Do I need a root canal?
Discussion
About a month ago I had an old filling replaced in a back molar. The tooth had been giving me occasional twinges when I bit down for a while, when I visited the dentist it appeared there were micro cracks on the top of the tooth as well.
The dentist ended up replacing the filling with a white composite one, it is pretty big and feels more like a crown to me as one side of the tooth feels like it was drilled down a few mm.
I had issues straight away, drinking anything hot or cold immediately gave me a twinge in the tooth that lasted a second or two. It kind of settled down a bit, but when I was having them cleaned a couple of weeks later it was agony and I had to get the hygienist to stop on that tooth.
Since then I have been in pain on and off, but it was especially bad over the weekend. I would get a sharp pain in my jaw that would feel like the side of my face was in pain and also caused a headache.
This eventually wore off and yesterday the tooth started to feel hyper sensitive. Any sort of pressure on the tooth hurt, even just rubbing it with my tongue. Eating was really painful, even just biting on a piece of soft bread felt like an electric shock in my tooth. I have been taking paracetamol and ibuprofen which kind of controls the pain, but I can feel it wearing off after about 5 hours. It was so bad it woke me up at 4:00am this morning.
I have an emergency appointment booked first thing on Thursday but I am interested to know what it might be. It is really affecting my quality of life at the minute as it is all I can think of and I cannot eat on that side. It is almost at the poiint where I just want the tooth pulled out.
Did the dentist mess up the filling, did he take too much tooth away and somehow damage the nerve?
The dentist ended up replacing the filling with a white composite one, it is pretty big and feels more like a crown to me as one side of the tooth feels like it was drilled down a few mm.
I had issues straight away, drinking anything hot or cold immediately gave me a twinge in the tooth that lasted a second or two. It kind of settled down a bit, but when I was having them cleaned a couple of weeks later it was agony and I had to get the hygienist to stop on that tooth.
Since then I have been in pain on and off, but it was especially bad over the weekend. I would get a sharp pain in my jaw that would feel like the side of my face was in pain and also caused a headache.
This eventually wore off and yesterday the tooth started to feel hyper sensitive. Any sort of pressure on the tooth hurt, even just rubbing it with my tongue. Eating was really painful, even just biting on a piece of soft bread felt like an electric shock in my tooth. I have been taking paracetamol and ibuprofen which kind of controls the pain, but I can feel it wearing off after about 5 hours. It was so bad it woke me up at 4:00am this morning.
I have an emergency appointment booked first thing on Thursday but I am interested to know what it might be. It is really affecting my quality of life at the minute as it is all I can think of and I cannot eat on that side. It is almost at the poiint where I just want the tooth pulled out.
Did the dentist mess up the filling, did he take too much tooth away and somehow damage the nerve?
I'm no expert but I doubt it is root canal. My OH's dentist referred her to a orthodontics for root canal. His first test was to put a cold object then a sharp object against the broken area in her tooth/gum.
He was testing that she could not feel anything. This meant that the nerves were dead. He needed to do root canal to remove the dead nerve cells otherwise it accumulates bacteria causing more gum decay in time.
He was testing that she could not feel anything. This meant that the nerves were dead. He needed to do root canal to remove the dead nerve cells otherwise it accumulates bacteria causing more gum decay in time.
ThingsBehindTheSun said:
About a month ago I had an old filling replaced in a back molar. The tooth had been giving me occasional twinges when I bit down for a while, when I visited the dentist it appeared there were micro cracks on the top of the tooth as well.
The dentist ended up replacing the filling with a white composite one, it is pretty big and feels more like a crown to me as one side of the tooth feels like it was drilled down a few mm.
I had issues straight away, drinking anything hot or cold immediately gave me a twinge in the tooth that lasted a second or two. It kind of settled down a bit, but when I was having them cleaned a couple of weeks later it was agony and I had to get the hygienist to stop on that tooth.
Since then I have been in pain on and off, but it was especially bad over the weekend. I would get a sharp pain in my jaw that would feel like the side of my face was in pain and also caused a headache.
This eventually wore off and yesterday the tooth started to feel hyper sensitive. Any sort of pressure on the tooth hurt, even just rubbing it with my tongue. Eating was really painful, even just biting on a piece of soft bread felt like an electric shock in my tooth. I have been taking paracetamol and ibuprofen which kind of controls the pain, but I can feel it wearing off after about 5 hours. It was so bad it woke me up at 4:00am this morning.
