Tooth (root canal, extraction) advice please
Discussion
Hi all,
A couple of weeks ago I noticed a filling had broken. Having not been to the dentist for several years at this point, I booked an appointment with a local dentist.
She checked everything over and said I need to come back and have the aforementioned tooth's filling replaced.
Upon doing this, she noticed that as she was drilling down and removing the old filling and decay, she reached nerve. Bugger.
In short, she has patched it up with a "temporary filling" and said either a root canal and crown (££++) or an extraction is required.
She has referred the xrays to the on-site Endodontist to advise whether a root canal is likely to work, but she didn't really comment on the urgency of it. She prescribed some antibiotics in case there was pain from an infection but said it might be days or it might be months.
Should I get this sorted ASAP, or sit tight with the temporary filling for now?
Is it going to hurt having an upper 1st molar removed?
Thanks!
A couple of weeks ago I noticed a filling had broken. Having not been to the dentist for several years at this point, I booked an appointment with a local dentist.
She checked everything over and said I need to come back and have the aforementioned tooth's filling replaced.
Upon doing this, she noticed that as she was drilling down and removing the old filling and decay, she reached nerve. Bugger.
In short, she has patched it up with a "temporary filling" and said either a root canal and crown (££++) or an extraction is required.
She has referred the xrays to the on-site Endodontist to advise whether a root canal is likely to work, but she didn't really comment on the urgency of it. She prescribed some antibiotics in case there was pain from an infection but said it might be days or it might be months.
Should I get this sorted ASAP, or sit tight with the temporary filling for now?
Is it going to hurt having an upper 1st molar removed?
Thanks!
Edited by Howard- on Friday 11th March 09:12
get it sorted. root canal surgery is unpleasant but better than the likely infection. (FYI DO NOT try and close your mouth during this procedure, as I did, there can be a file handle sticking out of your tooth if you do so!)
if you've a good dentist- pain should be minimal for molar removal
if you've a good dentist- pain should be minimal for molar removal
I've been in a similar situation before, I had the root canal, but a few years later it failed and I had to get the extraction. I won't waste time going into the details, but I personally would have saved a lot of pain and stress (and money!) by just having the extraction up front. However, go on the advice of your dentist. If a root canal will save the tooth then go for that, if it is only a stop-gap, you might want to think about having it removed.
Will it hurt? You'll probably have some discomfort, but everyone is different. If you are really worried about it, then you can find a dentist that does sedation, however this will put the price up quite a lot - I paid around £300 extra, just for the sedation, but I was in so much pain by that point, and the normal anaesthetic used is ineffective on me, so the financial hit was worth it from my point of view.
Good luck, try not to worry about it, but getting it sorted sooner rather than later is advisable, it won't get better on its own.
Will it hurt? You'll probably have some discomfort, but everyone is different. If you are really worried about it, then you can find a dentist that does sedation, however this will put the price up quite a lot - I paid around £300 extra, just for the sedation, but I was in so much pain by that point, and the normal anaesthetic used is ineffective on me, so the financial hit was worth it from my point of view.
Good luck, try not to worry about it, but getting it sorted sooner rather than later is advisable, it won't get better on its own.
Interesting to read some experiences, I think I'm due the same options somewhen soon! I managed to lose chunks of two previously filled teeth within the space of about a week, around Christmas. One left one right, one top one bottom! The top tooth seems to have little remaining, the bottom tooth is just missing a chunk of enamel with the filling still intact. All a bit grim, but neither hurts in the slightest and the local dentist won't see any new registrations until November 
I was contemplating going private, but I'll probably attempt to hold out until one of them starts hurting!
I was contemplating going private, but I'll probably attempt to hold out until one of them starts hurting!
I went private, and the service is head and shoulders above any NHS dentist I have seen - not that I have seen that many. It does cost though, but you can find prices on most places' websites. I now have dental insurance through work that covers some of the cost.
I'd get it looked at sooner rather than later. It is much better to get the problem fixed when it doesn't hurt than to have the pain flare up and then not be able to get an appointment for a month or two.
