Tooth out or root canal, WWYD?

[lljkk]

I had a filling 3 weeks ago that put me in lots of pain, I let it linger until I could stand no more.

Last week the dentist removed the filling, mostly removed and otherwise killed the nerve (which she said was slowly dying, anyway, hence the pain), and put a temporary filling in (holding so far).

Next she says I have to decide to get tooth pulled, or get root canal + crown. I'm only 40, so I thought the RC+Crown probably best option, but now I'm reading all these threads on MN about RCs gone wrong and causing lots of pain (sob).

Why can't she just put another permanent filling in? What are the odds of the RC being a ok after all? The tooth affected is furthest back top left molar. WWYD?

Rc + crown for now. Keep them as long as possible I wld say.

them = teeth.

crowns can be nice. I have 1.

RC vote here - mine has been fine and dandy

BTW thave someone care for dc on Root canal Day. It's erm.... it takes a lot out of you. Not sore but..exhausting.

I've had two root canals - I think they are fine. I did have a problem with one, but that's because the dentist put in metal rods - the dentist who took them out was

I've also had teeth removed and it was horrid.

RC here too.. hang on to teeth as long as possable

go back to your dentist and get her to fully explain pros and cons of each.

I've had a 2 root canals done. both have been absolutely fine in terms of the actual root canal work.
on my first one though the tooth eventually got very brittle and broke off and I was given options of a crown or extraction.

I went for extraction because it was free as opposed to a couple of hundred for a crown but also because my dentist said that because of how it would be fitted it would be partially unde rthe gum and therefore less likely to last as long as a crown might otherwise.

so, there are all kinds of factors to consider. I also had to think about the fact of whether I could afford to have it re-done if it broke or whatever in a few years, which I probably couldn't, and as it was a back tooth no-one could see it so I had it taken out.

but please don't think that extraction is the easy way out! I ended up with a dry socket which was agonising and much worse than any root canal work i've had done

I've had two root canals and they have both been ok - not exactly a fun experience, because they do take a while and you'll be achy afterwards, but fine once it's over. An extraction can be just as unpleasant, so I wouldn't say there's a lot to choose between them in terms of either unpleasantness or possible side-effects.

At least with RC & crown, you'll still have something there for that much longer!

I have had a root canal.
It was fine. It was just like having a big filling done, and has been fine ever since (it was done about 12 years ago).

I have had a root canal before - it was fine (much much better than the pain before it !).

I think once the nerve is dead it can't be painful.

Nothing worse than toothache. Pain killers don't seem to touch it

Hi there, poor you! I have had three root canals and crowns, they're not that bad, honest!

Depending on where the hole is, the more work you have on the tooth the bigger the hole/filling gets, and it can sometimes means the tooth gets more vulnerable to splitting, leaving you with no option but to have it pulled anyway. Then you'd be facing an implant which is very expensive compared to a crown.

Another vote for the crown here! I couldn't afford a white one so I now have a gold tooth (very gangsta ). Bear in mind that your teeth continue to move in your mouth all your life so if you just have one removed you may end up with gaps elsewhere as all your teeth have a bit more room to move IYSWIM

It's a tricky one.

i have just had to have a tooth out that had split due to being filled previously (it was a large filling, but it is still, according to my dentist, rare for the tooth to split completely in two)

I now have to have an implant, which will cost a fortune, but so be it.

The tooth which split was filled 10+ years ago, so it did last well, i suppose.

I have had root canal work before, and I think it is easier (form a patient's perspective) to have the tooth out, but I also know that dentist usually only offer extraction as a last resort.

With a back molar, i'd be tempted to have it out, tbh, then you definitely know it won't cause oyu further trouble. If it is that far back then people won't notice

Oh thanks for the replies. It's nice to hear some positive experiences of root canal; I didn't even know what it was before last week.

So do you all think that if the nerve is already dead, or nearly so, that RC is unlikely to hurt (much)? Does getting a crown hurt?

Would I really need someone else to mind DC on the RC day? I fell to pieces in agony just hours after the filling was done, mind.

I had a tooth pulled long ago and it was easy peasy, but it was a wisdom tooth with a very decayed root.

The filling was expensive polymer-synthetic-something glass Riven, so I paid thru the nose for it AND then it didn't take. How come I can't blame the dentist for that (?) Doesn't seem to be how it works, I guess.

I'd get help with the DC; root canal is nowhere near as unpleasant as (say) childbirth (and I speak as one who before aforesaid childbirth had to be given valium to get me to the dentist), but if your dentist is worth his/her salt they'll give you lots and lots of anaesthetic which left me feeling pretty woozy (tho not in a bad way...)

Getting a crown is a doddle once the RC is done - it's basically a mould made of the tooth (visualise biting on chewing gum), and then you go back later and have it 'glued' on - which involves a bit of pushing and biting, but no nasty drills etc.

Good luck!

The root canal won't be painful as such, because the root is dead. But they do take a bit of time and you have your mouth open all the time - IIRC they put a sort of plastic "bib" round the tooth they're working on to make sure it all stays very clean, so it's not possible to close your mouth and swallow. You'll feel a bit bashed, and probably prefer not to have to be dealing with DC straight afterwards, if you have anyone who could mind them for a bit you'll probably feel better for it.