dentists.

Original poster
Baddz · 27/07/2015 21:59

I hardly dare think how much it is!
It's been about 5 weeks since the work was done.
It's been hurting on and off for about 3 but I was on holidAy and trying to ignore it :(
If I have had dry socket before will I get it again?

OP posts:
ajandjjmum · 27/07/2015 21:59

The latest root canal I had was pretty painful for 2/3 weeks afterwards, but it did settle down eventually.

Original poster
Baddz · 27/07/2015 22:00

My dentist is very nice....just expensive :)

OP posts:
Mrsmorton · 27/07/2015 22:02

Not necessarily. The risk factors for dry socket are smokers, difficult extractions in the lower arch, oral contraceptive pill and pre existing infection. Do you tick many of these?

Original poster
Baddz · 27/07/2015 22:08

No I don't think so.
X rays always been ok and its an upper tooth this time...

OP posts:
Original poster
Baddz · 27/07/2015 22:08

Am on hrt though...

OP posts:
Original poster
Baddz · 27/07/2015 22:10

Non smoker

OP posts:
Original poster
Baddz · 27/07/2015 22:11

Can't see him til Friday :(
Just about to take some co codamol

OP posts:
Mrsmorton · 27/07/2015 22:13

Hmmm, I've not read anything about HRT and dry socket but I think it's oestrogen in the OCP that affects the socket so I suppose it could be a contributor.

When I see patients who've had previous dry socket, I put artificial clotting substrate in the socket to improve things and assist the clot formation. It's really expensive stuff though!! Not that the expense should change your care, it's just an observation Smile and maybe explains why we don't use it all the time.

Original poster
Baddz · 27/07/2015 22:20

Thanks for the advice.
I wish I'd just had the bloody thing out weeks ago!
How long does a normal extraction take?
tempted to get the pliers

OP posts:
Mrsmorton · 27/07/2015 22:25

About 30 min start to finish including anaesthetic, paperwork and post op observations and instructions. Actual forcep on tooth time? 5min unless it's nails!!

Original poster
Baddz · 27/07/2015 22:31

Sounds good!
I was worried I would look like a toothless old hag but you have put my mind at ease...thanks x

OP posts:
Cupcaketin · 27/07/2015 22:35

I had a failed root canal and extraction, my dentist very kindly refunded me the cost of the RC minus the extraction fee, but he knows I am a student and poor at the moment, but that I value paying for a good dentist ! I was glad I had it taken out, it was so painful, I did get used to eating with the gap where the tooth was quite quickly.

crispandfruity · 28/07/2015 14:29

In my experience I wouldn't go through root canal on a back tooth, I'd have an extraction. I know it's not ideal and that dentists want to preserve teeth, but it saves faffing and money.

And tbh, nowadays dentists are so skilled at extractions that they're a walk in the park compared to a root canal!!

Original poster
Baddz · 28/07/2015 14:32

It's a first molar sadly so I am worried it will look bad but tbh I a, past caring now...I can't afford any more treatment. Not even sure there is any other option.

OP posts:
tallulahturtle · 28/07/2015 21:46

Im tempted to have an extraction now. Got a molar and its had several large and deep fillings in it, all of which seem to break off after a while ,so it has been patched up many many times. Dentist is reluctant to do a root canal as he said I am too young and the tooth will have a shorter life.
I am not in constant pain but it kicks off a good few hours a day and I havent eaten on that side in months. I know that sounds terrible but I am used to eating on tbe other side. If i accidently use the tooth, man do I know about it.
I really dont want to spend money on something that may not stop the pain.

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