Have you ever had a Root Canal...I did today..

[MobBoss]

Have you ever had a root canal? What was your experience? Basically I had a molar (2nd from back, upper right) that the nerve was dying off due to a filling too close to the nerve from last Dec. I was taking motrin at an alarming rate over the last two weeks trying to mitigate the pain and swelling. I finally couldnt take it and went in this morning to dental sick call. Sure enough the verdict was I needed a root canal.

Never had one before, and I had only heard horror stories about them so I was nervous. My dentist was also a young guy - he had to be 10 years younger than me (guess I gotta get used to this more). However, he was very good and explained the entire procedure to me.

Basically they were going to open up the center of my molar and then use needle width files to go into the nerve canal and file out the nerves in my tooth. It sounded painful.

However, the dentist was determined for me to not feel any pain because my tooth was so "hot" as he currently put it. He gave me no less than 5 shoots in an around that tooth to deaden the pain. He also put so much pressure putting the needle in I saw his arm shaking - I was worried he might break the needle!

But he numbed me up real good. The drilling went fine. Didnt feel a thing except for a mild sensation of heat. However, when he went into the canal with the needle thin file I did feel a bit more pain. He just put the needle of the syringe down the canal and gave it some more pain killer to numb it further.

He got done removing all three nerves to the molar and then put a temporary cap on it. I am now taking oxycodone and penicillan for a small infection above the tooth. I have a follow up on Monday because the whole process reduced the molar by a bit and now its going to require a crown.

Over all, my experience was a good one. I actually had less pain in this root canal than I did when they gave me a filling last December.

Anyone else have a story to tell?

 

[Azkonus]

I had it too. Main difference is that it turns out to be I have 4 nerves instead of three (which surprised him), so mine took a little bit longer.

 

[CaptainF]

Oddly enough, my father will be getting a root canal on Monday.

 

[amadeus]

I've had two. They had to do root canals to install my false teeth.

 

[bgast1]

Yup, I've had several and they all suck. My teeth have never been the same since the root canal was done. I keep asking the dentist to just pull them, but nooooo, you have to save the tooth.

 

[El_Machinae]

I got my wisdom teeth out, and went under general anaesthetic. There's quite a bit more to my story, but I'm tired. But I certainly have a new view of being knocked out - I tried to fight the drug (like they do in the movies) ... I never had a chance.

MobBoss - take it easy, if you're on meds especially.

 

[Lambert Simnel]

Yeah, I had root canal, and the guy botched it. Firstly he didn't numb me thoroughly enough, so that when he was using the needle to scrape out what was left of the nerves, he found a couple of unanaesthetized spots. That was very painful.

And then he didn't seal it properly. About a year later, it went bad, really really bad, and I had to have an emergency extraction of the "saved" tooth. The pain before the extraction was comparable to that from the kidney stone I had a year ago, and are both completely off the scale compared to any other pain I have experienced.

 

[Heretic_Cata]

Yes, i had 2. And i am only 19, i have bad teeth.
The first one was a cavity but the second one was a wierd infection of the gums that got to the root.
But now that i think about it i had more pain from other stuff at the dentist.

1. Highest-intensity pain award goes to: a relatively big cavity. I swear that was the highest intensity i ever felt. Every time she drilled it felt like she was cutting my nerve. Good thing it only lasted about 20-30 minutes
This hurt a LOT more because the nerve was not paralised with arsenic as they do in the root canal procedure. And i wasn't anesthetised either because it was a "simple" cavity.

2. The high-intensity on a longer period of time award goes to: root canal. This lasted about 1h. The nerve might have been killed with that arsenic but it still hurt like hell.

3. The relatively-high intensity and longest period of time award goes to: an infection behind the last lower-molar. She had to chop of a lot preety big are of the gums to get rid of that one. I was localy anesthetised with an injection and didn't feel absolutely anything during the cutting & chopping. But when the effect wore of it was like she bolted a huge needle in my jawbone. It was not as painfull as "1." where i was thinking of ways to kill the dentist in as many ways as possible. But this thing lasted about 4 hours when those lots of pills i took FINNALY had an effect.
Not to mention the next morning when i woke up with my mouth full of blood. Normaly i would swallow it, but this was completley coagulated and it was like a huge blob of gelatine. I hate gelationous stuff... at least the taste of blood countered the nausea that thing made.