I have an emergency appointment booked first thing on Thursday but I am interested to know what it might be. It is really affecting my quality of life at the minute as it is all I can think of and I cannot eat on that side. It is almost at the poiint where I just want the tooth pulled out.
Did the dentist mess up the filling, did he take too much tooth away and somehow damage the nerve?
I've had 4 or 5 root canal procedures, the type of pain you're having suggests there could be an infection which I what i've had (your symptoms sound v similar). The dentist ended up replacing the filling with a white composite one, it is pretty big and feels more like a crown to me as one side of the tooth feels like it was drilled down a few mm.
I had issues straight away, drinking anything hot or cold immediately gave me a twinge in the tooth that lasted a second or two. It kind of settled down a bit, but when I was having them cleaned a couple of weeks later it was agony and I had to get the hygienist to stop on that tooth.
Since then I have been in pain on and off, but it was especially bad over the weekend. I would get a sharp pain in my jaw that would feel like the side of my face was in pain and also caused a headache.
This eventually wore off and yesterday the tooth started to feel hyper sensitive. Any sort of pressure on the tooth hurt, even just rubbing it with my tongue. Eating was really painful, even just biting on a piece of soft bread felt like an electric shock in my tooth. I have been taking paracetamol and ibuprofen which kind of controls the pain, but I can feel it wearing off after about 5 hours. It was so bad it woke me up at 4:00am this morning.
I have an emergency appointment booked first thing on Thursday but I am interested to know what it might be. It is really affecting my quality of life at the minute as it is all I can think of and I cannot eat on that side. It is almost at the poiint where I just want the tooth pulled out.
Did the dentist mess up the filling, did he take too much tooth away and somehow damage the nerve?
Like you, I've wanted the tooth out and almost wanted to pull it myself. I feel your pain, the quicker you get in and x-rayed, the better as thge pain can become untollerable. 12 months ago I ended up in A&E on oral morphine that pain was so extreme
Yesterday I was taking Paracetamol and Ibuprofen every five hours or so as this was the time window I could feel them wearing off. I took some before I went to bed last night and for the first time in a few days I slept right through.
Today it feels a lot better, when I woke up it didn't feel bad at all. I started to feel a twinge earlier (nothing like it has been, maybe a one or two out of ten) on so took some more paracetamol and Ibuprofen.
Right now it feels pretty much 100% normal, I have even been drinking tea which I have been avoiding and cannot feel a thing.
I don't understand how I can go from it feeling like a migrane one day, a shooting pain every time I bite or even touch it with my tongue the next day, to today feeling normal with no sensitivity to hot drinks.
I have the appointment at 9:00AM tomorrow morning, but right now I feel like a fraud booking it.
Could it have been an infection that has calmed down?
Today it feels a lot better, when I woke up it didn't feel bad at all. I started to feel a twinge earlier (nothing like it has been, maybe a one or two out of ten) on so took some more paracetamol and Ibuprofen.
Right now it feels pretty much 100% normal, I have even been drinking tea which I have been avoiding and cannot feel a thing.
I don't understand how I can go from it feeling like a migrane one day, a shooting pain every time I bite or even touch it with my tongue the next day, to today feeling normal with no sensitivity to hot drinks.
I have the appointment at 9:00AM tomorrow morning, but right now I feel like a fraud booking it.
Could it have been an infection that has calmed down?
Literally feel your pain I had been having problems with my second from rear bottom molar which was filled numerous times over the years but continued to be sensitive and after biting on a fillet steak a few weeks back the sudden pain was off the scale after which I got an absess into the bargain.
After antibiotics and considering the root canal option which tbh sounded horrific, not guaranteed to solve the issue often causing more issues than it solves and grossly expensive into the bargain I decided to opt for an extraction last Tuesday.
Yes a fair amount of pain during the 20 minute extraction but by last weekend I had virtually no pain whatsoever and now the gap has almost healed over so no regrets.
After antibiotics and considering the root canal option which tbh sounded horrific, not guaranteed to solve the issue often causing more issues than it solves and grossly expensive into the bargain I decided to opt for an extraction last Tuesday.
Yes a fair amount of pain during the 20 minute extraction but by last weekend I had virtually no pain whatsoever and now the gap has almost healed over so no regrets.
Pain comes and goes with no reason?
