Options
Root canal vs tooth extraction
![[Deleted User]](https://wb.vanillicon.com/v2/bc9ddef61350afcb7a132210809be5d1.svg)
[Deleted User]
Posts: 173 Forum Member
✭
Hi all, was wondering whether someone could give me some advice.
I've been having issues with one of my lower molars the past 10 days. I had a filling put in a couple of years ago after a very deep cavity, 10 days ago it became very painful and even more sensitive to hot and cold things, to cut a long story short, Dentist thought maybe filling was leaking so this was replaced, didn't work and pain seemed to worsen. Had another xray, which shown some infection between roots, have been on two types of antibiotics in last 10 days, initially seem to help but then pain returns even with a variety of pain relievers and home remedies. I'm booked in for root canal treatment on Thursday, but at this moment I'm unsure what is going to be best, root canal or just to have te tooth completely removed, what is everyone else's opinions? Would prefer to keep my tooth but I just hope the pain subsides after a root canal! The thought of having my tooth out terrifies me!
Thanks x
I've been having issues with one of my lower molars the past 10 days. I had a filling put in a couple of years ago after a very deep cavity, 10 days ago it became very painful and even more sensitive to hot and cold things, to cut a long story short, Dentist thought maybe filling was leaking so this was replaced, didn't work and pain seemed to worsen. Had another xray, which shown some infection between roots, have been on two types of antibiotics in last 10 days, initially seem to help but then pain returns even with a variety of pain relievers and home remedies. I'm booked in for root canal treatment on Thursday, but at this moment I'm unsure what is going to be best, root canal or just to have te tooth completely removed, what is everyone else's opinions? Would prefer to keep my tooth but I just hope the pain subsides after a root canal! The thought of having my tooth out terrifies me!
Thanks x
0
Comments
I had a root canal done and didnt feel any pain in the tooth at all after, I never have. I cracked the side off it and still didnt feel any pain. I understand when they do a root canal they kill the nerves in the root? My root canal filled tooth feels quite dead when I tap it compared to the other teeth (mind you it is almost 80% filling now
The root canal will remove all the nerves in the tooth which should prevent any further pain.
It will be initially sore after the work is done but that will subside after a few days.
I'm glad I listened to her as I've had no problems since (touch wood).
Extraction was quick, low pain and easy. But I have been left with a gap that has affected my speech even though it is a molar.
I have an upper molar missing on the right side of my face and my face is a bit saggier and older looking on that side. It's not dramatic but you can still see it. It lacks the healthy-looking plump smoothness of the opposite side of my face. I know if I had the tooth I'd look younger, and if I lost the opposite molar, and both sides of my face were the same, I'd look three to five years older.
I tried the root canal on it, but it failed and I couldn't afford another one.
My mum however had a root canal 50 years ago in a molar and it's still going strong - never a bit of trouble with it since.
I had root canal for the same reason. It lasted about 5 years before I decided to have it out. It never worked for me.
Never noticed any difference in my face (ugly anyway:)) i've had one molar and two wisdom teeth removed.
I have never noticed that in my face and I am missing molar's on both sides on the upper and lower jaws (1 on each side on the Upper and Lower were taken out for a brace when I was younger, another one was taken out before Christmas and I had a wisdom tooth out in January) I am also missing other teeth as they were never there in the first place, at least my wisdom teeth had space though. Maybe it's because my jaw is small but I notice no difference in how I look and I don't look older either.
I've had this treatment a couple of times during my lifetime. I didn't feel any pain but the worse thing about it is having to keep your mouth open for such a long time. It's a really long proceedure time-wise. I would think something like one hour in total. The dentist may do the whole thing in one go, or he may complete it over a couple of appointments.
Your replies are all so much appreciated - thankyou!
I paid £400 for a root canal on a back molar with a specialist in root canals. My own dentist would have charged less, but she recommended the specialist as their success rate is better for 'difficult to get to' teeth. My dentist did the crown much later - that was about £300.
Other dentists in the area charge much more.
If you can afford it, pay to save your teeth - it really is worth it when you are older.
Are you sure thats not caused by chewing on one side of your mouth? Your cheeks are full of muscles, and if you don't use them they will wither and look less toned. I used to chew on the right hand side of my mouth exclusively and it made the cheek slightly larger than the other. So I switched sides and after a few months it all started to even out, now I try to chew on both sides evenly. I also have two molars missing on my left hand side, top and bottom.
I had one done a couple of weeks back on the NHS - £48 and literally no pain. You can feel the pressure of them inside your mouth, but that's it. Totally restored my faith in dentists and alleviated me of my phobia of them!
Good luck today, you'll be fine
Thank you all for all your help!
Elliecat
It can also be attractive in some people to have missing back molars. It can emphasise the cheekbones and make them look higher. I have read that it was the fashion in the early 20th century to have your back teeth extracted for this reason, and that Joan Crawford was one who followed this trend to have all her back teeth extracted. I'm actually an admirer of the hollow cheeked look on the right person - it's romantically gothic - but it doesn't/wouldn't suit me, as I already have very high cheekbones.
The thing about saving teeth from the science of it point of view, as I understand it, for anyone reading who's unaware of this, is that as soon as a tooth is lost, a person starts to loose the bone it was set in and this can wither the face and jaw down, and cause facial sagging - it almost certainly will, for anyone who looses a lot of teeth, and the more teeth you loose, the more strain on the remaining teeth, meaning they're at risk of being lost too.
It doesn't actually help much to get a denture or bridgework, as with both of those the bone will still be lost, but dental implants do preserve bone. They're very expensive here but there are good bargains to be had for dental implants some places overseas.
I probably should have said, always try to save your teeth unless for example you've decided that a higher cheek boned look is what you prefer to good chewing ability and your current appearance.