He said I needed a root canal (it would cost about £500) on two teeth. Then he said if I don't want root canal as it's so expensive (I haven't got that money!) he'll give me antibiotics and then put fillings in. He said sooner or later the infection will come back and then I'll need either to remove those teeth or do root canal then.
Is that true?
2007-01-29 00:00:35 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Dental
Hi AnitaS...
antibiotics will clear up your abscess definetly BUT the CAUSE of the abscess will still be there unless u do something about it such as root canal or extraction.
Root canal effectively kills the tooths nerve supply and in time the tooth will darken and you'll need a crown .
IF u have it out you either live with the gap or put something in there..like a bridge denture or implant..
Root canal buys u time until u decide to crown it, also root canal will ensure no more infections.
IF u simply take antibiotics and leave it the absces can come back anytime..It might be a year,it might be sooner..... you're better to address it now
2007-01-29 04:41:18 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
"A root canal" is a deep filling. Dentists would normally only do this if tne tooth is in good shape.The dentist drills out each of the roots to the tooth, disinfects them and fills them with a permanent filling. £500 does sound like a lot of money though perhaps you need to get quotes from other dentists. The operation is normally performed over a couple of sessions each lasting one to two hours depending on the complexity - hence the cost involved.
In the first one all the driiling is done and the disinfecting, then the roots are filled with a temporary filling. The next one usually a week or so later he drills out the temporary and fills with a permanent.
Given that you say you have an infection at or around the roots, If you dont have this done you will be very likely to lose the tooth if the infection comes back.
You probably need to do this - sorry
2007-01-29 00:14:32 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The dentist is right, and sometimes the antibiotics will not clear up the infection. I know, right now I am having a problem with a tooth that had a RCT done about 30 yrs ago. Infection set in again about a little over 14 yrs ago. The Dentist redid the root canal treatment and it lasted until now. The tooth itself was opened up and packed with antibiotics for 2 months and its not clearing up so now it has to be extracted. The only reason I fought so hard to keep it, is because its a front tooth.
Good Luck
2007-01-29 05:31:12 · answer #3 · answered by Annette L 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, he's 100% right. Fillings and antibiotics will help for a while, but after the antibiotics wear off, the infection does come back. If you can borrow the money from someone, you'll be better off in the long run, getting the root canal. The antibiotics and fillings, are just a temporary fix.
2007-01-29 02:04:38 · answer #4 · answered by Chihuahua Lover 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. I was in the dentist's chair preparing to have a root canal, when he discovered the tooth could be salvaged and I ended up with a crown instead (thankfully!). Also, I have lost part of a filling before and got swollen throat glands because of the bacteria that accumulates in and then drains from your mouth. Can also cause ear infections and all kinds of trouble. Discuss with your dentist whether or not he would allow you to negotiate payments or see if one tooth can be crowned or capped temporarily and just have one root canal now and then the other one later. Finally, if there is a college or university nearby, some dental programs will take on patients for a reduced fee so their dental students can prepare for dental exams. They are supervised by their professors so it's pretty safe.
2007-01-29 00:13:41 · answer #5 · answered by °ĠיִяĿỵ° 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
yah it's really true. it's expensive because it's a long procedure. you have to go back 3-4 sessions depending on your dentist. antibiotics is just temporary. if it's really expensive for you the you have another option... to get rid of your tooth, that's less expensive than having root canal.
>try to save now because if you have abcess in your mouth it will cost you more than 500... the abcess will go down in the alveolar bones and it will destroy your bones because it has no way out... if it grows bigger that will be a big problem because you will have a hole in your face!
>i don't want to scare you but it's the reality. so save now so that you can have root canal done or have your tooth extracted.
2007-01-29 03:13:15 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you've had an abcess, antibiotics will clear up the infection, but the chances are you will also need root canal work because the pulp around the tooth will have become inflamed. This also increases the likelyhood of a repeat infection .
Have a look at this:
http://216.239.59.104/search?q=cache:-zPUieyV3-UJ:www.deltadental.com/Public/OralHealth/whatisroot.jsp+tooth+infection+%22is+root+canal%22+necessary&hl=en&gl=uk&ct=clnk&cd=2
2007-01-29 00:15:18 · answer #7 · answered by stuffnstuff 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've just had my tooth extracted. It had been giving me bother off and on over the last few years. Every time I had an abcess and the tooth would loosen. Anti-biotics had always done the trick but I always knew the time would come for extraction. So I am in agony at the momet. £500 does seem a lot, you could get a second opinion. Any dentistry work seems to be very over priced. But when you are in pain, I think you'll pay or do anything.
2007-01-29 06:22:40 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes he is right. Try ringing NHS Direct Tel 0845 46 47 to find a NHS dentist. Would cost you £42.40 for two root canal fillings on NHS.
2007-01-29 01:47:18 · answer #9 · answered by meko76 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes he's right..... if you don't get the root canal the infected teeth can't be cured antibiotics are only to treat the infection
2007-01-29 00:09:34 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