Root canal - how bad is it?

veloelle · October 2010

I'm pretty certain I need a root canal tomorrow. Initially it was just a crown because I cracked a tooth (I have the temp on now), but if I had any pain w/ the temp crown, they'd do a root canal and put the permanent crown on. I've had pain. And even w/ the perm crown, I could still have pain. DH said just get the root canal done now.

So, how bad is it? They told me it's a 2 hour procedure. Of course I've read up on them and am now sweating at the thought of 2 hours of drilling. I was planning on going to work after, but I've been told I might be wiped and just stay home? The procedure is at 8:30 am.

I'd appreciate any insight. Besides having cavities filled and braces, I've never had a major dental procedure.

I need to stop reading WebMD!

joseysbride · October 2010

I have had one, and I honestly did not think it was that bad. I mean, yeah, it stinks to sit in there and have them drill on your tooth for over an hour, but the recovery was no worse, for me, than having a filling put in. And the relief compared to the swelled up jaw I had going in was well worth it.

DaiLyght · October 2010

I've had a couple actually and to be honest, I don't see why they have such a stigma of being such a horrible experience. The only thing IMO that makes them worse than a normal filling, is that it takes a little longer, so my jaw gets sore from being open for so long. Typically the recovery is pretty fast, and in fact, it usually feels better after having it done, since the nerves are removed. Don't stress it at all, it's really not a big deal.

Temp970088312507122 · October 2010

Not a big deal at all, and I think I was in and out in about an hour. The most painful part is having the anesthetic injected into your gum, but even that isn't HORRIBLE. You can't feel anything after that other than a sore jaw and your mouth stays numb for a couple hours. Definitely not nearly as bad as people make it out to be.

JoLiz · October 2010

Easy Peasy... not at all worth all the hype it gets!

Dougsgirl4ever · October 2010

I've never had one but DH just had one last month & drove to Vegas after he was done.

cnybride2be · October 2010

not that bad. i think it was closer to an hour than two. but the shot in the side of my mouth and the shot in the roof of my mouth made me so numb (for several hours) I couldn't work after.

Yodajo · October 2010

Maybe they can put the permanent crown on with temp. cement and give it a chance to calm down? that way, if it doesn't calm down, they can just pop it off to do the root canal and the crown is untouched. Does your bite right now feel high at all? If so, that can really aggravate the nerve, but is reversible if corrected.

veloelle · October 2010

Yodajo:
Maybe they can put the permanent crown on with temp. cement and give it a chance to calm down? that way, if it doesn't calm down, they can just pop it off to do the root canal and the crown is untouched. Does your bite right now feel high at all? If so, that can really aggravate the nerve, but is reversible if corrected.

Yoda- are you the dental tech? I know there's a nestie dental tech, but I can't remember who it is.

My bite feels fine w/ the temp crown. There were a few times last week that I chewed something fairly soft and I had a good amount of pain. I've had the temp on for about 2.5 weeks. She did say that they can put my perm crown on w/ temp cement and see how if feels. The DR told me about 85% of patients end up w/ a root canal w/ similar issues as mine. I've had a cracked tooth for sometime, at least 8 months to a year (tsk, tsk, I know!). So a big part of me agrees w/ DH to just suck it up and get it over with. The last thing I want is to go through all this work to get the crown put on, just to have it taken off for the root canal. And I have to take time off work for it when I have daycare arraigned. Getting daycare on my days off is next to impossible, and my dentist is effing late all the time, so I can't just ask our neighbor to watch the kids for an hour, kwim?

The tooth had a filling in it and I grind my teeth, so it could be cracked as a result of either activity. I'm also getting a new night guard once the perm crown is in.

GettinNervous · October 2010

I had it done back in the early 90s. It didn't hurt at all except for the needles. I had to do it over 2 visits (not sure why), and I counted 16 pokes. After you get the needles, cake.

AngelaSue · October 2010

As a dental assistant and someone who's had a root canal, it really isn't that bad. They numb you up so you don't feel them working. It's really rather boring on both ends of it, the doctor is doing all the work and the assistant pretty much sits there and occasionally suctions. People make them out to be way worse than they really are. It might be a little sore when they are done once the anesthetic wears off, but that goes away pretty quick.

goodheartedmommy · October 2010

I don't THINK the pain was that bad, but I had a mega panic attack, and was sent home with a prescription for valium and an appointment for the next day. With the valium, I didn't feel a damn thing. I freak out even with a cleaning or filling, though, so people who are fine with that stuff will most likely do fine.

CTFandme · October 2010

I'm the same as GHM. I'm a wuss with this kind of stuff and I'd take a root canal over a cleaning any day. bring head phones because you'll get bored and it'll help drown out the grinding, but I think you'll be surprised at how easy it is. I'd do it now and be done with it. good luck!

Yodajo · October 2010

veloelle:

Yodajo:
Maybe they can put the permanent crown on with temp. cement and give it a chance to calm down? that way, if it doesn't calm down, they can just pop it off to do the root canal and the crown is untouched. Does your bite right now feel high at all? If so, that can really aggravate the nerve, but is reversible if corrected.

Yoda- are you the dental tech? I know there's a nestie dental tech, but I can't remember who it is.

My bite feels fine w/ the temp crown. There were a few times last week that I chewed something fairly soft and I had a good amount of pain. I've had the temp on for about 2.5 weeks. She did say that they can put my perm crown on w/ temp cement and see how if feels. The DR told me about 85% of patients end up w/ a root canal w/ similar issues as mine. I've had a cracked tooth for sometime, at least 8 months to a year (tsk, tsk, I know!). So a big part of me agrees w/ DH to just suck it up and get it over with. The last thing I want is to go through all this work to get the crown put on, just to have it taken off for the root canal. And I have to take time off work for it when I have daycare arraigned. Getting daycare on my days off is next to impossible, and my dentist is effing late all the time, so I can't just ask our neighbor to watch the kids for an hour, kwim?

The tooth had a filling in it and I grind my teeth, so it could be cracked as a result of either activity. I'm also getting a new night guard once the perm crown is in.

Yes, I'm a hygienist.

I think if the bite was high, it would be sensitive everytime you closed down on the tooth because the nerve would be hypersensitive to touch. The fact that it is bothering you even with soft foods sounds like a root canal may be inevitiable. They (the cracks) can spread like a crack on a windshield and yours may have spread too close to the nerve. Putting the crown on with temp cement just buys you a little time to be sure you need a root canal, but if time is an issue, I can totally see why you're considering just doing it now.

Like everyone has said, they aren't bad. I've never personally had one, but by far the majority of my patients have no issue with them. The most painful thing about them is the cost, I think!

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Root canal - how bad is it?

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