Is there anyway to prevent a root canal?

Question

I go to the dentist every 6 mo to have my teeth cleaned, I floss EVERY day, I brush 2x a day. My dentist refilled a tooth 2 years ago that had a deep cavity, and now it is sensitive and he says I will need a root canal. Is there any way that I can reduce the chance that I will have to have a root canal? I rinse with Listerine, and peroxide and water, but what else is there?

Answer 1

When you have a large filling in a tooth removed and refilled there is always a chance that bacteria entered into the canals and that is what causes the discomfort that you have experiencing. It has nothing to do with seeing your dentist, (you are doing a good job with that), or with how often you brush and floss ( good job there too), but with the fact that you had a decay before and it is not too difficult for decay to form under a filling.
What type of filling was replaced?
If it was one of the silver/mercury fillings, after time gaps form around the margins of the filling and decay burrows down under the filling... right to the nerve chamber.
Rinsing with Listerine and peroxide and water are good for the gums but do nothing to prevent decay (contrary to some advertising claims).
If the tooth is starting to bother you... don't wait to have it treated. You'll be much happier with your own tooth restored than having it extracted and a bridge or implant placed. Your own tooth will always be best if it can be restored.

Answer 2

You are doing a great job maintaining the rest of your teeth. Sometimes it is unavoidable when you have a large filling that they will turn into a root canal. Keep up the good work, yes, you definitely stand a better chance of not having another root canal if your dentist is keeping an eye on everything on a regular basis.
You might want to try one last effort and that would be to ask your dentist if he would put a sedative temporary filling in that tooth (called IRM) see if the tooth calms down, also take the bite out of occlusion. More than likely though, this one has to have a root canal, especially if it was filled two years ago, if the filling was just done, he might opt to try the sedative one for a while.

Answer 3

These things only reduce the bacteria in the tooth. If you need a root canal, short of pulling the tooth, there's no way you can prevent it. You can prevent other root canals by continuing to do what you're doing and having all cavities filled early. I had a root canal. It's really a myth that it hurts so much. Now, I have my teeth cleaned every FOUR months, and I have my full mouth X-rayed every year. Don't be afraid, follow your dentist's and my advice and it will be your last root canal.

Answer 4

Nopes I think you just have 2 options - to yank it out or to do a root-canal. No other prevention will work for a complete cure and only aggravate the cause.

Root canal is pretty painless except the time it will take from you. Do not think of pulling out your tooth unless its the wisdom ones.

Answer 5

I had root canal 1 1/2 years ago and few days after root canal the tooth I was tiring to save, fall apart, taking 2 more teeth beside it. So save all the money and just get it pulled. (I'm so certain the dentist knew it was best to have pulled to begin with and just wanted to pocket money off me.)

Answer 6

Fluoride, it is vitamins for your teeth. It helps remineralize weak areas so they do not turn into cavities. Fluoride must remain on the teeth after brushing/rinsing w/ it for 30 minutes w/ no eating or drinking for it to work. Most people immediately rinse after brushing/ use water to brush w/ on their toothbrush thus deactivating most of the fluoride in toothpaste. Simply don't rinse/use water/ eat/drink for 30 minutes. You can also add a fluoride rinse which will probably help more than just plain Listerine. There is not much to reduce the chance of needing a root canal but this can help prevent furture ones.

Answer 7

No way out, you should not avoid root canal treatment (RCT)...
It is not that painful, as it appears to be... if RCT is not done then you will lose that tooth... by RCT your tooth will survive its full life...

Answer 8

either the root canal or just having the tooth pulled =your decision

Answer 9

They will eventually fall out as the tooth continues to decay under the filling.I am having all my back teeth done as soon as my insurance changes because I lost one of my fillings.I have a mouth full of metal from years back.I am having the molars removed and getting a parcal.I cant wait to get this metal out of my mouth~!

Answer 10

get the tooth taken out. no root canal.