# Root Canals, anyone?

Category: Health and Wellness

## Post 1 by Reyami (I've broken five thousand! any more awards going?) on Monday, 02-Jun-2014 11:47:25

I have had a problem with a sensitive tooth, or rather, an area near where the gums meet the lip, on the upper part of the right side of my mouth for the better part of a year. This past Friday, the doctor who saw me for my annual exam of my teeth told me that the lack of a reaction when some cold stuff was applied to the tooth near the sensitive area, meant the tooth in question is dead. "Sick on the inside," is how he put it. So, in order to fix this and keep the tooth, I will be undergoing a root canal toward the end of July. I've been reading up on the procedure to see what I will be in for, but I am still nervous. I have never had one of these before, and was told that intravenous anesthesia, or twilight anesthesia, will not be available. I had twilight anesthesia during my wisdom teeth extraction, and while i understand they are both very different procedures, I would rather not remember this if I can help it. I was reassured by the doctor that I would be numbed up very well before the procedure begins, but that doesn't mask the panic of hearing whatever tools and scraping will be going on, nor does it cause temporary amnesia so one does not remember what happened while the doctor is carrying out the operation. They had better have laughing gas available. anyway, if any of you have had this before, what was it like for you? Was recovery painful, and could you eat your normal diet later in the day or starting the following day? Thanks for your responses.

## Post 2 by Westcoastcdngrl (move over school!) on Monday, 02-Jun-2014 14:59:10

For me, the worst part of the whole procedure, other than the freezing
shots, is the sound of the drill.... if you can handle getting a filling, then
you can handle a root canal.
If you can some how block out the sound of the drill, a root canal is a
generally not difficult procedure... do you have a portable MP3 player and
in-ear earphones you can bring with you to listen to, it would be helpful.
Your dentist will drill into the tooth and once enough of the enamel is gone
for him to gain access, he and his assistant will then clean out the pulp in
the tooth and also clean out and disinfect the roots in the tooth. After that
is done, a few wires will be put into the roots (not sure what for, but I think
it's to add strength to the filling material.
Once it's filled, you should be able to eat soft food. It's going to hurt a
little as the freezing wears off, but if I recall correctly, the pain isn't that
bad and is short lived.

## Post 3 by Deadnight Warrior (Zone BBS Addict) on Monday, 02-Jun-2014 19:04:26

Agree with the previous poster. I'm totally blind so don't know exactly what was going on, but it basically just felt and sounded like getting a cavity filled, but it took a little longer. I don't remember much pain during the procedure, or even after. That tooth was a bit sensitive for a while so I couldn't really chew anything on that side until that went away.

## Post 4 by LittleSneezer (The Zone-BBS is my prison, but I like it here.) on Monday, 02-Jun-2014 21:10:49

I agree with the previous two posters. For me, the worst part of the procedure was getting the novocaine.

## Post 5 by Reyami (I've broken five thousand! any more awards going?) on Wednesday, 04-Jun-2014 11:07:30

Thank you for your feedback. Drills ... I think I can handle it as long as they give me enough novacaine so I don't feel anything. Yes, definitely bringing music with me.

## Post 6 by zackmack2000 ( extreme killer of the keys) on Saturday, 07-Jun-2014 17:59:39

well,I had to have one done to me when I was 14 because of a tooth being shattered. I don't remember much of what happened because it was so many years ago, I remember I had to go to 2 dentestes though. my regular one to have the actual canal done, and then to a specialist just to have additional exrays done. I remember that they ended up giving me gaws after it was all over with. the pain stuck around for a few days for me after it was all over with, and all I could do to get rid of the pain was to choo on gaws. not fun, let me tellya.

## Post 7 by Westcoastcdngrl (move over school!) on Sunday, 08-Jun-2014 4:53:11

Reyami.... if, after the novocane has been administered, you feel the
slightest twinge of pain in the tooth, please feel completely free to make a
noise and raise your hand to alert the dentist that you can feel pain.
He/she will stop what they're doing and give you another freezing shot to
numb the area... my Mom's nerves in her lower jaw are totally wonky and
she needs lots of freezing to get it all numb... your dental team are totally
cool with and understanding about pain tolerance and, in fact, any good
dentist worth his or her salt would actively encourage you to raise your
hand or make a noise to indicate that you are feeling anything in the tooth.
Good luck to you.

