Okay, so I had come cavities the last time I went to the dentist and I've had SO much going on that I wasn't able to get back. I'm going tomorrow and now I'm concerned that I'll have to have a root canal. I have no pain in my teeth, but I'm a big baby when it comes to the dentist so I'm probably concerned about nothing. How do you know if you need a root canal? And are they painful to have done? Because I'm freaked out beyond belief that I'll end up needing one.
2007-05-02 12:05:09 · 8 answers · asked by crazy_lost_chickie 1 in Health ➔ Dental
I've had a root canal done, and it's no big deal. They will numb you with novacaine until you feel absolutely nothing. Then, they will open the top of the tooth, and take a very thing tube, and put it down into the tooth, and use it almost like a sander, to get all of the nerve out of the tooth, you feel nothing. After the novacaine wears off, there is very little discomfort, nothing a couple tylenol can't take care of.
2007-05-02 12:14:14 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I don't know what are the signs are that you need a root canal (the dentist will have to decide how much decay there is), but I can tell you they are not that bad. They numb you, just like they do if they're filling a cavity. Most of the time they use a stronger novacaine (the taste is bitter) but they'll rinse you and suction the taste right out. The needle doesn't hurt anymore than a little pinch. The procedure involves drilling, but you won't feel anything. I was told after mine that I would be sore, but I wasn't really. Just eat some soft foods for the day and you'll be fine. I have had two of them now and they are no big deal.
2007-05-02 12:14:19 · answer #2 · answered by FormatLife 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I had to have a root canal done on my tooth. The tooth is usually abcessed or have a cavity that no longer have a filling in it. You should go back to the dentist and first see if that is what you need. An oral surgeron usually performs the root canal and uses medication so that you are not in pain. Your tooth will probably need a crown that fits over the specific tooth. I really beleive that you will feel much better if you ask him questions. Make sure that you keep your appointment. Usually with a root canal your tooth would be infected down inside the tooth and that tooth would have been giving you a more serious problem,
2007-05-02 12:20:07 · answer #3 · answered by Jean 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Let the dentist take the xrays and he will let you know if the cavities have reached down to the nerve. Most of the time you have pain, but on ocassion you won't know. Just don't let it go. Root Canals sound worse than they are. It is bascially like having a cavity filled, but takes a little longer and you get numbed up the ying yang. You won't feel a thing. The only stories you hear about people feeling pain during a root canal being done is because they have an infection and they don't get rid of it before having it done and therefore the medication to numb is blocked from doing its job. You have to first make sure their is zero infection left before having it done or else you will no get numbed properly and may feel discomfort or pain. I wouldn't borrow trouble, but know in the future to make the time to have your cavities filled because let me tell you a filling is a heck of a lot cheaper than having a root canal and a crown done. I wish yout he best and hopefully they will just fill your cavity.
2007-05-02 13:44:19 · answer #4 · answered by hsmommy06 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Okay, first of all: calm down. Do not think the worst before you go. I know it's difficult not to, but keep an open mind. You only need a root canal if the pulp of the tooth is dead, and the procedure is done to perserve the outside of the tooth, so you don't need an extraction. If you brush your teeth daily, don't consume tons of sugar and floss, the cavity might not have gotten any bigger, and if it was a 'watch', the cavity might have fixed itself.
Don't worry about it, the dentist is not a bad or painful experince if you keep an open mind. Most people fear the dentist because they have heard stories from other people, and those stories are usually blown way out of proportion.
2007-05-02 12:38:54 · answer #5 · answered by RogueLeBeau 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't try and guess whether you need one - your dentist will let you know. If you need one, it'll cost you more in your wallet (even with dental insurance) than it will hurt at the time. Still, it takes a few visits and can be tiring - the dentist will take care of the immediate pain. If you're old/mature enough, you should be able to get some anti-anxiety drug like Valium from the dentist before your visit so you don't feel so bad about it. You might want to look into having someone drive you home afterwards if you can. It's nothing to sneeze at, but not a killer either. Good luck.
2007-05-02 12:26:02 · answer #6 · answered by mattzcoz 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you don't have pain now, you probably don't need a root canal.
The root canal itself can be painful if done by an idiot-- make sure your dentist is experienced.
But don't worry, that's what anaesthesia is for!
2007-05-02 12:09:30 · answer #7 · answered by Makarena 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think if your tooth like makes a clicky noise when you move it. I had a little one and they gave me gas so it wasn't that bad but it wasn't like a normal one. I have heard that normal ones hurt a lot. Sorry. Hope that helped.
2007-05-02 12:09:23 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You'll know it if you need one.Be suspicious of upper teeth problems they may be sinus problems.
2007-05-02 12:11:30 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
ONLY YOUR DENTIST WILL KNOW IF YOU NEED ONE ONCE HE SEES YOUR X-RAYS.
2007-05-02 12:17:19 · answer #10 · answered by Dr. Albert, DDS, (USA) 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