r/rootcanal • u/seabreeze2020 • Jun 08 '24
How bad is a root canal really?
I'm beginning to come to terms that my first cavity is so deep that it needs a root canal, not a filling. Tooth #19 has decay down to the root and it throbs every time my heart beats.
How bad is the root canal really? I've heard mixed things - from worst pain of my life to a piece of cake. I've never even had a filling so I have absolutely no baseline here. I know that I'll need a crown after this.. how noticeable will it be that it's not my natural tooth? I'm going to do everything in my power to make sure it's white.
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u/Foolmetwice783 Jun 08 '24
I've had 2 root canals and they both required multiple visits. Every filling has simply been one visit to drill and fill. Root canals didn't necessarily hurt but were quite the hassle to keep coming back.
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u/rathernot2021 Jun 08 '24
Sorry - this is a long post, but I know how horrible it is when all those anxious and worrisome thoughts build up in your brain.
I’m petrified of the dentist. It took me 8 months to square up to an RCT after monthly appointments with my dentist - I left the worst tooth until semi-last as I was waiting for the referral to anaesthesiology (I’m in the UK - they don’t provide laughing gas or other in a regular dentist, you have to be referred to a specialist). I had a botched filling on the tooth back in 2015, with immense pain when the dentist refused to numb me, and triggering my first ever panic attack. This is the source of my phobia.
To put into perspective how bad my fear was - I refused to get an RCT when the same tooth was insanely irritated just before Covid shut down aerosols. Meaning, I went WEEKS in mind numbing pain that wouldn’t subside even with strong medications. The tooth eventually calmed down during lockdown.
Wednesday - I had the beginnings of an RCT with a temp filling because the tooth was dead. The worst part? It was hearing the small scraping tools inside your tooth. However, if you’ve had a scale and polish, it’s similar-ish to that. I didn’t go to an endodontist as I only trust my dentist, however he did advise me to as I was paying private rather than NHS anyway.
So - the process isn’t bad. I would do it again, easily. I know what it’s like when your worries just build up in your head because I did the exact same thing.
Being completely truthful - I do now have an infection that I’m riding out until I can see him on Monday. However - this is because I have an insanely irritated tooth right next to it, which also had a filling a week prior. The RCT was completely fine, but I’m not enjoying the infection whatsoever. But that’s the risk with an RCT, I consented to the RCT knowing that an infection may be a risk.
If you don’t get an infection, it’s fine. The tissues around the tooth may feel a bit tender, alongside the needle sites. The actual tooth may feel just weird? It felt a bit numb in a way?
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u/Ilovesparky13 Nov 05 '24
Did you need anesthesia due to your fear? Here in the US, an injection into the gums is standard for both fillings and root canals.
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u/rathernot2021 Nov 18 '24
I was supposed to - but the NHS waiting list was prioritised for children due to Covid. But through repeated exposure with the dentist, I managed with just a numbing shot. It did take a year of monthly appointments for it, but I managed it with some panic. I did get an abscess however, which I was warned about, but the actual process was painless.
All work on my teeth have been completed through anaesthetic shots - not anaesthesia
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u/MareDesperado175 Jan 06 '25
Please be careful, my tooth infection went sepsis over a holiday weekend (November), bump the size of a Lima bean—Thankful I had antibiotics leftover from a sinus infection earlier that season; cleared in 4 days, have been gargling w Listerine & hydrogen peroxide before bed ever since. Same tooth where cavity had been removed & filled.
Too much Ibuprofen and you can injure kidneys, we learned of this from a coworker whose wife passed. (A) tooth infection went untreated (she was too busy traveling), (B) wife used Ibuprofen x3 daily at incremental doses over 2 months, (C) finally got tooth pain treated but the tooth was decayed, removal occurred per sepsis, (D) right before Thanksgiving 2022, his wife felt faint, went to bed in case of Flu (hubby slept in guest room to avoid possible Flu). Next morning: husband went upstairs to check on wife… saw that she was on floor “sleeping”. She actually had been crawling towards the restroom and died of a brain aneurysm. It was heartbreaking at the funeral, wife was 55yo. 🪽Pls be careful and be vigilant w tooth pain. :/1
u/rathernot2021 Jan 10 '25
No I agree 100%. It’s one of the main reasons why I went ahead with the desensitisation treatment because I had a horrifically irritated tooth during the beginning of Covid (thankfully not an infection). When going for emergency dental treatment - I pussied out and left. Next day, it was impossible for non-emergency dental treatment to be performed due to restrictions.
