Dentist question

Root canal. I’ve had both and I’m fuming at myself for not root canaling the extracted one now (I went to a private emergency dentist and I think they just pulled it because they thought I wouldn’t be able to afford the root canal. It cost me more for them to pull it than it did the root canal and gold cap on NHS for my other one years later). Put it this way, once they’ve pulled it you’re never getting it back, save it at all costs. Never had a problem with mine and it felt no different to a normal filling except I had to go back for the cap fitting. You can always pull it later if needed but you can’t grow a pulled one back.

 

Extraction

 

Had root treatment and I would advise having it out , it was like that scene in the film Marathon man

 

It's no worse than having triplets without anaesthetic.

 

Had root canal about 4 months ago, wasn’t that expensive but took 3 sessions and if I’m honest has only partially worked

 

Not just me then, I had root canal and it was horrible

 

First to clear up some misinformation on here. If you've got an NHS dentist, root canal treatment is anything but a money spinner. All materials used are disposable and can run to £30 a time quite easily. It takes a long time (molar teeth with 3 roots at the minimum an hour in total, often over multiple appointments) and you pay £62.10. The NHS top this up typically by about ten percent, but even then by the time you've paid your niece and receptionist for the time involved your dentist is lucky to pull minimum wage on the job.

Extraction takes about 20-30 minutes tops, all equipment used is sterilisable and reusable and it costs exactly the same. Go figure where the money is. @arabian_ian this is different in Scotland, incidentally.

In terms of success, molar teeth and lower incisor teeth have the worst success rates, upper teeth nearer the front are in the late 90%s for success rates. However there are lots of variables - root shape (degree of curvature), size of root canals (they get narrower with age and under big filings), degree of spreading infection - a wide, straight root canal with minimal spread of infection is most likely to succeed. Ask your dentist how well he rates chances of success.

If successful it's likely you'll need a crown at some point at the band 3 fee of £269.30 to protect the tooth against breakage as root filled teeth become brittle.

Also the condition of your gums will determine how long the tooth is likely to last so without knowing you age, health, gum condition, which tooth it is, and what the roots look like on an x-ray it's very hard to advise which way to go. Ultimately it's your call but hopefully that info will help you decide.

If you go to a private dentist then root canal treatment and crowns area whole lot more expensive and your financial circumstances may then come into play a good deal more.

 

Any dentist who will extract any tooth before trying everything to save it is not doing their job properly. You should also never leave a gap in tetth no matter where it is. Over time your teeth will move and affect your bite and probably the stability of teeth around it. Mist dentists in this country aren’t trained properly.

 

and your dad is right, i had root canal done and put up with infections and pain on and off for above a year, before finally having to pay for it taken out

 

All this was explained to me. I go to a private dentist so they will do whatever I choose to do as I am paying.
Of course there is the potential for things to go wrong just like with anything.
I spoke to someone at work who had one out years ago and she said she's never had any issues since.

 

Said he couldn't numb it all, he wanted to know when he got to nerve at bottom, the sadistic t##t never felt pain like it before or since

 

How long ago was that? Dentistry has come a long way from the days it sounds like you are referring to.


If the OP doesn’t have to worry about the money then, to me, it’s a no brainer to have the root canal. You don’t chop a finger/toe off because ‘you’ve got 9 more and you can be certain it won’t cause you any more problems’, if you can just stick a plaster on it.

 

It can’t only partially work.

It either works or it doesn’t. If they get all the root out then it should be ok, dependent on what’s left of the tooth itself.

If they don’t get all the root and infection then it hasn’t worked and the tooth will have to come out within months.

 

Also for dentures in your old age it's easier if there are healthy teeth to attach too, less uncomfortable

 

Have it pulled pal, I had the exact same as what you're talking about and I chose to try root canal instead and it didn't end up working and I still had to have it pulled a few weeks after.

 

If you can afford it then route canal mate, had 2 of them done, dont like going to the dentist at all and was worried sick prior to that but absolutely nothing too it

 

Had 3 root canals done upto now. I had my upper 2 and 3 done years ago when i was about 20 ish and they caused me no end of problem. Ended up having 2 operations to cut open my gums and chop the ends of my tooth off. I regretted having the roots pulled for years and it wasnt until i had them crowned that i was happy with them.

The other molar i had done is starting to weaken: i need a filling and then a crown putting on.

So would i have another route canal if needed...probably yes. Like so many others have said its its best to keep ya own for as long as you can.

That said....if implants were cheap i'd be going down that route personally.