Dull ache or throbbing ache?
Gets better with a cold drink if hurting?
Hot drink triggers it?
Lasts for minutes when triggered?
Pain on pressure when hitting?
Keeps you awake at night?
All those are possible symptoms that could indicate a root filling is needed.
Pain that only happens when stimulus is applied and lasts 1-2 sec is normally a leak in the filling.
A cracked tooth can have some of this symptoms but any dentist can diagnose clinically if there is a cusp fracture.
I think your tooth may have become nonvital (nerve is dying) so I would recommend you see your dentist to check tooth vitality and possible need for root filling.
Glad you are not suffering so much now but get it checked anyway.
Dull ache or throbbing ache?
Gets better with a cold drink if hurting?
Hot drink triggers it?
Lasts for minutes when triggered?
Pain on pressure when hitting?
Keeps you awake at night?
All those are possible symptoms that could indicate a root filling is needed.
Pain that only happens when stimulus is applied and lasts 1-2 sec is normally a leak in the filling.
A cracked tooth can have some of this symptoms but any dentist can diagnose clinically if there is a cusp fracture.
I think your tooth may have become nonvital (nerve is dying) so I would recommend you see your dentist to check tooth vitality and possible need for root filling.
Glad you are not suffering so much now but get it checked anyway.
CrgT16 said:
Pain comes and goes with no reason?
Yes, over the weekend it was absolute agony, to the point where the whole side of my face hurt and it felt like a migrane.CrgT16 said:
Dull ache or throbbing ache?
It has either been a sharp pain like an electric shock or a throbbing ache that seems in time to my heart beat.A few days ago the pain was so bad that if a dentist had offered to pull it out there and then I would have seriously considered it.
CrgT16 said:
Gets better with a cold drink if hurting?
Not really, when I initially had the filling replaced a cold drink would send a sharp, shooting pain into the tooth for a few seconds. It was so sensitive that even biting a piece of cold chicken from the fridge was enough to do this.CrgT16 said:
Hot drink triggers it?
It doesn't now but it did. At first a mouthful of tea was enough to trigger immediate shooting pain. Then a few weeks later there was little immediate pain, but it would come on slowly and be a real dull ache that would last for minutes.CrgT16 said:
Lasts for minutes when triggered?
A month ago when I had the filling first replaced it was shooting pain for a second or two. Then it moved to a dull ache that lasted minutes, now it doesn't seem to have an effect.CrgT16 said:
Pain on pressure when hitting?
A few days ago yes, it felt hyper sensitive to the point that just gently tapping it with my fingernail was agony. I could not use the electric toothbrush on it as it felt like an electric shock in my tooth. Even just rubbing my tongue along it I could feel the pain starting.CrgT16 said:
Keeps you awake at night?
Yes, last night was the first night in a few days where I have not woken up in the early hours.CrgT16 said:
All those are possible symptoms that could indicate a root filling is needed.
Pain that only happens when stimulus is applied and lasts 1-2 sec is normally a leak in the filling.
A cracked tooth can have some of this symptoms but any dentist can diagnose clinically if there is a cusp fracture.
I think your tooth may have become nonvital (nerve is dying) so I would recommend you see your dentist to check tooth vitality and possible need for root filling.
Glad you are not suffering so much now but get it checked anyway.
I am seeing them first thing tomorrow and will let you know what they say.Pain that only happens when stimulus is applied and lasts 1-2 sec is normally a leak in the filling.
A cracked tooth can have some of this symptoms but any dentist can diagnose clinically if there is a cusp fracture.
I think your tooth may have become nonvital (nerve is dying) so I would recommend you see your dentist to check tooth vitality and possible need for root filling.
Glad you are not suffering so much now but get it checked anyway.
An X-ray of the root area should show if there is an infection present. If your dentist is more of a specialist, then they may have some fancy ways of imaging the root area - so they have a high probability of getting it right when they identify / clean out / fill the root various canals. There were a few specialists on here a while back, but some of them flounced off when challenged about stuff. They provided really useful advice - and for free!
CrgT16 said:
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I think your tooth may have become nonvital (nerve is dying) so I would recommend you see your dentist to check tooth vitality and possible need for root filling.
Just back and you are 100% correct. The dentist took an X Ray and placed a cold cotton bud on the tooth and I couldn't feel a thing. As I suspected they recommended a root canal and a crown.I think your tooth may have become nonvital (nerve is dying) so I would recommend you see your dentist to check tooth vitality and possible need for root filling.
