Im going to the dentist the 19th of this month and im really worried... I broke one of my side teeth about 4 years ago and ignored it.. (bad mistake).. Now its sorta hollow and has turned black.. Im really wanting to get a root canal and save it cause i dont want a fake tooth.. im only 23. But what do they do during a root canal? Do they have to drill out the black? Any answers will be helpful and hopefully make me feel better.
2007-12-13 02:17:13 · 19 answers · asked by mickeys_babe 2 in Health ➔ Dental
Im not worried about the pain.. im tough.. :)
2007-12-13 02:22:30 · update #1
Oh and i forgot to mention that it doesnt hurt at all.. So thats why im thinking they can do a root canal..
2007-12-13 02:26:28 · update #2
The dentist will only do a root canal if there is enough of the tooth left and it is strong enough to hold a crown. The dentist takes the nerves out first so the tooth won't ever hurt again. The decayed part of the tooth will be drilled out and cleaned. An impression will be made of the remaining part of the tooth to make the crown. A temporary crown will be put on until the lab makes the permanent one. Root canals aren't as bad as they once were. Dentistry has come a long way. Good Luck.
2007-12-13 02:25:44 · answer #1 · answered by n\mb 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As many people have noted, the dentist will drill out the black and all of the living pulp inside the tooth. Often, what tooth is left is primarily below the gum line. But if the break is below the gum line and into the roots of the tooth, the tooth is unlikely to be saved.
If you do get a root canal, it will be capped with a synthetic tooth. Is this what you mean by "fake tooth"? If so, no worries. They're very well made and look identical to real teeth. Make sure it fits well and doesn't bleed.
If you have to get the tooth pulled, an oral surgeon can install a tooth implant that looks the same as a cap. That way you won't have to have a bridge and alter the adjoining teeth.
Consider going to a root canal specialist; I've been told that the patient feels nothing during a root canal when done correctly. My root canal hurt tremendously because, the dentist said, my roots were too long to inject enough numbing medication. I had involuntary tears streaming down my face for the duration of the three hour procedure. (He was probably just a terrible and expensive dentist.)
Aside from my personal experience, though, dentists really do attempt to alleviate any pain you might encounter. It is a lot of holding your mouth open, though!
Super good luck!
2007-12-13 10:35:56 · answer #2 · answered by tmhd 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had a similar problem. A tooth had completely collapsed.
A root canal was not an option in that case. There was not enough living tooth tissue to anchor a crown onto. The collapsed tooth had to be removed.
On the other side of my mouth, there was a tooth with just a cavity. It turned out that the decay had progressed into the soft tissue inside the tooth. That tooth had to have a root canal.
What happens is this. They use a liquid numbing agent on a swab to deaden the gums. Then they give shots to deaden the feeling inside the tooth and jaw.
Next the dentist will drill out the interior of the tooth all the way to the root. This is because once the decay is in the interior, there is no way to "heal" it. The bacteria infection will only get worse. The only way to fix it is to remove the infected pulp.
After all the drilling, the dentist will place a temporary crown over the area, while a porcelain crown is being made by a lab.
In about a week, he'll remove the temp crown,will place, fit and adjust the final one, and you're done.
My dentist "cured" me of anxiety. I never felt any pain at all during any of the root canal visits. His technician scraping the teeth during a cleaning hurt much more than the root canal did.
2007-12-13 10:28:03 · answer #3 · answered by chocolahoma 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Has your dentist suggested a root canal or is that what you are wanting?? If you loose the tooth in the back...don't sweat it. You probably won't even need a fake tooth. I had a baby tooth that never had a permanent tooth underneath. When the baby tooth came out....the dentist just put a metal "spacer" in there to keep the other teeth in their proper position. I still have the space in my teeth and have learned to enjoy it. But, I have also had a root canal. The Novocaine is not pleasant, but after that you feel absolutely no pain. There is a LOT of drilling and the most painful part is just keeping your mouth open that long. My jaws locked many times during the procedure, but the dentist give me occasional breaks to move my jaw around. I then got the tooth capped and it is wonderful to have an actual tooth there instead of the nub I had. Root canals are made to be this big thing...when they really aren't much of anything. Like I said, having your mouth open that long is the most distressing.