 

[skadistic]

2 weeks ago I had the remaining 20 teeth pulled from my mouth. Some were whole teeth others rotten to or below the gums. Now that was painfull. Most people who get this work done do it in a hospital under gas, I did it with just novacane, awake for the whole thing, it took 2 hours. I've lost 12 lbs eating only soups, puddings and mashed potatoes.

 

[sysyphus]

I was lucky enough to have my root canal done in the good old days when they rendered you virtually unconcious for the whole thing. It was nice.

 

[Heretic_Cata]

2 weeks ago I had the remaining 20 teeth pulled from my mouth. Some were whole teeth others rotten to or below the gums. Now that was painfull. Most people who get this work done do it in a hospital under gas, I did it with just novacane, awake for the whole thing, it took 2 hours. I've lost 12 lbs eating only soups, puddings and mashed potatoes.

Why did they remove all your teeth ?

 

[Kan' Sharuminar]

However, the dentist was determined for me to not feel any pain because my tooth was so "hot" as he currently put it. He gave me no less than 5 shoots in an around that tooth to deaden the pain. He also put so much pressure putting the needle in I saw his arm shaking - I was worried he might break the needle!

When I had a couple of teeth taken out this experience stuck with me the most (though I only had the four shots.) Though I know it was only needles, it felt like someone was trying to push a brick into my palette.

 

[colony]

I had two done a few years ago, in my front two teeth, from where they took a bad knock (that'll teach me to mess around in swimming pools ). By the time I had the root canal done most of the nerves were already dead so it wasn't too painful, it just felt really strange, the worst part was the bottom half of my face feeling numb for the rest of the day.

 

[Perfection]

I've no experience with Root Canals, but I've experience with oxycodone.

It's good stuff!

 

[ZiP!]

Yes, i had 2. And i am only 19, i have bad teeth.
The first one was a cavity but the second one was a wierd infection of the gums that got to the root.
But now that i think about it i had more pain from other stuff at the dentist.

1. Highest-intensity pain award goes to: a relatively big cavity. I swear that was the highest intensity i ever felt. Every time she drilled it felt like she was cutting my nerve. Good thing it only lasted about 20-30 minutes
This hurt a LOT more because the nerve was not paralised with arsenic as they do in the root canal procedure. And i wasn't anesthetised either because it was a "simple" cavity.

2. The high-intensity on a longer period of time award goes to: root canal. This lasted about 1h. The nerve might have been killed with that arsenic but it still hurt like hell.

3. The relatively-high intensity and longest period of time award goes to: an infection behind the last lower-molar. She had to chop of a lot preety big are of the gums to get rid of that one. I was localy anesthetised with an injection and didn't feel absolutely anything during the cutting & chopping. But when the effect wore of it was like she bolted a huge needle in my jawbone. It was not as painfull as "1." where i was thinking of ways to kill the dentist in as many ways as possible. But this thing lasted about 4 hours when those lots of pills i took FINNALY had an effect.
Not to mention the next morning when i woke up with my mouth full of blood. Normaly i would swallow it, but this was completley coagulated and it was like a huge blob of gelatine. I hate gelationous stuff... at least the taste of blood countered the nausea that thing made.

Man. Seriously. Specialist's advice : CHANGE YOUR DENTIST :S
You shouldn't feel pain at all. A large cavity *definitly* needs painkilling, even if simple. There is no reason not to inject u with Novocain...
"Mad and sadistic dentist" is an old cliché that should now go away... like the original poster said, it might take a coupla (5 is not uncommon ) shots, but patients shouldn't have to be in pain. In fact, sometimes it is advisable to delay an act quiet a bit (like for 1 week) because the tooth is too "hot" like the OP said, giving antibiotics or other medication meanwhile do calm down the infection.

