cavaites, possibly root canal. 17 of them, HELPPPP?

Question

i have 17 cavaties and i am 12 years old, i am really scared of the pain i here u get. what is the procedure of getting it filled. one of the cavaties can possibly be a rootcanal (that's what my dentist says). AND PLUS, THIS IS MY FIRST EVER TIME GOING TO THE DENTIST AND I NEVER GOT MY TEETH DRILLED ON BEFORE.


HELPPPPPPPP!!! PLZ

Answer 1

Wow. 17 cavities? That's certainly not good. Usually the filling procedure actually doesn't hurt much aside from some very mild discomfort when they actually drill (i think it's more due to the sound and vibration of the drill. It doesn't hurt, it just feels strange, and the sound is horrendous). Usually the dentist will give you some sort of anesthetic such as novocaine to completely numb the area. All you feel is pressure, but no pain. The area may feel tender for a bit but won't hurt.

A Root Canal, on the other hand, I'm not going to lie, will be painful. The operation itself will probably hurt despite anesthetic and it will hurt afterward. There's a reason people dread root canals.

My best advice is, 1) take better care of your teeth. 2) go ahead with the fillings and root canal; it's better to have metal teeth than no teeth at all.

Answer 2

be brave, you can do this, you have to keep your teeth or your going to look funny. The doctor will get you numb, they usually put numbing gel on first, then give the injection(shot), just breathe slow and think of something good in your mind. They clean out the bad spot on the tooth with the drill, it's loud and a lot of vibration, but that's all it is. Your 12 so I know you can do this. I knew one and a half year old that had a cavity on every tooth, she did great! And for the root canal, I've had one done, my son was about 7 and he watched the whole thig over the doctors shoulder. Didn't hurt at all, in fact I felt better after! The hardest thing is keeping your mouth open all that time, sometimes they give a 'bite block' so you can rest your jaw on it. People will always tell you the bad stories, never the good, don't listen to them, I know you'll be fine. Is there better things than going to the dentist? YES, but this is where you become a little more grown up. Stay away from soda and sweets-they cause cavities. You will get more cavities if you don't change your habits. You must brush your teeth the Right way 2 times a day for at least 2 minutes each time. Sing a song in your head while brushing, when the song is done, so are you. And you really should try practicing with flossing, this should be done once a day-ask the hygienist or doctor to show you how. Good luck-and keep in mind what kind of sugar your eating/drinking.

Answer 3

I myself have had over time an accumulation of about..9 cavities, and the only part of the procedure is when you're getting the freezing stuff. The procedure from my point of view is first, they will get a quetip with this gel on it, and rub it on your bottom or lower lip, which freezes your teeth a little bit, then you will get a VERY small injection, which will be slow, for about 30 seconds. They will let you sit there for a few minutes will the freezing takes place. Your cheeks will start to feel tingly and then numb, and then you won't feel your mouth for a while. After that, they get the drill, which if you're wondering, is not one of those drills they use to build stuff with. The drill is more of a thin object with a rotating end. They will drill out the decay in cavity, which is the only painful part if you don't have freezing. If you do have freezing, you'll just feel a little shaky noise thing. Then, after that, they will get this little strip thing, about 1/4cm wide, like a little piece of tape, then put that in the cavity. They then will get a tiny little syringe with no pointy tip, it doesn't inject anything. It puts this little moldy stuff on your tooth. They shape the mold with a little hooky thing, then they will get this blue flashlight type thing, kind of like a maglight. They will hold it there for about 30 seconds. The flashlight makes the filling stay in place, dries it etc. After that, they're look at it, polish it, shape it a little more.

That's pretty much all I can remember. I feel sorry for you man, 17 fillings? After the filling is done, your mouth will be numb and stuff for a few hours. Your lip will feel REALLY fat, but it's not. TIP: DO NOT BITE YOUR CHEEK WHILE YOUR MOUTH IS FROZEN. You can't feel your mouth, so you can bite open your cheek and not know it. Not fun. Don't know about root canal, but I had fillings done when i was like, 8 years old, and I'm now 14, and I'm used to them. The first one will be the scariest, but you'll get used to it.

Summary:There's no pain if you get the freezing. It's all a myth. Even so, one time, I got a filling with no freezing. Didn't hurt. Don't think of it as getting your teeth 'drilled on'. They aren't putting a hole in your tooth, they're drilling out the decay, then filling in the hole. Any more questions, contact me at [e-mail]

Answer 4

No matter what, one of the first things that's done is injecting novocaine into the gum area. There is, usually, both drilling and scraping, but the only thing you should feel is a dull pressure. There is also allot of spiting seeing you salivate heavily while this is going on and he does rinse your mouth out pretty often. You won't get more than a few filled each visit.
The root canal is a little more serious but the dentist will make it as painless as possible. Again allot of drilling, scraping, pressure and spitting.
Take better care of your teeth, they are very important. You don't want to be the youngest person to have dentures. I had to get "all" my teeth removed in the 80's (different reasons) but I wish I still had them.
Just one question. Why is it that at twelve this is your first trip to the dentist?

