OK, Triple root canal or extraction? Dentist says its up to me.

[moosemama]

I am truly petrified of dentists, but have bravely managed to cope with an appointment at the NHS emergency clinic and an appointment with a local dentist to follow it up.

Apparently I have two choices, have the tooth removed or have a route canal done on all 3 roots of the tooth.

I am at a loss to know what to do really. On the one hand, once the tooth is gone, its gone and that's an end to it. On the other, just the thought of the dentist yanking my tooth out makes me feel sick and fills me with horror, but then again the idea of a root canal is just as scary.

Any advice, gratefully received.

(Oh, by the way, I have an exemption card at the moment so wouldn't have to pay for either treatment.)

I had root canal on a tooth after having it drilled out and refilled with the normal filling, and the tooth ache was back within a month. My only option was to then pay about £300.00 for a second lot of root canal which I was certain wouldnt solve my toothache so I opted for extraction-believe me extraction came as a blessing after the pain and hasle my tooth had caused. Good luck with root canal but remember extraction isn't the end of the world-just feels like it at the time(i cryed for a few days but am fine now and have no tooth ache!!!

Good luck

I would think that a complicated root canal on the NHS is a bit dodgy If you had it done privately, it would be a three appointment procedure, and your tooth would be saved.

Having a tooth removed is not the end of the story because the rest of your teeth will move unless you have the gap filled with either a denture, bridge or implant. And of course you will have gap.

Basically, you need more info about the pros and cons from yuor dentist.

I'm having mine done on the NHS and it will have been a four appointment procedure by the time it is finished.

He took quite a few xrays from different angles and showed them to me on his computer. He could clearly see the shape of the roots, so was sure there were no hooks or branches that would complicate the procedure. Apparently if you have hooks or branches they can accidentally miss part of the nerve and have to re-do the root canal procedure as a result. Also if the tooth is only filled, but not sealed and capped appropriately bacteria can get back into the root structure and cause further pain and problems.

I have to say, the dentist I'm seeing has been exceptionally good. I don't think the fact that he is NHS comes into it really. He seems to know what he is doing and explains everything really well, talking me through all the options at every stage. He did say I could go private and recommended two different private dentists, but at £400-600 I simply couldn't afford it. He explained that some private dentists specialise in root canals and have specialist equipment that can help make the job easier and overcome any unforseen problems. We agreed that I would try the root canal, but if it became complicated or difficult and looked like it wasn't the best option at any point, he would remove the tooth.

For the moment, I'm very happy with the treatment I've received and extremely grateful that it could be done for free under my maternity exemption card.

I suppose time will tell if the root canal will hold, but if not, I won't have lost anything, will have the tooth extracted then and will at least have held onto my tooth for a bit longer in the meantime.

have had both.

initially went for extraction - had heard terrible things about root canals...

dentist was unable to complete extraction due to long and complicated root system and ended up leaving me with a mouth full of broken tooth and a referral for a GA, as well as a prescription for anti-bs as it might be week before they could fit me in for the op.

not surprisingly, when the decision came up again (same tooth other side) i opted for root canal. dentist spent an hour and thirty minutes sweating buckets as (i quote) 'have never experieinced such complicated root system' and was trying to talk me into getting him to stop and refer next door to the surgeon. i made him carry on

so, ultimately, no easy answer i'm afraid. i'd opt for the root canal again given the choice though. i didn't have to spend a week in bed with bruising and swelling all round my jaw and down my neck...

enjoy (sorry!)

Moosemama - sounds like you have a good dentist, so worry not about the horror stories. You'll soon be on the mend. Just steer well clear of toffees and other chewy sweets or it will cost £'ssssss!!

I had a painless root canal. Mind you, he did take such care to totally numb that one eye wasnt blinking properlyafterwards. I didn't realise till I'd started driving home and it began streaming, which was disconcerting to say the least.

Its been no bother at all since - crown very solid and chews well!

Thanks Time2 and Grimma.

Yep, I think I landed lucky with this dentist, especially as they are the only practice in the area currently taking non-fee paying NHS patients.

Fortunately, they had already been recommended to me by both my SIL and some of the mums at the school, so I already knew they were good. Such a relief when you are as terrified of dentists as I am.

Took all 3 dcs for a check up there this morning and was told they all have perfect teeth (despite them never seeing a dentist before at 7, 5 and 9 months). I am so glad we have got them into a good dentist and they won't have to experience the dreadful type of dentistry I had to endure as a child.

Three reputable dentists told me that it is only worth having root canal treatment if a specialist endodontist is doing it, otherwise the treatment will eventually fail.

I took their advice and went to a specialist and it has worked well. But it was very expensive.

I had a (emergency/unforseen) root canal by my cosmetic dentist, and had to have it redone two years later by an endodontist (referred by my new detist having moved house). The attention to detail was staggering, as was the bill.

I'm glad to say I still have the tooth five years later, and counting.

i have had root canals on 3 teeth now. and i dont find them a problem.. i have also had teeth taken out and which i had problems so either way, as long as i am pain free i would rather keep the teeth tho,