2007-12-13 10:24:00 · answer #4 · answered by Grandma of 2 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I had a root canal on my top, most front molar on my right side when I was 22. I cracked the tooth chewing ice and didn't realize it and slowly the nerve died.
Your tooth actually sounds like its dead. Even if the dentist just has to pull it, there are so many fake teeth out there that look real, it won't even matter!
If you get a root canal, chances are the way you describe it, your nerve it dead. They will drill into the tooth and take the dead root out. They will the shave your tooth down to size to put a cap (knows as a crown) over it that looks like your real tooth.
Your dentist will give you novacain in the gum near the tooth, so you will only feel the pressure of the drilling. If your root is dead, you won't feel anything in the tooth. If there is still some alove nerve, you will feel that when he touches it. But your tooth you said is black....sounds pretty dead to me.
Everything will be fine. Teeth are teeth...and fake teeth look real. Just stay on top of any further breaks you make in your teeth and address them asap.
Good Luck!
2007-12-13 10:29:29 · answer #5 · answered by Mandy25 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is a really hard question. I have had 3 root canals done, and to the best of my knowledge am not having problems with them. However, some people knowledgeable in the field say that a root canal should not be done, for it is impossible to thoroughly sterilize all of the tubules of the tooth, and so it is likely to develop an infection later that the limited circulation in the tooth is not able to combat. Yes, they drill out the black, It has been a few years since I have had mine done. At that time, they packed the tooth temporarily, then took a culture to make sure they got the germs out before they completed the root canal
2007-12-13 10:27:56 · answer #6 · answered by hasse_john 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They'll only be able to do a root canal if they have enough of your tooth to work with after they drill out the bad part. After that they'll probably suggest you get a crown put on top to prevent the tooth from breaking. I've had a root canal done before and your mouth will be frozen so you won't feel anything. The thing that gets to me is the sound of the drill, that's all.
2007-12-13 10:25:24 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
In a layman term root cannal is a root cleasing procedure. The dentist will first of all check if the root nerve is already dead. Your tooth turns black, it indicates dead or dying nerve. Your dentist might kill it. He will then use some very thin metal needle-like tools to go into the root (a few times) to clean it. It will not hurt you as your nerve is gone. Since your tooth is quite hollow at the moment, your dentist likely suggests you to do a crown - to provide the tooth with a hard and solid cap to help with the chewing. The technology for crowning is very advanced nowadays. A good crown is not cheap but may last a life-time.
2007-12-13 10:47:56 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think if it is black they will just pull it. A root canal hurts. I was told other wise then I was heard screaming by the other patients. I almost jumped out of my chair. I had a "hot" tooth because of another dentist trying to do it and failing. I think had I hot been in so much pain when I went in it would have been a lot better. Also It takes a lot for me to get numb and I was not numb and the dentist thought I was. He drilled into my nerve without numbing it. So i think it will be better for you. They drill a hole in your tooth and then they clean out the nerves with tiny little drills and toothpick looking things. then they put little nerve shaped things in there to stay. than they cover it with a temp. fillinf and after that they later put a crown or onlay in. I have an onlay and like it. I will say if you are in pain and want to save the tooth. If they can save it the pain for a couple of seconds is worth it. It felt good when they scraped all the junk out of my infected tooth. I was in so much pain then after they ceaned 1/2 of it out and sent me home I felt all better and no pain the second time to finish it. Good luck and hope I did not scare you
2007-12-13 10:28:08 · answer #9 · answered by Amanda D 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they drill out the ROOT so it becomes a dead tooth
and then they either cap or fix it somehow so it cant get any more cavities
it requires major surgery bc the root can sometimes twist around nerves in your jaw
one wrong move and you could have nerve damage
when they xray it they will tell you how long and curly the nerves you have are
but
sounds like its dead already (that why its black, dead roots = no blood supply)
most likelyu i think theyd pull it an install a bridge (when the two nearby teeth act as a bridge to lay in a fake tooth)
or you can get an IMPLANT, where the drive a screw into yer jaw bone
2007-12-13 10:23:34 · answer #10 · answered by The WingHunter 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