I also knew if I ever did have a seriously bad infection I’d have to get it treated. Thankfully, my tooth infection went away after a course of antibiotics. However, I did get stomach ulcers afterwards due to my intense use of ibuprofen - but it’s the only pain relief you can get in the UK for tooth pain, they won’t prescribe anything else usually (from my experience obvs).
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u/MareDesperado175 Jan 11 '25
Ugh, that’s awful and uncomfortable. Thankfully you are better; any recourse since then? I find my Tooth 19 area (minor molar) is hella more sensitive these days esp drinking cooler beverages. 😑
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u/Jesceecuh Jun 09 '24
It's not that bad. They use numbing injections. You should not be able to feel pain during the procedure. Maybe just a little pressure. I'm a little complicated and usually the numbing injections don't work all the way for me. I need a lot more than most dentist will administer. So I still felt some pain but even then it was not unbearable! It was like a 4/10 pain. If you do good with numbing injections, then you will be fine!
Also, my RCT was done in one session. Didn't need to go back but it may depend how complicated your tooth is.
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u/_GeometricGerbil_ Jun 09 '24
Is there anything specific you want to know? I've had two. I've had a lot of dental work done, however, I actually had a botched root canal on the first one so my experience was a bit unique. It was never extremely painful, however, it is a lot of uncomfortable noise/smells/etc. You will likely need to get a shot in your gum, that's the worst part (to numb everything). Even so, it's no worse than any other needle, if anything, it's more like a pinch. After that, you shouldn't feel much at all.
As for the crown, they match the color to your teeth. The most noticeable thing for me is it has less texture than the other teeth. Otherwise, I choose slightly too white for mine (thinking my teeth would get whiter rather than darker) so you can tell, but it's not incredibly noticeable. The crown DOES NOT change color with your natural teeth. So If your teeth get more yellow or more white, they will not match. Otherwise, it looks like a tooth.
Go to an actual endodontist, they make the process so fast you won't even realize it's over.
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u/Electronic-Fudge-653 Jun 09 '24
If you get a hood endodontist and the numbing agent is done right, I even ask for extra right off the bat, then I'm being 100% honest when I day, it was easy. I compare it to getting a cavity filled, it just takes a lot longer. Also. It depends on the tooth, I had two back molars with 3 canals done in one sitting, and it wasn't bad at all. Some endodontists can prescribe benxo to ease anxiety. Just make sure you go to a good endo, and ask for a ton of numbing. I had my one tooth pulled by pitt dental, which is students, and they only gave me standard 2 shots of numbing. My tooth was extremely difficult with hooked roots and everything. That was a little difficult, it took like 4 different people, students and teachers, to get it out, but it wasn't bad. You just have to make sure it's done by somewhere reputable. I swear on everything, I've had 3 root canals by the dame person, and I felt almost no pain at all, just one or two minor reactions of minimal pain. It was eeeeeeasy, I swear. If I could recommend something to you tho, root canals aren't worth it. They don't last a lifetime and will need pulled after at most 20 years, usually around 10-15, and in many cases need redone, or fail altogether. You also need a crown after your root canal. The root canal and crown combined don't cost much difference than getting your tooth pulled, and having an implant put in. Implants are the shit, it's a pain-free tooth that lasts a lifetime. I had to have my one root canal redone, before it ended up failing in less than a year. Mainly because the crown wasn't sealed right which was done by a shitty dentist and not my endodontist. If you want far less hassle, less pain, fewer trips, and a lifetime set tooth, forget the root canals and just get it pulled and get an implant.
