Root canal or tooth removal?

[bambooplant]

Hi all, I’d be really grateful for some experience sharing here.

I have a tooth that is massively decayed at the back of my mouth, it was filled in with a temp filling about a year ago. (My parents never took me to the dentist as a child/teen and so I’m in the expensive process now of getting my teeth fixed).

The dentist says that I have two options with this tooth - root canal or tooth removal. My partner has had a root canal and has suggested that it’s so terrible to go through that I should just have the tooth removed.

I am absolutely terrified of the dentist so I am taking this into consideration

Has anyone had a root canal and could please tell me what it was like in terms of pain, recovery etc? And whether anyone has had a back tooth removal and wishes that they could’ve saved the tooth maybe.

Sorry for rambling, any advice would be appreciated. I’m not really bothered either way, tooth removal or root canal but I guess if I can save the tooth with a tooth canal and could tolerate that that would be desirable

My tooth is beyond saving apparently; all through lockdown I have been dithering over removal or a very expensive implant (it's got a temporary filling). Have been told that it can cause problems with other teeth moving if you don't "fill" the gap but I don't know if this is a way to make me pay up for the considerably more expensive implant treatment. Has anyone else been told something like this? It's a bottom molar, about third from the back so not really visible.

The tooth I had removed was a molar. I was told the same thing but can't really afford an implant so just have a gap.

For the first few weeks it felt really odd and I thought I'd never get used to it, but now it feels normal and I don't even think about it.

I hate the numb feeling from injections in the mouth so if I have fillings etc I don’t have anaesthetic.

I needed to have root canal done on a back molar and my very understanding dentist agreed to do it without anaesthetic.

It was a little uncomfortable but not bad at all and 10 years in the tooth is still good.

Extraction really should only be the last resort.

I'm the same, no anaesthetic for my root canal and it was ok.

I later had to have the tooth extracted and did opt for anaesthetic then. However the tooth came out so easily that I probably didn't need it.

I’ve had three and they were all fine, expensive though!

I had a root canal on my furthest back bottom tooth two or three years ago, and honestly, it wasn't sore at all at any stage in the process. The only mildly uncomfortable part is having to keep your mouth open so long!
Don't listen to the root canal horror stories everyone loves to tell...I was terrified going in, but as I said, actually had no pain whatsoever. Good luck with whatever you decide!

I had root canal work on a back tooth. The painful part was the excruciating toothache before the dentist was able to fix it.

The procedure itself really wasn't that bad - I think I went three times, once to open it up and try to let the infection out, then twice to the root canal specialist at our dentist. Each time, it was a normal filling type injection then he kept cleaning out the roots with something that looked a bit like an interdental brush. He xrayed it to check he was getting right to the bottom of the root each time. When all the infection was gone, they closed it back up and filled it.

The toothache from the infection was awful but it sounds like you don't have that. I've had far more painful fillings (my teeth are dreadful!) so I wouldn't be put off root canal work as an option.

I have very bad teeth and have had 3 root canals. Honestly the middle one was bad the other 2 were fine- you just close your eyes and get through it. And take it from someone who has 2 teeth removed, the regret afterwards with the gaps I'm so ashamed of. Best of luck OP, and tell your partner not to talk to you about it!!!!

I've also had teeth extracted and I'd take root canal work over a tooth extraction with local anaesthetic every time!

@Torvean32

I've had about 4 root canals. If you have a good dentist the option should always be to save a tooth.

After you get the root block injection, that should be the worse thing. The procedure does take a while.

A good dentist will say to raise your hand if you're feeling pain, or need a break. You are allowed more pain relief if needed.
The dental nurse may talk to distract you.
Some surgeries play music. Others have things on the roof that you can look at.

The worse bit is keeping your mouth open so long. So the next day I needed painkillers for my jaw not my tooth.

Honestly get it done. Tell the dentist how anxious you are. They're very used to anxious patients.

One day you'll look back and think it wasn't that bad at all.

This ^ I had root canal filling and crowns on two molars done in 1976. I still have both teeth and only had one crown renewed about 10 years ago- the other is still in place with no problem since. It is tedious and expensive but worth a try to keep your teeth IMO.

I've had a few. Numbed up to the eyeballs (literally!) So no pain. Takes quite a long time and I don't like the noise/smell of the drilling so it wasn't the most fun ever. But I still have the tooth. Although another tooth I had one done many years ago has been removed.
Extraction can be painful for a few days after and dry socket is horrible. But it also depends where the tooth is.
My dentist says teeth don't move about if you have gaps.