## Post 8 by Ryan95 (Generic Zoner) on Tuesday, 10-Jun-2014 6:00:16

I just had to have one done recently infact. Shattered a tooth on a metal pole whilst swimming. Laughing Gas is definitely helpful during the root canal. You won't feel much of anything, cept minor little tugs and taps here and there, and agreeing with the previous poster, make a noise if it hurts. For about 12 hours afterwords, I would be careful eating terribley hard foods with that part of your mouth, and stick to soft things, but after that if you feel no pain, you should be able to eat regularly. One major thing I'd say though is, don't worry to much about it, they're not half bad and you'll be surprised how quick they're over with when they start.

## Post 9 by renegade rocker (I just keep on posting!) on Wednesday, 11-Jun-2014 1:56:18

I had one of these done in 2000, and you deffinatly don't need more than freezing at all. It's just like a filling, and I was able to eat normally the same day, and yes, deffinatly stress you need more freezing to be absolutely sure, and raise your hand if you do feel anything.

## Post 10 by Imprecator (The Zone's Spelling Nazi) on Wednesday, 11-Jun-2014 10:42:11

But why would general anesthesia not be available? That's crazy. I had them put me under all the way for my wisdom teeth.

## Post 11 by moonspun (This site is so "educational") on Saturday, 14-Jun-2014 14:09:16

The wires into the roots are to hook the nerves and pull them out apparently. It's fascinating. My dentist let me touch mine after he'd hooked it out.

## Post 12 by Imprecator (The Zone's Spelling Nazi) on Saturday, 14-Jun-2014 16:25:51

Ow. Fucking hell.

## Post 13 by Reyami (I've broken five thousand! any more awards going?) on Saturday, 12-Jul-2014 15:48:31

It's thirteen days until the procedure. I'm a bit nervous, but more ready to get it over with than anything else at this point. I'm just glad I get to keep my tooth rather than having to be fitted for a partial bridge or something. i'll keep you all posted.

## Post 14 by Reyami (I've broken five thousand! any more awards going?) on Sunday, 20-Jul-2014 11:33:33

five days left. Ugh, can Friday just hurry the hell up and get here already? Grrrr. Hope everyone is doing well.

## Post 15 by Reyami (I've broken five thousand! any more awards going?) on Thursday, 16-Oct-2014 17:57:02

The root canal went ... well, let's just say they're not completely done with it yet. There is a hole in the side of the tooth that needs to be repaired, and I was referred to a second dental facility that has the right tools to finish off the root canal properly, but this place says Medicaid won't cover the cost, so I was sent to a third location, where they said because it would be through them, (the doctors at the third location), I wouldn't be charged if I went back to the second place. (not disclosing names, so sorry about the confusion). That is where I am right now, everything is at a stand-still because I'm relocating in under a month, and am not sure how to handle this situation. Do I wait until I've relocated and explain the problem to a new dentist in the new area, or do I get things sorted by traveling back and forth from the town two hours away to this facility once I call and get more information about what the hell is going on? in general, I'm frustrated.

## Post 16 by Imprecator (The Zone's Spelling Nazi) on Wednesday, 29-Oct-2014 6:34:41

Ouch. Have a hug.

## Post 17 by Reyami (I've broken five thousand! any more awards going?) on Sunday, 17-May-2015 19:43:55

Right, root canal has been sorted, and the cyst I had on my gums by the infected tooth is long gone. that really hurt, and i'm hoping I don't have to go through it again. basically, back in July, that doctor went into the wrong canal and perforated the tooth. This endodontist I saw in January had the right tools to fix the perforation. Recovery was a bitch, let me tell you, but i'm glad it's all done and over with.

## Post 18 by ADVOCATOR! (Finally getting on board!) on Sunday, 17-May-2015 20:24:12

Here in Washington, they don't pay to cap the tooth, so they tell us it's better to take it out. I found a wonderful dentist, on accident, and just had one of my teeth pulled. I know it's best, with my record of infections. The only pain I felt, was when they had to cut around the hole, to get the absess out of my mouth.
Hope you feel better soon, Joanne.
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