I'd get it looked at sooner rather than later. It is much better to get the problem fixed when it doesn't hurt than to have the pain flare up and then not be able to get an appointment for a month or two.
I had a root canal done, it took two goes, and ultimately didn't work, and I had it extracted.
It broke up on extraction, and I had a stump of tooth left in my gums that nobody seemed inclined to remove. This provided me with low level pain for about ten years before I managed to prise it out myself not long after lockdown, after it had annoyed me one last time.
Altogether twenty years of mild pain, £1500 down the pan, and a bit of self surgery before I was cured.
It broke up on extraction, and I had a stump of tooth left in my gums that nobody seemed inclined to remove. This provided me with low level pain for about ten years before I managed to prise it out myself not long after lockdown, after it had annoyed me one last time.
Altogether twenty years of mild pain, £1500 down the pan, and a bit of self surgery before I was cured.
I had an extraction last year after one of my Molars cracked on the upper right, it's not a visable gap because of where it was so I never bothered with getting a replacement.
Because of the crack my NHS dentist was not confident she could get it out cleanly and referred me to a specialist which was an NHS referal to a private practice, the dentist there took one look. numbed the area and pulled it straight out no issues, it did break but he went straight back in and pulled out the broken piece too, I was very impressed by how fast and painless it actually was.
I had a bit of bleeding after but nothing significant and it stopped within 45 minutes and it's been fine ever since, my view is if it's not one which will affect your appearance just get it pulled and have done with it.
Because of the crack my NHS dentist was not confident she could get it out cleanly and referred me to a specialist which was an NHS referal to a private practice, the dentist there took one look. numbed the area and pulled it straight out no issues, it did break but he went straight back in and pulled out the broken piece too, I was very impressed by how fast and painless it actually was.
I had a bit of bleeding after but nothing significant and it stopped within 45 minutes and it's been fine ever since, my view is if it's not one which will affect your appearance just get it pulled and have done with it.
I had a root canal and a crown.
Then I got an infection almost immediately and the crown had to be removed,the root redone and a new crown fitted.
Cost me a lot of money but touch wood I've had no problems since and it was done about 12 years ago,maybe more.....the dentist was later struck off for malpractice,turned out he was inventing work that didn't need doing lol
Then I got an infection almost immediately and the crown had to be removed,the root redone and a new crown fitted.
Cost me a lot of money but touch wood I've had no problems since and it was done about 12 years ago,maybe more.....the dentist was later struck off for malpractice,turned out he was inventing work that didn't need doing lol
Temporary filling will only last you 6 weeks or so, my one fell out within 4 weeks. Luckily I had already decided to go for an extraction rather than root cannel so it worked out fine.
A few friends have had root canals done, some have been fine others not so. The need to extraction in my case was because of an impacted wisdom teeth against the molar, so I just wanted the mortar rather than faffing with more visits to the dentist.
A few friends have had root canals done, some have been fine others not so. The need to extraction in my case was because of an impacted wisdom teeth against the molar, so I just wanted the mortar rather than faffing with more visits to the dentist.
Sounds like I’m about right in leaning toward removal then.
I just don’t want weeks of recovery afterwards. What’s it normally like? Any future complications?
And what’s the sensation during the procedure really like? If it helps, the sensations when having fillings or scale / polish don’t bother me at all. The worst bit is choking on my saliva or the water every so often!
I just don’t want weeks of recovery afterwards. What’s it normally like? Any future complications?
And what’s the sensation during the procedure really like? If it helps, the sensations when having fillings or scale / polish don’t bother me at all. The worst bit is choking on my saliva or the water every so often!
I had root canal work done about a month ago.
I’m on DenPlan Silver so I had to pay 50% of the £600 fee.
It took two sessions about a week apart to fill three roots. About 75 minutes each. No pain at all. Ok a bit uncomfortable whilst having it done but I wanted to save the tooth if at all possible.
My dentist is very straightforward and gave it an 80% chance of success.
My dentist used a dental dam ….a rubber sheet fastened around the tooth….to protect from any crap coming out etc and I guess crap going into the open root.
Fingers crossed it works. So far so good.