Basically, for a root canal, the only thing bothering is having to keep your mouth open for like 1 hour + (and it's even more annoying if your dentist is conscencious and puts a dental dam, but dental dams are a good thing), but that's nothing compared to a real tooth acke that wont let you sleep whole night...

Also, it's not arsenic. It's a product that disables nerve depolarization (and thus, nerve influx, and sensation/pain). That's why after 2 hours effects wear off : no more novocain around the nerve

@MobBoss : u seem to have a good dentist One thing though : he wants to put a crown on it, most likely because devitalized teeth are weaker and more fragile than vital ones. This is often a good therapeutic choice (not just a way to get a coupla more hundred $$ from you )

And an advice : next time take max dose painkiller pills at the dentist just after the extraction/act, if needed. They take like 1 hour to get to optimal effect, and that period will be covered by the Novocain. If you wait before taking them, Novocain will be down before the pills make their full effect...

Hope that helped, and sorry for my english

ZiP!

 

[Heretic_Cata]

Man. Seriously. Specialist's advice : CHANGE YOUR DENTIST :S
You shouldn't feel pain at all. A large cavity *definitly* needs painkilling, even if simple. There is no reason not to inject u with Novocain...

The thing is that cavity (nr.1) was big because of surface area, not depth.

"Mad and sadistic dentist" is an old cliché that should now go away... like the original poster said, it might take a coupla (5 is not uncommon ) shots, but patients shouldn't have to be in pain. In fact, sometimes it is advisable to delay an act quiet a bit (like for 1 week) because the tooth is too "hot" like the OP said, giving antibiotics or other medication meanwhile do calm down the infection.

I seriously doubt my dentist is mad & sadistic (and she really doesn't look like a mad, sadistic dentist anyway). I think i should blame lack of supplies ... (that is preety common around here - though i am not sure about dentists)
In my "3." situation the thing was delayed about 10 days because i could not take any antibiotics in that exact period for anything. So i had to settle with some herbal tea (whose plant name i can't translate). It sloooowly worked.

Basically, for a root canal, the only thing bothering is having to keep your mouth open for like 1 hour + (and it's even more annoying if your dentist is conscencious and puts a dental dam, but dental dams are a good thing), but that's nothing compared to a real tooth acke that wont let you sleep whole night...

I had to look up what a dental dam is ... i never got one, and it does look unconfortable.

Also, it's not arsenic. It's a product that disables nerve depolarization (and thus, nerve influx, and sensation/pain). That's why after 2 hours effects wear off : no more novocain around the nerve

I actually think that thing is arsenic. It is not the injection that i am reffering to . In my case nr. "2." the infection on one of the 2 teeth reached the nerve and it was preety bad. So she dug a bit then made a canal to the infection . After that (or was it a few sesions later...) she took a very small piece of cotton (or was it a bandage...it was a long time ago) and she put an extremely small piece of smthing on the small piece of cotton that went (kinda) in the canal. During this time she was really carefull with that thing (as if it was uranium or smthing) i always thought that was the part where she put the arsenic there. I was always told by ppl that arsenic is used to kill the nerve. (that is kinda what i have been told -not by the dentist- that the procedure is called)
I didn't feel numb or anything... After several days i went and she just removed the filling and prepared to add the permanent stuff. She had to dig a bit (i wasn't sedated with anything) and i didn't feel a thing at that time.

OMG we have 2 doctors on CFC. I never thought doctors play TBS games.
Where are you from (which country?) if i may ask ...

 

[ZiP!]

The thing is that cavity (nr.1) was big because of surface area, not depth.

Not a reason. Shouldn't hurt. And I'd say surface area is not that influential : it's mostly depth, and then tooth sensibility (exacerbated by inflamation).

I had to look up what a dental dam is ... i never got one, and it does look unconfortable.

