NBR: Root canal?

brideofscowboy

So...it turns out my horrible dentist check-up a month ago is no longer resulting in a few fillings..we're moving on up to a root canal.

Tell me your experience. I'm a root canal virgin and being a chicken sh!t.

 

Amymichelle925

The most painful part was paying for it.  But you're in Canada so I guess it's a dif. story for you.  I don't think they're painful it just takes a while and your mouth is sore after from they having it pryed open for so long.

In general, I hate the sound of the dentists tools so I bring an ipod to listen to.

k8elee03

If you're a virgin, I'm a whore.

I've had somewhere between 9 and 11. That's right, I'm not even sure. 

Bottomline, it's not that bad. Is it bothering you right now? It probably is, and once you get that first shot of numbing stuff, it'll never feel as bad as it does right now. 

My advice: don't let the hype scare you. It's really, truly, not that bad. Also, make sure you're as numb as you can be. Don't be afraid to ask for another shot. Bring your Ipod or whatever and do your best to just relax and know that it's just something you have to get through and it'll be all better when it's over.  Sometimes I just close my eyes and think about the soft foods I'll eat when it's over, lol.

Honestly, though, it's more of a mind game than anything else. You really have to relax. Once you can feel confident that you're numb and it won't hurt, work on just relaxing. I've honestly fallen asleep before, more than once. 

Dental posts always get my sympathies if nothing else. Sorry. 

MidwestTexan

I've had two...they were fine. I've had other more major dental surgeries so they were minor in comparison.

*sallymad*

Ok my first one wouldn't have been that bad if it hadn't gotten infected. That's all I'll say about that.

The 2nd one really wasn't that bad. Are you getting a crown at the same time? To me a root canal just feels like a deeper filling, they just drill longer. But I also had crowns put on after each of mine, so they shaved off about 1/2-3/4 of my tooth then put a crown on. It's like all dental work, it blows while you're sitting in the chair but really it's not *that* bad. kwim?

hewinked

I was suuuuuuper nervous when I got mine done, but it wasn't bad.  I had to get a crown also.  I'm not sure if that's a normal procedure with a root canal, but yeah, that's what I had done.  I had to have like 3 appointments...to get the job done with a temp crown, then come back when the perm one came in, but it was cracked, so then had to come back again to finally get the perm crown put on.  I was ready for it to be done.    I get nervous with just a cleaning, so I was a chicken shiit also.  It wasn't as horrible as people make it out to be. 

brideofscowboy

Mind over matter then. I have a pretty good pain tolerance, I just hate the clunking of the drill and tools on my teeth.

I've already had the decay drilled out, I have a temporary filling in it right now. It doesn't bother me at all right now. Still have to get the post and then the permanent crown though.

Canada isn't all puppy dogs and rainbows, dental work isn't covered under the health plan. If it wasn't for DH's health insurance through work, I'd have to pay for it out of pocket which would suck.

Thanks for the input ladies!   I'm going to allow myself an excessive amount of ice cream afterwards. (My tooth was super cold sensitive.)

 

*sallymad*

bethy84:

brideofscowboy:

Thanks for the input ladies!   I'm going to allow myself an excessive amount of ice cream afterwards. (My tooth was super cold sensitive.)

Just a warning.  For some strange reason, even though the nerve was disconnected/removed, I was still cold sensitive for a few months.  Not sure why, but I was.

lol me too, I was so bummed when I couldn't drink a milkshake afterwards. It lasted about 6 months for me.