I’m on DenPlan Silver so I had to pay 50% of the £600 fee.
It took two sessions about a week apart to fill three roots. About 75 minutes each. No pain at all. Ok a bit uncomfortable whilst having it done but I wanted to save the tooth if at all possible.
My dentist is very straightforward and gave it an 80% chance of success.
My dentist used a dental dam ….a rubber sheet fastened around the tooth….to protect from any crap coming out etc and I guess crap going into the open root.
Fingers crossed it works. So far so good.
gangzoom said:
My molar was out in less than 10 minutes. Hardly any pain, managed to do a Teams meeting within a hour of leaving the dentist.
The hole left behind took another month to meal, overall not that bad at all.
That’s good to hear. Was it an upper or lower one? Have you had it replaced with an implant or just leaving it?The hole left behind took another month to meal, overall not that bad at all.
Robotron70 said:
Dentists are a bunch of conmen, trying to find a good and honest one is like finding a needle in a haystack.
Get it taken out.
Like car dealers you say? What a stupid comment! I know more dentists that you and the dishonest ones are just the few but lets just generalise!! Get it taken out.
gangzoom said:
My molar was out in less than 10 minutes. Hardly any pain, managed to do a Teams meeting within a hour of leaving the dentist.
The hole left behind took another month to meal, overall not that bad at all.
That’s good to hear. Was it an upper or lower one? Have you had it replaced with an implant or just leaving it?The hole left behind took another month to meal, overall not that bad at all.
Howard- said:
Hi all,
A couple of weeks ago I noticed a filling had broken. Having not been to the dentist for several years at this point, I booked an appointment with a local dentist.
She checked everything over and said I need to come back and have the aforementioned tooth's filling replaced.
Upon doing this, she noticed that as she was drilling down and removing the old filling and decay, she reached nerve. Bugger.
In short, she has patched it up with a "temporary filling" and said either a root canal and crown (££++) or an extraction is required.
She has referred the xrays to the on-site Endodontist to advise whether a root canal is likely to work, but she didn't really comment on the urgency of it. She prescribed some antibiotics in case there was pain from an infection but said it might be days or it might be months.
Should I get this sorted ASAP, or sit tight with the temporary filling for now?
Is it going to hurt having an upper 1st molar removed?
Thanks!
IANAD but I think it depends upon what sort of temporary filling it is. I have just had replaced a temporary filling that was put in back in 1993!A couple of weeks ago I noticed a filling had broken. Having not been to the dentist for several years at this point, I booked an appointment with a local dentist.
She checked everything over and said I need to come back and have the aforementioned tooth's filling replaced.
Upon doing this, she noticed that as she was drilling down and removing the old filling and decay, she reached nerve. Bugger.
In short, she has patched it up with a "temporary filling" and said either a root canal and crown (££++) or an extraction is required.
She has referred the xrays to the on-site Endodontist to advise whether a root canal is likely to work, but she didn't really comment on the urgency of it. She prescribed some antibiotics in case there was pain from an infection but said it might be days or it might be months.
Should I get this sorted ASAP, or sit tight with the temporary filling for now?
Is it going to hurt having an upper 1st molar removed?
Thanks!
Edited by Howard- on Friday 11th March 09:12
Howard- said:
That’s good to hear. Was it an upper or lower one? Have you had it replaced with an implant or just leaving it?
With local anaesthesia you should only feel some pressure and are aware of some movement to remove the tooth. Shouldn’t feel any pain. Sometimes, multi rooted teeth like molars need to be sectioned and the roots removed individually which will involve a hand piece to section the tooth so just water and a little noise but again no pain.As for replacing with an implant it’s your choice. Providing you can chew well and your other teeth are sound you don’t need to replace the tooth. Not going to detail why you may want to or to discuss complex surgical extractions. IMO you have nothing to worry.
RCT or XLA - each case is a case, but I would say if root filling, rubber dam must be always applied as it’s how it should be done. Success rates vary depending if it’s a general dentist doing it or a root canal specialist. Also success rate depends on the overall condition of your tooth at present. How much tooth structure is sound and able to support a restoration.
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