I went to the dentist and he said I needed a root canal. My tooth does not hurt. Could I just need a filling?

Question

Should I get a second opinion????

Answer 1

Your dentist is making his diagnosis based on the “depth” and “amount of the decay,” and your “x ray” which probably shows an abscess forming at the apex of the tooth. He knows that the only way to save the tooth is by having a root canal preformed and he is advising you to go ahead with the treatment to avoid the inevitable pain that you're about to experience with a full blown abscess.

Root canal therapy is so much easier for the patient, when the "tooth isn't surrounded" with infection that "won't allow the anesthetic" to disperse or penetrate through the tissue "causing the numbing" of the area to take place. You can take a round of antibiotics to clean up the “building infection” and buy you some time if the decay can be cleaned out without exposing the nerve. It really depends on the tooth and the amount of decay.

You're really waiting on borrowed time; don't wait for the tooth to become a “full blown abscess” causing you severe pain that could have been avoided by starting the treatment in the early stages.

You should always trust your dentist, he's working with you, to help you maintain your excellent oral health which also promotes you’re over all physical health. Just ask him to "show you on the x ray" so you can "see the abscess," you'll have a view of more than one tooth so you can see the difference with the one that's abscessed.

Also, if you don't trust your dentist then you need to find one that you do trust. Good luck, I hope that I’ve been of some help with this today and that you will seek treatment before the tooth becomes too painful.

Additional information: The x rays are the dentist property, he will make you a "copy or duplicate" but he retains the original for his records, for his protection.

Answer 2

It may be that your tooth doesn't hurt only because it is not infected-yet. If you have had a regular cavity before ythen you know that it hurts usually when it is touched by cold or air. If you need a root canal then your cavity is down inside your tooth safe from cold or air. If it does get infected though it will hurt like you wouldn't believe!!! Did you have an x-ray done? If so, ask to see it. You can tell by looking at the x-ray how far down the tooth the cavity goes.

Answer 3

If ever in doubt get a second opinion. If you were told you needed endo you probably have an infection at the root tip of the tooth which is detected through the x-ray. The only way to rid your tooth of this infection is through endodontics (root canal).

Answer 4

I had a root canal done yesterday, and discovered that I also had a wicked abscess. I just thought I had a sinus problem, because my face hurt, just like when I get a sinus infection. My dentist gave me antibiotics for the abscess, and said that infection in the upper teeth can spread into the sinus cavities, and if left untreated can cause death. I don't know about you, but I happen to dig being pain free, and living a long time. Get the second opinion, but do heed the advice if he says you need the root canal. Trust me, you'll be glad you did. Besides, they do give you meds for the pain. I'm taking Vicodin, and in zero pain. :)

Answer 5

Yes, the tooth could be fine and just need a filling. Many dentists recomend things that are not necessary, quite a few do real damage to your teeth and it is really hard to get any dental malpractice brought against them.

On the other hand, even if it does not hurt you could need a root canal as the nerve can be dead and you really don't want to go through the pain of it turning into an abcess.

Did you look at the xrays yourself and see how much or a dark area there is?

In any case, with something that expensive and damaging to the tooth if you don't need it I would definately take the xrays to another dentist for a review.

The xrays are yours by the way, the dentist has to give them to you by law here in the US.

Answer 6

He really won't know until he gets in there. If you don't trust your dentist, then yes get a second opinion. But in my experience with my daughter, her dentist was going to do a root canal, but once he got in there he decided a filling would do. Of course, he said if she starts to have pain then a root canal will be needed.

Good luck.

Answer 7

Come on Christmas is coming maybe he needs the extra money =P Really get a second opinion. You have two dentist that seem to think that would be a good idea. Wish you best of luck

Answer 8

Root canals, from what I understand, are the result of decay within a given tooth that effect the nerve. In my case, I had a cavity that was really deep and even after I had a filling put in it continued to decay almost all the way to the jaw bone.

The explanation that I got from the dentist is that the nerve of my tooth had died and it needed to be removed as well as the decay and infection inside of my tooth.

Basically what he did was go inside my tooth, take all of the decay out, clean the four canals of my tooth, made a mold of my real tooth and then put a temporary cap back in my tooth. After a couple of weeks the permanent cap arrived in his office and he simply took off the temporary and replaced it with the permanent cap.

As far as the operation itself, I was given a local anestetic and I was awake through the whole thing. I felt no pain at all and I even drove home from the dentist's office.

I've had two root canal operations, one without dental insurance and one with it, and it can be very expensive. When I had it done without insurance the whole procedure, including the permanent cap, cost about $1,300. Believe me it was not fun to have to pay that but you need to have this operation done.

If you wait too long the tooth can become infected, like mine did, and it can spread to other parts of your body and cause serious complications. I waited about two and a half years before I finally had my second root canal done.


You may wish to read an article called
“Root Canal Fillings(Root Canal Teeth) Can Cause Serious Side Effects”. You can find it at:
http://www.san-diego-dentist.us/san-diego-dental-root-canals.htm
http://www.san-diego-dentist.us
http://san-diego-dentists.blogspot.com
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http://www.san-diego-dentist.us/san-diego-dental-implants.html
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http://www.las-vegas-nevada-lawyer-attorney-legal-injury-defense-directory.com
http://www.acne-treatment-medicine-1.info

Answer 9

no, just look at xray yourself, if your root canals are right open at the top then yes you should get root canal. i had the same thing for 2 years but finally got the root canal done. if it hurts when you poke in that area, dont lie to yourself youll need the canal. gl.

Answer 10

are u a dentist listen to the doctor could be infected or such infections in the mouth could lead directly to the brain stem. a case a few weeks ago a young kid died from a infected tooth