Root Canal?

[RAE]

OK, so I went to the dentist for my 6-month cleaning about two weeks ago. It went fine, although the hygienist was a little rougher than usual on some of my teeth (she said there was more plaque than my last cleaning). Anyway, I go home and a couple days later, the nerve in my one crown (on a lower molar) starts getting very sensitive. It starts hurting whenever I put hot or cold liquids on that side of my mouth, and also hurting when I chew food with that tooth. So I go back to the dentist, and he grinds down the crown a bit, thinking that might help. It doesn't. So now the pain in that nerve is getting worse, and I go back again. Now he says......."ok, looks like you need a root canal", and schedules it for 2 weeks from now (and puts me on a 10-day course of antibiotics). I have never had a root canal, and don't really look forward to having one, but something needs to be done to this tooth so that I can use that side of my mouth again. I am not happy about having to wait two weeks to get this done, either, as it's not much fun trying to eat meals like this.

So I have two questions:

-if you have had a root canal, how did it go? How long until you could start chewing with that tooth again, without pain? Any unanticipated side effects, short- or long-term? and........

- do you think it is possible that the rough cleaning a couple days before the pain started was responsible for this crown starting to hurt all of a sudden? I have had this crown for some 12 years now, with zero problems until now. I have not brought this possibility up with the dentist or the hygienist, but it sure seems to me that the cleaning might have contributed to this problem.

-RAE

 

[Bamaman]

Who knows what's the cause. Might take a better than normal dentist to go thru a cap.I

We go to a root canal specialist --$850 cash, no insurance accepted.

 

[Capwest28]

That's what they told me. Turns out my tooth was cracked under the crown. Diagnosed by CT scan.

 

[RAE]

That's what they told me. Turns out my tooth was cracked under the crown. Diagnosed by CT scan.

So what did they end up doing to fix your problem? I've had an x-ray done on this tooth (no CT scan), and all they said about the x-ray was that everything looked okay. But the nerve hurts like hell.

 

[Katiek]

I've had more root canals than I care to admit. The worst pain is before you go to the dentist. My mouth is a bit sore after they do the root canal, especially if the tooth is in a hard to reach location, but that heals quickly. ,

I wouldn't think the cleaning could do this, but I'm no dental expert.

 

[omni550]

I had several root canals done 20-40 years ago. As I recall, I could start chewing immediately after the procedure as the endodologist basically extracts the pulp/nerve of the tooth and fills that area with gutta percha (the same type of rubber that was used in the center of golf balls back then), and a temporary or permanent filling. Once the nerve is gone, you shouldn't experience any pain in that tooth ever again.

About 25 years ago I developed a terrible tooth ache in a molar with a crown. (Sounds similar to your situation). A visit to the dentist determined that I needed a root canal and the endodologist did his usual thing -- in this case, he drilled right through the crown and did the usual root canal procedure and finished it off with a permanent filling. (I can't recall exactly but the permanent filling was probably done by my dentist).

The root canal procedures were a bit tedious. The tooth in question would be isolated by a dental dam (roughly 4" square sheet of thin rubber with a hole in it). The hole in the dam would be pushed over the tooth (to isolate the rest of your mouth from all the 'stuff' that would be extracted from the pulpy part of your tooth)...and after drilling to reach the soft tissue/pulp, the endodologist would insert a series of ever-larger/longer rat-tail drills (twisting them slowly by hand) into the pulpy area, until all the 'soft stuff' has been cleaned out. Then he'd pack the newly-vacated spaces in the tooth with the gutta percha. As best as I recall, this process was quite tedious and took several hours of sitting there with mouth agape and dental dam hanging out. Somewhere in this process I recall VERY strong hydrogen peroxide being administered...which is another reason for the dental dam -- to keep your gum tissue from contact with the hydrogen peroxide.

Perhaps root canal technology has made vast improvements in the last few decades, but that, to the best of my recollection, is how it was for me.

-------

We can only speculate if the excessive cleaning was the cause. My guess is, sooner or later you would've needed a root canal in that tooth.

-------

To answer your question, I've not experienced any negative short or long-term effects once the root canals were completed.

omni

 

[Packman]

I've had a couple of root canals. They are not as bad as some would make you think. To me, it was similar to getting a crown done. It takes a little longer on a molar (more roots) than a front tooth. If the molar is the last one in back, you have to have our mouth very wide open for the procedure, and that makes it more difficult.

The other issue is that when drilling through an existing crown, it may break. If it does, then you will need to have the crown replaced too. It gets expensive so ask for a price quote. Some dentists do not do root canals. You can get a second opinions (usually for free) if you are not sure it's needed.

