I'm getting a root canal........

[creaturecat]

i went to a specialist. it was a difficult root system.
zero pain/discomfort. i was amazed.
i went in fearful - had my wisdom teeth taken out while in the chair (in the 70’s) all four of them.
i recall sweat running down my back, as he put his knee into my chest and went at it. it was absolutely brutal.
he left me with dry sockets - it was a f’n nightmare. for a full month.

[john70t]

Originally Posted by WPOZZZ

Don't do it. Go to an endo.

Yes. Go with the specialist. Get a reference from the local endo association.

The only thing difficult was the dental cam not catching chips and the harsh chlorine chem used to sterilize the canal. Other than that you will feel so much better. The thing is full of bad bacterial and the pain is from the part of the root still alive. Less pain and easier than a filling or cap.

[rwest]

Hey Baz,

I’m not a dentist or have any medical training for that matter, but I’ll remove it for half price! (Found some old drills by the curb while driving around)

Good luck to you and I hope you get some relief soon.

And yes, I already gave Moose a scritch for you.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by Baz

I have not had the root canal yet. It's scheduled for March 5th.

My endodontist will not schedule a full day ever because they know emergencies will always fill the open spot. When the pain starts, the only thing to do is get it done.

Now.

Having an infection near the blood vessels is not a good thing. OHOH, the antibiotic is having a hard time getting to the tooth socket. All it is for is so you don't start to get septic.

It's normally 2 hours from start to finish and they may shoot you up once more at the one hour mark. Ask them for a one time Valium script to be filled that day or the day before. 2 hours before the procedure take the Valium. Since they prescribed it they know it's in your system and act accordingly AFA anesthetics.

You'll weather that 2 hours very well. There are some periods where they might leave the room for a few minutes while a a topical antibiotic marrinates down in your tooth roots. They will take a series of x-rays while a needle in inserted in the tooth to gauge depth.

[GH85Carrera]

Yea, I always uses an endodontist to do my root canals. Never a bit of pan after he is done, and all the nerves of that tooth are just gone.

[Baz]

Thanks, everyone. I will see if we have a local endodontist and ask my dentist about it.

[Baz]

There are no endodondists in NSB so I contacted one in Port Orange and was told their doctor wouldn't be back in until March and the soonest they could get me in would be March 7....2 days after my already scheduled appointment with my dentist. There are other offices further away but to be honest I don't want to do the extra drive...1 hour each way. At this point I will just stay with Plan A. Maybe my dentist can squeeze me in earlier.....

[WPOZZZ]

Jeebus. Sorry you have to be in pain that long.

[oldE]

Baz, stick with Plan A. The antibiotic has to have time to reduce and eliminate the infection which is the pain trigger. Failure to achieve this might result in the nerve blocking injection not being able to freeze the site. (Don't ask how I know)
Depending upon which tooth is involved the procedure might be fairly simple. My dentist did a root canal on a front tooth in his office but sent me to a specialist for the procedure on a molar. I saw and experienced about the same with each.
Best
Les

[jhynesrockmtn]

Originally Posted by oldE

Baz, stick with Plan A. The antibiotic has to have time to reduce and eliminate the infection which is the pain trigger. Failure to achieve this might result in the nerve blocking injection not being able to freeze the site. (Don't ask how I know)
Depending upon which tooth is involved the procedure might be fairly simple. My dentist did a root canal on a front tooth in his office but sent me to a specialist for the procedure on a molar. I saw and experienced about the same with each.
Best
Les

This. I went through this recently. I had an old crown on a tooth with a root canal. My dentist prepped it for a new crown but in between the temporary and permanent, the tooth broke and got infected. The pain was horrible.

The tooth had to be pulled. They tried numbing me several times but the shots didn't work because of the infection. You want that cleared up before the procedure. They ended up having to put me under for the removal. I'm now down a tooth. Luckily it was back right bottom so no implant needed. Best of luck. I root canal isn't a huge deal. I've had 3.

[911 Rod]

I went with the "gas" for mine. Worth the $200

[Baz]

OK thanks again everyone for the help and info.

I didn't know about the salt water but did this very early this morning and it actually helped me get back to sleep. Great tip!

I was on the phone with my dentist and they're going to keep me posted should an earlier opening become available. Also called another practitioner they work with in Daytona but no openings there until late March. Everyone is booked up.

I think I've done everything I can at this point.

I also learned that it's a good idea to take probiotics to replace those killed off by the anti-biotic I am taking. Never thought of that.

I'm going to try and eat mostly soft foods until I get this thing taken care of too. Maybe that will help.

The stuff we take for granted on a daily basis.......SMH......be grateful for your health when you have it.....

[Zeke]

That's strange. I've never been to a dentist that will do root canals in his/her office. No extractions either. They always refer to a specialist. Big city I guess.

[astrochex]

Good luck Baz! I hope you can minimize the discomfort before the procedure.

[911 Rod]

Originally Posted by Zeke

That's strange. I've never been to a dentist that will do root canals in his/her office. No extractions either. They always refer to a specialist. Big city I guess.

My endodontist had the latest equipment and it was state of the art.

[A930Rocket]

Good luck, Baz!

The dentist last week was $100 to tell me I need to see the oral surgeon.

I’m at the oral surgeon’s office now for a $122 consult. We’ll see what the cost is to pull a wisdom tooth. Actually, two. The upper and lower on the left side. They pull them in pairs.

R - root canal
C - crown
W - wisdom teeth being pulled.

Lots of cavities.

[A930Rocket]

$1803 for two. $275 after insurance. Not too bad.

[Baz]

Originally Posted by A930Rocket

$1803 for two. $275 after insurance. Not too bad.

OK thanks, Rocket. The quote for my root canal was $1,040. I have a credit card with a balance on it for dental, but not sure how much is on it. Hell at this point I'd pay more than that out of pocket just to get this in my rear view mirror!

Good luck with your dental work, my brother....keep smilin'!

[WPOZZZ]

Baz, have you tried any topicals? There's Anbesol, clove oil...

[Baz]

Originally Posted by WPOZZZ

Baz, have you tried any topicals? There's Anbesol, clove oil...

Yes and have been using them...mostly late in the evening before turning in. That seems to be the time the tooth hurts the most for some reason. They do help.

Thank you!