Extraction or root canal??

[homtardy]

I'm terrified of dentists. Even a check up brings me out in a cold sweat. I was given a temp filling about 6 months ago as I was pregnant and they couldn't X-ray to see how deep my cavity was. Well today they've told me it's very deep and I'll need either a root canal or an extraction. Dentist Is leaning towards extraction given my phobia, but having teeth out isn't good is it? I already have one missing on the other side from when I was a teenager. Will my face start to fall apart sag if I have more out?

Anyone had a root canal? Was it as bad as it sounds??

TIA

I've had a couple of root canals done and it's never been as bad as people make out. The worst is keeping your mouth open for so long. I never had any pain either during or after.

Just to.report back, I've now had my tooth extracted and it really wasn't too bad. I did have the numbing injection and that wasn't pleasant but I didn't feel a thing. It hurt a little bit when the anaesthetic wore off but nothing that nureofen couldn't sort out.

I didn't have any anaesthetic when I had the root canal treatment a few weeks ago so that was easier for me as it's the injections I don't like. The root canal treatreatment took a long time, the extraction took about 10 minutes.

But both prodedures were fine, not too unpleasant/painful.

Oh, and an update from me too. I had the first stage of root canal by the specialist on Tuesday - what a difference from when my own dentist did them. He spent two hours just cleaning the canals, and I am then back for another two hour session. My own NHS dentist did the lot in a one-hour appointment. I need four appointments with him in total (two teeth) which is costing the guts of £2,000, then crowns done later by my own dentist.

emma I hate injections too - I think the endo gave me about 25 on Tuesday and kept having to tell me to breathe because I was practically on the roof.