OT - Root canal

[Kiki]

Hey Nutters!

So...I was informed by my dentist's office that I will be needing a root canal. This takes place on Friday, February 13 (this does not bode well...) and after looking up what happens during said procedure, I'm more than a little freaked out.

Anyone out there had a root canal? Is it as bad as it looks/sounds?

I know...one of my biggest worries is...how in the world I'm going to be able to afford it...and then the crown between the 4-6 weeks I have to get that taken care of.

Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, guys!

~Kiki~

[TheEqualizer]

I guess the experience is really subjective, but here is my experience.

I have had 2 root canals in my life by 2 different dentists. For me, it really wasn't anything big. The anesthesia makes it such that there is no pain. The worst thing is the sounds. So use an iPod.

[smudge]

Never had root canal, but have had some rather heavy duty dental stuff over the years. I'd absolutely go with EQs iPod suggestion (wish I'd had the technology at the time). Nothing ever hurt while my mouth was being yanked about, and I don't know of anyone who had pain during root canal, but tuning out the mechanical sounds is a very sensible idea.

And have some good painkillers ready for afterwards. My teeth never gave me gyp afterwards, but damn my jaw ached from being yanked about a bit.

Hope it goes well - and don't worry!

[sixteenlaps]

oh I had a root canal. the procedure itself did not hurt at all, and I got percocets for the pain afterwards.
if you want to use an ipod made sure you do not use earbud headphones. get some that just go over your ear, or else it will just amplify the drilling sounds

good luck

[njperry]

I have had 2 root canals. Not the worse denatal work I have ever had. Some gum surgery was worse by far.

I really didn't mind the root canal itself at all. I will say that I had just awful pain in the tooth leading up to first root canal, so that make ot great to get rid of the pain. It wasn't the wrose pain in my life but it was the worse pain that lasted over several hours. To emphasize, the pain was BEFORE the root canal and why I needed it, not because of the root canal.

Getting the follow cap I found to be more of a challenge than the actual root canal. Cutting off part of the tooth for the cap was worse for me than the root cannnal itself.

[Madgrad]

If you have a good dentist it should be no sweat-- root canals are much, much easier than they used to be. But yeah, pretty damned expensive.

[DirtyMartini]

I had a root canal because of a cracked tooth a few years back. They sound scary, but it was easy peasy. The root canal itself didn't hurt and had pretty minimal pain after. The only real pain was from the novocaine needle and (because it was a molar) soreness from having to keep my jaw stretched open so wide for so long.

[moonstone]

[quote="sixteenlaps"]oh I had a root canal. the procedure itself did not hurt at all, and I got percocets for the pain afterwards.
if you want to use an ipod made sure you do not use earbud headphones. get some that just go over your ear, or else it will just amplify the drilling sounds

good luck[/quote]

Ooh that would be horrid. The worst bit is the sound effects.

It's not painful though except to your bank balance.

Good luck Kiki

[conroy]

I remember hearing the sounds of having my wisdom teeth pulled and waking up enough to see the bloody mess for a second in the mirror above my head and then going back to sleep.

[samburusunset]

[quote="conroy"]I remember hearing the sounds of having my wisdom teeth pulled and waking up enough to see the bloody mess for a second in the mirror above my head and then going back to sleep.[/quote]


Ewwwwwww


I'm not sure y'all are making the poor girl feel better.



I like S'laps' earphone advise.

[policefan]

I had one but it was nothing like James Frey described it in a "Million Little Pieces"


Kiki, you'll be just fine.

Don't think too much about it.

[IndyGirl]

[quote="policefan"]Kiki, you'll be just fine.

Don't think too much about it.[/quote]

What she said.^

[conroy]

[quote="samburusunset"][quote="conroy"]I remember hearing the sounds of having my wisdom teeth pulled and waking up enough to see the bloody mess for a second in the mirror above my head and then going back to sleep.[/quote]


Ewwwwwww :shock:


I'm not sure y'all are making the poor girl feel better.



I like S'laps' earphone advise.[/quote]

Actually, what I saw didn't bother me all that much. I thought it was kinda interesting.

[dafttart]

Hi Kiki,

I had some root canal work done about 4 months ago and it really wasn't as bad as I was expecting. The worst bit was that the dentist hadn't given me enough anaesthetic to begin with and I nearly shot through the ceiling when he started drilling! Once he'd numbed me to within an inch of my life, it was all ok, just a bit boring! Was wishing that I'd taken my iPod and listened to an audio book.

However don't do what I did straight after coming out of the surgery. As I was walking home, I saw our postman and gave him a big beaming smile. The look of horror on his face will live with me until the day I die! When I got home I looked in the mirror and smiled and nearly pissed myself laughing at how lop-sided and grotesque I looked It took about 4 hours for me to have ANY control over the left side of my face!

YOU'LL BE FINE!

[irishrose1969]

Hey there. I am the worlds biggest chicken when it comes to dentists. I have had bad experiences so. It had been a while since my last visit. However I have not had a root canal. Just deep cleanings mostly and some gum work and wisdom teeth pulled. No cavities or anything else like that.

Ian and Erin are going to the dentist, and they told me I needed to go too. I was completely panic stricken and terrified. So being a brave girl...I went yesterday with a lump in my throat and hands shaking and sat with the dentist and talked his ear off about my fears and fobias. He was awesome and really listened and reasured me about everything and my dental cleaning/procedure did not hurt at all cuz they really doped me up. They put LOTS of that numbing gel on q tips and then had me close my eyes while they gave me novicane 11 shots to be exact. I never felt any of those shots. NOT ONE. I am a little sore today, but worth it. He and his wife worked as a team and they explained everything as they were doing it. I go back next week for a polishing. No UV whitening he said with my fair skin. Too much UV light is dangerous for me he said. There are other ways. To think I just found him by driving in the neighborhood. I am glad I had a great experience. I am able to eat, but anything cold and my teeth are sore and sensitive. I got some sensodine and today I am alot better.

I think if you just explain your fears, and ask questions before you go in, you should be fine. Good luck.
keep us posted.