Answer 5

I have had two root canals and honestly, my teeth hurt worse BEFORE I had the root canals done. Filling are a breeze. they will numb you mouth before they do all of the work. My dentist uses a q-tip with numbing stuff on it and rubs it around on the area he is going to put the shot and you can't feel it then. It's pretty cool. One piece of advice that works for me everytime I have to go to the dentist: Keep you eyes closed the WHOLE time. It is so much less scary this way. You don't see the instruments and it will make you more relaxed. If they start working on your teeth and it starts to hurt let them know right away. Trust me, I have been in the same shoes as you have been. It won't be so bad. Dentists anymore realize that people are scared of them so they try to be more gentle.

The toothaches are worse than getting the fillings done. And getting this taken care of now is a lot better than waiting until it gets really bad. Trust me, you'll be fine.

Answer 6

They will numb your gums so you won't feel the pain medicine injection. Then your whole mouth will go numb. The dentist will ask you if you feel pain or this and that so answer truthfully. Don't try to be too brave. The filling of the cavities probably won't be too bad. That is certainly a lot to do in one sitting. Surely, you will have to go more than one time. Anyway, the cavity fillings are not that bad because you can't feel it. The root canal requires a lot of drilling, but then again, you will be numbed and probably won't feel it.

I won't lie to you, you may feel the needle a bit, but it's better after that. Just cooperate so he won't have to take forever. After it is all done, your gums will hurt because of the injections and drilling, but take tylenol and whatever the doctor gives you for pain and go to sleep and pamper yourself a while. Don't get stuff in where he has worked and do exactly as he says. If they don't tell you what to do about rinsing your mouth and keeping it clean, ask them what to do before you leave. I'm glad you're getting them fixed and you will have a nice healthy mouth and teeth and you will feel more confident in yourself. When they heal up, don't ever go to bed without brushing your precious teeth because you don't want to go through that again!!! Good Luck. You can do it.

Answer 7

Not a good thing. You could have caught them when they were just little fillings if you had seen a dentist earlier. This means your tooth is now dead. It will get more and more brittle over years. It will have a hard time lasting your lifetime since that may be another 60 years or so. Crowns are also easier to get cavites back under them than cavities on good teeth. Since you already had at least 2 big ones, you are at high risk for more. If these go bad, you are looking at retreatment of the root canals typically and new crowns. Expensive!!! To avoid this, brush, floss, avoid sugars and snacking between meals, and see your dentist often.

Answer 8

I have had 2 root canals and a few cavities. I was so nervous to get the cavities filled and especially to have the root canal. But it honestly wasn't bad at all! The cavities are so quick, they just give you a really small shot in your gums (it feels like someone is pinching you) and then you can't feel anything! The root canal is just a little longer than a filling, but it doesn't hurt any more than a filling. Good luck! :)

Answer 9

oh, boy. no wonder you have all those cavities. ok, lemme tell you...most of my teeth are caps--yup--lotsa root canals. Anyway, the dentist will give you an injection in your gum to help stop the pain of his work. that's gonna hurt. but not crazy hurt. the 2nd time he sticks it in it won't hurt, but it might feel creepy. he's got drill bits of all sizes...good thing you're 12--you'll have smaller and less work 'cause you're teeth are 12-year-old size and not 30. So, for your size teeth, it will be a much smaller bit, the noise of the drill can be a little scary, and this stick thing drilling into your tooth can be UNPLEASANT, so, do what I always do...squeeze your eyes and fists tight and keep saying over and over in your head, "Hurry UP! Hurry UP! GET FINISHED!!!) After the dentist has drilled and cleaned out you're tooth, they'll fill it. Oh, w/the drilling and filling, your jaw will start to ache...when they finally take that stupid bib off you and you can run the hell out of there, it's a HUGE relief. It might hurt when the painkiller wears off, so you can take Tylenol. I don't even know you, and I know you can do this. You sound like like a really smart kid. You'll get through it ok. Just brace yourself, hang on, get through it, and although it'll feel like years, you'll be outta that chair before you know it. oh, also, some dentists let you listen to music; you can bring your headphones prolly. Good luck!!!!!!!!

Answer 10

The dentist is your partner in this matter... Let the dentist numb you up good.. even for the fillings and make sure you tell him/her if you have any pain or are not numb. Most dentists are more than willing to work with those of us who are very uncomfortable in the chair...

Root canals are nothing to laugh at, but they are also not nearly as painful as many people say.... [except for the cost in your wallet].... Just make sure that whoever does your root canal [if you have to have one]... numbs you up good... make sure you let them know if you feel anything...

Finally.. as someone who went without dental care for about 10 years... make sure that once you are on your own you have regular dental check ups. This is a good way to catch problems early and to prevent issues...