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Original poster

Root canal today but want extraction!

31 replies

bubbakin · 02/11/2015 07:34

I'm booked in for hr apt today for root canal but I'm dreading it & would rather have tooth out. Can I request this? And is dentist likely to agree? It's my very back molar & I've never had a tooth out as an adult. Tooth was fine but after numerous xrays at every 6mth checkup dentist decided decay in tooth needed removing before causes trouble but it was in awkward area. So had filling, within few days pain started & within week was on ibuprofen all day. Managed to get emergency apt & dentist took filling out & redid with temp filler. Last week tgat went pear shaped & all weekend ive struggled to drink anything as think filler almost all out & ibuprofen not working! At time of temp filling he said 2 things he could do, extraction but that seems too drastic or root canal so he said will do that. Wasn't until booked apt I realised it would take an hr!! I'm not afraid of dentists it's the having to be there for hr & not able to leave (suffer with more of a control anxiety). Also feel that nothing he's done to tooth has worked so far so just want shot of it. Can I insist he takes it out or can he refuse??? Thank you

OP posts:
gamerchick · 02/11/2015 07:39

It's not just an hour and it's not just one appointment ime.

You can tell them to pull it if you want it out.

gamerchick · 02/11/2015 07:41

That doesn't read right Grin

I get mine out, I'll never suffer through another root canal ever again that may not even work and the bugger has to come out anyway.

Original poster
bubbakin · 02/11/2015 08:08

Thank you both. The original filling was done in august so feel like it's just going on & on. I've read up & some dentists do 2 sittings & others do root canal in 1 so I'd assumed that's his preffered method but if that's not the case & this is the first if many appointments then no thank you! What i'm concerned about is whether or not he'll refuse to take tooth out!!! Am I best calling & telling receptionist that's what I want. Also concerned that I've got an hr apt & hopefully extraction doesn't take as long as that so he will have wasted apt time!! See I'm a worrier!!! Thank you

OP posts:
southeastastra · 02/11/2015 08:12

I would always try to save my teeth I've had a couple out and once they're gone they're gone ! Root canals are fine dentistry has come s long way ! There are risks with extraction. Dry sockets and pain for a few days. Root canal would be less painful

RealHuman · 02/11/2015 08:13

Be very careful. Once it's lost, it's lost. DP had a tooth out as a young man when his dentist went along with DP's preference for extraction because it was cheaper without telling him the potential consequences. That quadrant of his mouth has been badly affected - the surrounding teeth and the opposite tooth have suffered from the absence of the missing one. Once it's gone, you can't get it back.

DoreenLethal · 02/11/2015 08:14

I was booked in for a root canal and decided after spending a few days in absolute agony that I'd just have it taken out.

They argued like billy-o [they get much more for root canal than extraction] and I stood my ground.

When they took it out - the root was cracked. From an injury around 5 years previous. Root canal would have been a complete waste of time.

I'd call up, say you were booked in for a root canal but just want an extraction which obviously won't last an hour so if they can just do that they can let the rest of the appointment out to other people.

PogoBob · 02/11/2015 08:17

My money had this type of issue, went ahead with the root canel and still had some pain. She went back and insisted they extract and hasn't had any problems since.

The dentist may argue but as PP said, just stand your ground.

RealHuman · 02/11/2015 08:20

It's not about the money. The dentist wants you to have the root canal because it's the best option on the information they and you have available you. Sure, sometimes it turns out there was a problem with the tooth which means that sadly it can't be saved, and sometimes this isn't obvious until the root canal has been tried, but if it's NHS they really don't make a lot of money on root canals. Even if it's private, they wouldn't be suggesting a root canal unless it was worth a try.

RealHuman · 02/11/2015 08:24

It's normal to get last-minute cold feet, BTW!

My DP, by the way, after his cheap extraction, developed a dental abscess that caused him unbelievable pain, made him miss work for two weeks, and wrecked the surrounding bone. His dentist has quoted £8000 to fix the damage.

Could you call them when they open and explain you're worried about coping with the length of the appointment? There may be something they can do to help.