Actually if well put, it isn't. It prevents you from closing your mouth though. And mostly helps keeping the working area clean and free of saliva

I actually think that thing is arsenic. It is not the injection that i am reffering to . In my case nr. "2." the infection on one of the 2 teeth reached the nerve and it was preety bad. So she dug a bit then made a canal to the infection . After that (or was it a few sesions later...) she took a very small piece of cotton (or was it a bandage...it was a long time ago) and she put an extremely small piece of smthing on the small piece of cotton that went (kinda) in the canal. During this time she was really carefull with that thing (as if it was uranium or smthing) i always thought that was the part where she put the arsenic there. I was always told by ppl that arsenic is used to kill the nerve. (that is kinda what i have been told -not by the dentist- that the procedure is called)
I didn't feel numb or anything... After several days i went and she just removed the filling and prepared to add the permanent stuff. She had to dig a bit (i wasn't sedated with anything) and i didn't feel a thing at that time.

Well there was an obsolete technique wich consisted in killing the nerve before removing it, (obsolete here in France, but not until relatively recently) mostly because the product used was actually a necrotic inducing poison... not radioactive uranium but still That must have been it, sorry for thinking you were mistaking the products^^

OMG we have 2 doctors on CFC. I never thought doctors play TBS games.
Where are you from (which country?) if i may ask ...

France... and not quiet a doctor yet (still need 2 years of studies) ; and i'll be a dental surgeon not a general practitian (in France dentists aren't actually physicians, although the studies have quiet a lot in common)
Who is the other one BTW ?? what specialty?

Oh and to answer the OP last time I had a root canal was this Thursday, and I had 2 more last week... but i was the one giving them

 

[Heretic_Cata]

Well there was an obsolete technique wich consisted in killing the nerve before removing it, (obsolete here in France, but not until relatively recently) mostly because the product used was actually a necrotic inducing poison... not radioactive uranium but still That must have been it, sorry for thinking you were mistaking the products^^

If it's obsolete in France then it is probably still on around here. (as usual)

France... and not quiet a doctor yet (still need 2 years of studies) ; and i'll be a dental surgeon not a general practitian (in France dentists aren't actually physicians, although the studies have quiet a lot in common)
Who is the other one BTW ?? what specialty?

This is his thread. You'll find out more about him there.

Good luck with your studies.

 

[Neonanocyborgasm]

Have you ever had a root canal? What was your experience?

My experience was almost a carbon copy of yours.

I had a molar that was improperly filled, using white filling which was apparently inappropriate given the location (so my dentist told me). Ironically, that filling turned out to be unnecessary because it was just a revision of a previous filling. The dentist who did it was trying to use a cosmetic touch to avoid having the tooth come out black.

Anyway, a couple of months after the filling, I started feeling an oversensation of cold on the tooth, whenever I drank cold water or ate cold food. I went to another dentist (my wife's), who discovered a tooth abscess through an x-ray. Strangely, I didn't feel any real pain, although eating was a little uncomfortable. When I finally underwent the root canal, I required no anesthesia whatsoever, because the nerve was dead, and I felt no pain at all. When the abscess was drained, I could smell it. It smelled like something had died in there. Absolutely horrible!

 

[ZiP!]

I went to another dentist (my wife's), who discovered a tooth abscess through an x-ray. Strangely, I didn't feel any real pain, although eating was a little uncomfortable. When I finally underwent the root canal, I required no anesthesia whatsoever, because the nerve was dead, and I felt no pain at all. When the abscess was drained, I could smell it. It smelled like something had died in there. Absolutely horrible!

Abscess = bacterias passed through the infected pulp. If an abscess as formed, it is anatomically impossible to the pulp to be connected to nervous / vascular system (the abcess having a capsule...) so that means the pulp was necrotic, dead. You cannot have a purulous collection at the entry of the canal and have a healthy pulp inside
So no need for aneasthesia. And necrotic pulp = filled with pus, that's why you got the smell once he opened the tooth

I hope for you he drained the abscess well, or pus might have been left out, and it would be like suturating and bandaging a wound without cleaning it. Normally for such cases he is not supposed to put a definitive root filling in the same sitting (need to wait for "pressure" to drop before obturating) ; it is advised to put Ca(OH)2 in the canal between the two sittings to help cicatrisation (but that depends on the case).

Great, we now got 1 official Doctor thread and one official Dentist thread on CFC !!! We still need a Nurse thread, after that we could open a hospital