root canal or pull it?

[Tacori E-ring]

I recently had a root canal and crown. The crown is perfect. The shade matches me other teeth perfectly. Sadly the tooth still aches on and off. I recently started wearing a mouth guard b/c it was clear damage was being done due to grinding/clenching (developed TMJ but that is another story). I am hoping the mouth guard will help protect my teeth. $500 now can save me a lot of money and pain in the long run. I tried the cheapies at the drug store and couldn't stand them. Mine is made perfectly for my own teeth and I have a dentist who does adjustments for free. You should look into it. Good luck! Tooth pain SUCKS!

 

[StonieGrl]

OMG, I am very up-to-date on this issue. One afternoon with some popcorn = $3k dental work. I also had braces, then later on 4 crowned teeth, then 2 root canaled teeth.

1. Crowning. It is extremely traumatic to the tooth. An incredibly high percentage of crowned teeth require a root canal later because of this trauma. Isn't that just scrooed, IMHO, but its the way things roll with crowns. But no one tells you this corollary from the get-go, usually. Its a lovely surprise for later.

2. Root canals: Get the TOP/BEST endodontist you can get. Seriously, for this job money should not be an object. A bad root canal will most likely result in losing the tooth anyway. Remember, a root canal kills the tooth so you have it in place and it holds the rest of your teeth/bite in position, but it is not a live tooth any more. If the endodontist is sloppy, lazy or incompentent, you are in a world of hurt.

Even though the tooth you would extract is in the back, it holds your present bite in place and the other teeth in their present position. If you leave a 'hole' there, get ready for trouble from this.

3. Implants: Are no different than having any other foreign body or organ transplant in your body. Your immune system will fight that implant 24/7 for the rest of your life. Do you REALLY want to spend those resources for THAT? Visit an top-notch prosthetic dentist and consider a prosthesis (bridge, etc) before you sign up for the assault on your immune system that implanted teeth will involve.

4. Implants Redux: I work for a world-famous healthcare institution and the oral surgeons here get a lot of business removing failed implants, resulting infections/loss of bone/necrosis, etc.

 

[Bliss]

I agree with Stonie except for the implants being bad for your immune system or the body fighting it. It has been the best decision I have ever made regarding that tooth. No regrets at all. I had a state of the art dental implant put in about 10 years ago and it is in perfect shape. It is there to last me my entire lifetime and no one I know who has dental implants have had any issues with theirs. My oral surgeon even told me that once I got it, I would forget it was there and it would just be like one of my own teeth. In fact, I believe he said it would be even better than my own teeth since it's rooted in there stronger than my own teeth will be at age 90! So far, it's been true.

All it is - is a small surgical steel rod implanted in your bone. That's it. Nowadays they can be titanium steel alloy but it's just that one rod. That stays there for life, the bone grows around it and the body does not fight it at all. The ceramic "tooth" part is just screwed on and is outside your body's circulatory system. It's like having a surgical steel rod in your leg. You don't even know it's there for your lifetime. Maybe if the implant is put in improperly or on someone with a compromised immune system or hygiene issues (gum pockets) it would be a problem. There are horror stories for every type of dental procedure gone wrong - but if you go to the best and most skilled surgeon/endodontist/dentist, that is highly unlikely to happen as opposed to a chop shop yellow pages/butcher dentist/oral surgeon. Otherwise, it was the best thing ever for me considering the alternatives. It's tremendously expensive if done right, but so worth it down the road. Just my two cents!

 

[tyty333]

No real advice (except I like to keep my teeth) but wanted to wish you Good Luck with your appointment.
Lots of ***healthy, pain-free dental dust***.

 

[Miss Sparkly]

The appointment as a whole went quite well

first I had a major melt down and began crying and shaking - that was embarrassing

Then he cranked up the happy gas too high and made me sick

Once he started on the root canal it was so easy and no pain at all!

Then....it starting wearing off. The process of wearing off was the worse pain in my entire life Once it was gone I was left a bit sore but NOTHING like when it was waking up.

Lessons learned are: Don't be a silly teenager and think you can get away with not taking care of your teeth - like I did. I ended up very lucky with still having all my teeth, they are a wonderful shade of white without bleach, and only one root canal. Don't be afraid of a root canal. It really was a breeze once I made it over the mental hurdle.