Root canal - is it as bad as people keep telling me?

[majorcrowdpleaser]

I am booked in to have root canal tomorrow and am petrified. I know a few people who have had it done and say they were fine but also quite a few who pull as face and proceed to tell me their horror stories including a lady at the supermarket checkout who told me she would rather give birth again!

I have a real fear of the dentist and it does'nt help that the dentist is very quite and says as little as possible which doesn't help with my anxieties.

He says that he will only need to perform the root canal on one root of the tooth not the two but apart from that has'nt explained much else like how long it will take (wish I'd asked but wanted to get out asap!).

I am also wondering whether I should'nt just get the tooth removed. Its one of the bottom premolars so would'nt really show and that must be a cheaper option?

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

You can actually have quite a bit of pain afterwards.

It should settle soon.

[littlemissneela]

But not during, though. From the sounds of the OP it wasn't numb enough during and hurt the whole time through the treatment. I would expect it to be a bit sore afterwards, but not being woken up at 4am painful.

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

I think there can be some pain during. Maybe a dentist will come along and advise,,I just work for one.

[ShotgunNotDoingThePans]

Well I know my (lovely, NHS gem) dentist always asks if I'm 'nice and numb' before going in with the drill. And I'm sure he'd do his utmost to avoid me feeling pain during or after treatment. Forget that shit - find a decent dentist.

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

Root canals are slightly different though

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

He doesn't sound very sensitive though

[majorcrowdpleaser]

My husband rang his dentist this afternoon and they said I should'nt really be in such pain now and it may be that I still have a slight infection in it but they have advised that I should finish this treatment with this dentist before I move over to another!

As soon as this is over I am most definately going to find another dentist this is the second time I have been in pain after treatment with this butcher one. I am quite pissed off with myself for trusting him a second time but he is always booked up so someone must have faith in him - just not me :(

[Bottomchops]

It's easy to be intimidated by professionals. I would book another appointment for Friday morning just in case. You don't want to go in to the weekend in pain, although hopefully they'd see you as an emergency anyway.

[Boozena]

You poor thing
It sounds a terrible experience and agree that it's a good idea to find a new dentist.
In the meantime take your painkillers regularly so they are in your system- cocodamol should take the edge off it, you can get it over the counter. You can take this alongside ibuprofen (neurofen) for the inflammation.
Hope it settles soon OP.

[LavenderRains]

Hi OP how is your tooth now? I really hope you're not still in pain.

I had my treatment this morning. I was in the chair 50 minutes. She numbed me and did the root canal work, then took impressions, fitted a post and put in a temporary crown! All in under an hour!
I had no idea it was all happening today but I'm glad it's done.
I can honestly say I had no pain, just lots of weird noises and sensations. (I kept my eyes closed so no idea what was going on)
The temporary crown looks quite large to me like a horse I hoping the new one will look better.
I've just had a thought, how the hell do they remove the temp.crown??!!
Relieved that I've got the worst over, hopefully, and good luck to any other dentist haters going for treatment.
It's not as bad as your imagine, I promise

[majorcrowdpleaser]

I am so glad your treatment went well Lavender, just goes to show if you have a great dentist root canal is nothing to fear.

The awful pain has defo eased and is now just a niggly discomfort. I had a temp filing and am not getting fitted for the crown until mid Aug and actual completion is'nt until end of August!

I have now registered with a new (and much recommended) dentist and when all of this current treatment has finished I will NEVER go back to this dentist again!!

[LavenderRains]

Oh OP they have dragged that out haven't they?! Good that you're not in pain so much now.
I must say today mine is a bit sore. Not painful but just niggly and I'm aware it's there iykwim it just feels like a lump of putty in my mouth
I've got to wait until 2nd Aug for the permanent crown.

[ShotgunNotDoingThePans]

Lavender, the 'lump of purry' feeling is because the temp crown is one-size-fits-all, so it's clumsy and inteusive in your mouth. When you have the real one fitted, the dentist should make adjustments (filing it down) to make sure it doesn't affect your bite by being too obtrusive. My dentist had me come back to double check after two weeks. And don't worry about it being taken out - they kind of crowbar it out but it doesn't hurt!
Op, glad you feel a bit better. Hope your next dentist isn't such a duffer!

[LavenderRains]

Thanks shotgun I'm glad the new one will feel nicer! Not sure I'm liking the sound of the crowbar hopefully I will be numbed!

[ShotgunNotDoingThePans]

Okay not a literal crowbar, but it comes out quite easily ime.

[LavenderRains]

Well, I got a phone call to say new crown was ready earlier than expected so it's all done
shotgun I get what you mean about the crowbar! But it was painless and was really quick.
I can now smile knowing I have white teeth instead of a broken brownish front tooth I keep looking in the mirror and wish I had done it years ago!
The new tooth is whiter than the others tho, is this normal?
Not majorly so but seems a shade whiter.

majorcrowdpleaser how is your mouth? I hope your pain has gone.