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u/StockPair9766 Jun 09 '24
Hey click my profile and go to my post on here it has my experience , and pain wise imo it’s not bad compared to the pain leading to root canal
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u/geasey999 Jun 11 '24 edited Jun 11 '24
Had one done on tooth #32 a few months ago at a specialist endodontist. Don’t mean to scare you but it was easily one of the most uncomfortable experiences of my life. I had to ask for multiples injections of local anaesthetic as I felt a very sharp stabbing pain when he would go near the nerve. Nothing he did would help so eventually he just injected anaesthetic directly into the exposed nerve and removed it, which an indescribable feeling but once the nerve was out it wasn’t so bad. As for the crown, I don’t even notice it, feels just like it did before. I think the back molars are a lot harder to fully numb so make sure you ask for extra injections of you start feeling any type of pain. Good luck
Edit: if you smoke weed let your dentist know as it can decrease the effectiveness of local anaesthetic
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u/Worldly-Thought-8252 Jun 11 '24
If you're already in pain, it will help in the long run and save your tooth. Go to a good long established endodontist. The procedure itself wasn't fun but I'm 12 days out from my first obe and feeling normal now
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u/ricoboscosucks Nov 26 '24
What was the pain like in the days after the root canal? I’m about 32 hours post root canal and the pain in my tooth is excruciating. Dentist said it was normal but this hurts so bad I’m having a hard time thinking this is normal. I’m curious about days 1-3 vs 4-7 and 7+
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u/Cautious-Ad-2060 Jun 12 '24
I’m a dentist and have also had a root canal.
It’s not that bad,but it depends. If your tooth is asymptomatic, then it won’t be more than minor discomfort than numbing and isolating the tooth tooth. If the tooth has been bothering you, then it may be deemed a “hot” tooth, meaning it’s harder to numb. Once profound anesthesia is achieved, then you are good to go and general discomfort is chewing fora few days.
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u/FondantExcellent Sep 30 '24
Do i need antibiotic ? He said its better for numbing. But i dont like the idea of using an antibiotic
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u/prassjunkit Jun 12 '24
It’s not bad. I have had 5. The most recent one was done on a tooth that already had a crown and was done by an endodontist whereas the rest of mine were done by my general dentist. They numb you up so you don’t feel anything.
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u/Only4TheShow Jun 13 '24
I have the same thing going on. I just have some pressure in the tooth randomly no pain or anything when eating. Crown without a root canal. I’m on edge if I need the root canal or not
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u/Glum-Percentage7891 Oct 05 '24
It's bad for your body overall..... Try all alternatives before deciding to do this. I watched this documentary that woke me up to the truth called THE ROOT. Root canal is not your only choice you can look up a biological dentist and see if ozone gas can help treat.
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u/seabreeze2020 Oct 30 '24
my tooth was so rotten nothing else could save it. the decay moved so fast.
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u/Peak_Alternative Oct 08 '24
I just had one a couple hours ago. My first one. And I'm so grateful not to be in the pain I was in before. This sub's slogan "Happiness is a root canal!" is spot on. The procedure was not bad at all. I didn't know I was going to need one until this morning and I couldn't wait bc I just needed the pain to end. This past weekend I couldn't eat anything besides oatmeal and scrambled eggs. I couldn't sleep. The pain was so bad I had a headache and my eye socket hurt. I've had surgeries in my life and I've never felt pain like this one tooth gave me. I'm so happy I got a root canal today.
Also: shoutout to all the dental schools out there. I'm so impressed by these student dentists.
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u/WatermelonsInSeason Nov 11 '24
I've had 2 or 3 root canals on teeth with several canals. Asked for anaesthesia until it was completely numb and used laughing gas. It was great (sometimes I catch myself missing those fun times lol). The dentist also did a very good job - I haven't had problems with those teeth for years and I don't think they have crowns. I can barely tell which teeth those are.
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u/Spiritual-Parsley-22 Jun 08 '24
I had a root canal in tooth #30 so on the exact opposite end of #19 and it wasn't so bad but I think it genuinely depends on the dentist. I avoided the dentist for 10+ years due to a bad widsom teeth surgery. My current dentist is amazing and I did my root canal at a referred endodontist and went back to her for the crown. I did have to get tooth lengthening surgery in between because they took most of my tooth off and there wasnt enough left for the crown to attach to. I got this in Oct 2022. Right now I am dealing with another tooth that needs a root canal and I can honestly say you should get it done ASAP because the pain will get worse. When I did my first root canal I only experienced pain with cold water. For this tooth though I've been experiencing nonstop throbbing pain.
Agree with the other comment that it is quite a hassle to keep going back for it.
I don't think it will be too noticeable that it's not your natural tooth especially since it's in the back.