They gave me two options for the root canal
1)Someone inhouse who specialises in root canals
2)An external specialist who has all the right equipment.
The dentist unsurprisingly recommended option 1, but from what I have read on here from other threads go for the specialist with all the right equipment.
The root canal is looking to be around £1K and the crown getting on for that amount again.
I have also read a lot of people say that a root canal is just a waste of time and money and the tooth will have to come out anyway?
Not the best news I have ever had, but totally expected.
I'd say the issue with a root canal is that it's a bit more of a gamble as to how long it's going to work for - you may get ten years out of it, it may fail after two. At some point you have to weigh up the total cost of RC+ crown against extraction+implant.
If you do go for the RC though I'd use the specialist.
If you do go for the RC though I'd use the specialist.
I'm fortunate enough to have a dentist who's done it in-house ... saving a tooth is always his preferred method. The last proceedure was particularly unpleasant ... I can't remember the previous ones being so painful. I think it took 2 or 3 visits.
But the RC's that were done 20 years ago or so are still trouble free ... in some instances, they've flared up shortly after surgery but then been fine. I'd have no issue (apart from the pain in the mouth and wallet!) about having it again.
But the RC's that were done 20 years ago or so are still trouble free ... in some instances, they've flared up shortly after surgery but then been fine. I'd have no issue (apart from the pain in the mouth and wallet!) about having it again.
I had RC and a crown done four or five years ago. For a while afterwards, it gave me a few twinges but the dentist said it would settle down and it has. It didn't cost anything like what you've been quoted though. Perhaps prices have risen a lot.
FWIW it wasn't at all uncomfortable. Had it done late afternoon and went out that evening.
FWIW it wasn't at all uncomfortable. Had it done late afternoon and went out that evening.
njw1 said:
If it's a back tooth I'd just have it out and be done with it.
It is a top, back tooth, second in from my wisdom tooth. I would agree with you but I had another tooth removed a month ago on the other side of my mouth which had broken in two. Basically this is all due to years of not going to the dentist and ignoring things and this is the result. All my own fault and I am angry with myself for ignoring it all for so long.I am hoping to have an implant fitted on the tooth taken out last month in a few months time.
I have read that having a tooth removed and leaving a gap can cause issues due to bone erosion etc?
The person doing the root canal is an Endodontist and every review I have read has been glowing,
ThingsBehindTheSun said:
I have read that having a tooth removed and leaving a gap can cause issues due to bone erosion etc?
It can do but it's not going to happen in a month. When I had my implants there was a gap between extraction & placing the implant post of a couple of months or so & then another month before the crown was made & put in place. av185 said:
Yep that was my philosophy.
Seems like everyone I speak to knows someone who has had a root canal, spent thousands of pounds and went through multiple treatments and lost the tooth anyway.Even my mother has just told me of someone who went to a private endodontic, spent thousands and had to have the tooth pulled two weeks later anyway.
Lets say an implant is going to cost £4K, it does seem silly to spend £2K trying to save a knackered tooth that will most likely fail within 2 to 10 years anyway.
I really am in too minds now.
Good points and I agree but maybe you only tend to hear of the problem root canals...similar to when e.g. Mclarens or Lotus go wrong.
The only thing that bothered me is if you simply leave the gap where the tooth was to heal over(in my case second from back bottom molar) whether this DEFINITELY results in jaw bone loss (lots of possible 'scare' stories online on this ) and future problems with the adjoining teeth (otherwise in good condition) or if you continue to chew on that area thus stimulating the bone area etc once healed and maintain good teeth hygeine etc will this be ok. I am dubious whether it is worth having a false tooth screwed in tbh.
Would be great if the dental experts on here could give some advice and guidance.
Thanks.
The only thing that bothered me is if you simply leave the gap where the tooth was to heal over(in my case second from back bottom molar) whether this DEFINITELY results in jaw bone loss (lots of possible 'scare' stories online on this ) and future problems with the adjoining teeth (otherwise in good condition) or if you continue to chew on that area thus stimulating the bone area etc once healed and maintain good teeth hygeine etc will this be ok. I am dubious whether it is worth having a false tooth screwed in tbh.
Would be great if the dental experts on here could give some advice and guidance.
Thanks.
Edited by av185 on Thursday 30th May 20:10
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