Lucidlady · 02/11/2015 08:25

Don't underestinate the long term consequences of extraction. As a PP mentioned, it can affect the rest of your teeth, cause none deterioration, excess wear and tear due to pressure etc. I had a root canal which failed after a few years and I then had an extraction. I've now got an implant in place of the extracted tooth. If I had my time over again I'd still go for root canal first every time - I don't regret trying to save the tooth.

Also if you have control issues are you sure you can cope with an extraction - you will have zero control and it's really quite an unpleasant experience.

Good luck whatever you decide!

Lucidlady · 02/11/2015 08:26

None deterioration = bone deterioration

RealHuman · 02/11/2015 08:28

Also, DP has had several root canals over the years, and in recent times they've drastically improved the techniques they use and he says they're far less unpleasant than they were in even the quite recent past.

I'm sorry to keep posting like this, but I don't want you to do something you'll end up regretting.

ottothedog · 02/11/2015 08:30

Is it the wisdom tooth or have you already had them out? Maybe just ask again before starting the procedure? I'd go extraction but i'm no dentist

swampytiggaa · 02/11/2015 08:33

In a similar situation I went for extraction. Never regretted it.

RealHuman · 02/11/2015 08:33

If it is a wisdom tooth, those things are no fun to have taken out as an adult. They have an impressive root structure and sometimes have complicated nerve involvement. Sometimes they have to be broken up before extraction. DP (sorry to go on about him again! He's had a lot of dental work...) had one removed for which the dentist had to brace himself against the chair using his foot.

Original poster
bubbakin · 02/11/2015 11:51

Oh my!! It's not my wisdom tooth but tooth next to it. Will see how I feel nearer the appointment! If I could have root done in a 3 20-30min appointments I'd go with that. X

OP posts:
FreeButtonBee · 02/11/2015 11:55

I had one done recently and it took about 40 mins. Don't think they can do it in stages as they need to open it up, clean it out and then fill.

FreeButtonBee · 02/11/2015 11:55

Was my first and I was dreading it but I've had worse fillings tbh. Agree technique has improved massively in recent years.

Original poster
bubbakin · 02/11/2015 12:01

Also when I had initial filling done I had locked jaw & then a painful & clicking jaw for a fee days afterwards & that was after 20-30min of dental work. What will it be like after an hr or more???

OP posts:
MackerelOfFact · 02/11/2015 12:06

It's one hour of discomfort to keep the tooth for the rest of your life. The procedure won't take the full appointment length anyway, the local anaesthetic needs time to work before they begin - plus surely it's better to just have one round of LA etc.

After the excruciating week of pain from dry socket when I had a wisdom tooth removed, I wouldn't ever opt for an extraction if I had the choice.

If your dentist is any good, either procedure will be fine, but the recovery from RCT is much quicker and crucially you'll keep your tooth.

MackerelOfFact · 02/11/2015 12:08

The locked jaw will be TMJ disorder. Tell the dentist before he begins as there are devices that can comfortably prop your jaw open and exercises you can do afterwards to help the stiffness.

Mrsmorton · 02/11/2015 17:06

An NHS dentist in England gets paid precisely the same amount for a root canal treatment as they do for an extraction Doreen

Hope you got sorted OP, FWIW a treatment plan is a conversation between you and your dentist with a mutually agreed outcome and method of achieving it. If your dentist strongly advises against an extraction, they are within their rights to refuse to do it; particularly if they feel it's not in your best interests. Believe it or not, patients still sue even when they were told very clearly of the long term consequences of a treatment.

As an aside, I very rarely root fill that last tooth (not wisdom tooth, the second molar) because it's bloody difficult and you don't really use it anyway. In some patients, we do all we can to save it as it may be strategically important for example, has a large gap in front, is the only biting pair on that side or the patient's medical history contraindicates extraction.

RealHuman · 02/11/2015 17:20

I don't know about your patients, but personally I find mine quite useful for chewing Grin

Mrsmorton · 02/11/2015 17:26

I can guarantee you do an absolutely tiny amount of chewing on your second molar. Less still on a wisdom tooth.

RealHuman · 02/11/2015 17:31

Nah, you're forgetting to account for the fact that I regularly use it for accidentally chewing the side of my tongue Wink

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