 

[painterbill]

My wife has had several root canals over the years and it always seemed to be an ordeal lasting 2-3 hours. I had my first (of two) root canals about 2 years ago. I went to the same practice she did but it had been bought out by 3 endodontists who were just a few (5-10) years out of school. They were trained with newer techniques in that they used attachments on drills as opposed to manually cleaned out the roots. I was really dreading the experience on the first molar, but I was in and out of the chair in 30 minutes and as near painless that I wasn't initially sure he had done the procedure. The second tooth was a front tooth with only one root and I was in and out in less than 20 minutes and that was with him explaining the whole procedure as he went through the procedure. I have had many, many fillings over the years and these two were the easiest of any of them. The cost was ~$950 per tooth but with the root canal experiences the wife had previously it was some of the best money I ever spent on dental care. She has since also had an additional root canal at the same clinic and was completely amazed at the improvement in procedures. They put in a temporary but since we travel 70 miles for the dentist (and endodontist) the dentist had me stop over and she immediately put in the permanent. I was restricted for just an hour or so on eating, I was also lucky in that I had no additional pain associated with the root canal.

 

[JoeWras]

I've only had one. I may be on the way to my second (pulp is very high on the tooth).

The anticipation and "war stories" from friends was the worst part. The procedure took less than 1 1/2 hour (pre-molar). Much of the time was prep. They really sanitize things and dam it up. The entodontist gave me 3 different injections. Really did the trick. I didn't feel a thing.

I was amazed to watch the 22mm puller go in and yank that little worm of nerve out. It was kind of cool, in a bizarre way.

By the next day, I was pain free and had no soreness at all.

(P.S. I'm thinking, 22mm? Hope he doesn't hit my brain!)

 

[LOL!]

1. I have had a root canal. No big deal.

2. I think I was chewing on it the next day.

3. No, the rough cleaning had nothing to do with it.

 

[MissMolly]

I have had several root canals. Some hurt like the devil, others were relatively pain-free procedures. I have never understood why. There is no pain afterwards because the root canal removes the nerve. No nerve, no feeling of pain.

 

[Corporateburnout]

About 25 years ago I developed a terrible tooth ache in a molar with a crown. (Sounds similar to your situation). A visit to the dentist determined that I needed a root canal and the endodologist did his usual thing -- in this case, he drilled right through the crown and did the usual root canal procedure and finished it off with a permanent filling. (I can't recall exactly but the permanent filling was probably done by my dentist).

I had a similar procedure done on one of my crowned teeth where the endodontist drilled through the crown. He told me that the drawback of this procedure is that the crown becomes weak and sure enough a year later my tooth broke in half and needed to be extracted and a new tooth implanted.

For the OP, I also had a few root canals over the last 10 years and on a couple of occasions on very abscessed teeth where the endo had to drain the tooth and treat with antibiotis to reduce the swelling. The pain was so severe that I welcomed the root canal procedure to get rid of it.

You should be able to chew on it a few hours after the procedure and if the procedure is done by an experienced endo it will be painless.

 

[joeea]

do you think it is possible that the rough cleaning a couple days before the pain started was responsible for this crown starting to hurt all of a sudden? I have had this crown for some 12 years now, with zero problems until now. I have not brought this possibility up with the dentist or the hygienist, but it sure seems to me that the cleaning might have contributed to this problem.

My wife is a dental professional. She says No, the cleaning had nothing to do with your need for a root canal. She says it's just a coincidence.

 

[Nemo2]

1. I have had a root canal. No big deal.

+1 I've had 3 or 4.

 

[6miths]

A cleaning may not have had anything to do with it but in my experience some hygienists are also fairly aggressive at probing and stressing existing fillings and anything that they feel looks suspicious either visually or on X-ray. It would be hard to believe that if there were something going on to begin with that poking and prodding would be beneficial.

Had a root canal 20 years ago. Was a piece of cake. Chewing later that day. Jaw a little sore after the freezing came out but Advil took care of it.

 

[Texas Proud]

I had cracked a tooth... they were going to go with just a crown, but it still was sensitive to cold.... said he needed to do a root canal...

When he got in there he said there was nothing to be done except the root canal... the tooth was cracked all the way through... you could not see it on X ray, but easily when it was open... I saw the pic...


I have a problem with a tooth now and will probably be getting a root canal on it... I have been waiting for 4 months for the nerve to heal itself... I think it never will...

 

[Ally]

You don't want to hear about my root canal. I went to a specialist and he had a terrible time with it. It continued to be sensitive and two years later I had it all pulled out and a bridge made. Nothing hurts now. I hope yours goes well and you have no problems.

 

[CoolRich59]

-if you have had a root canal, how did it go? How long until you could start chewing with that tooth again, without pain? Any unanticipated side effects, short- or long-term?

I can't speak to your second question, but I guess it depends on how much confidence you have in your dentist and his/her staff. To the extent you can like a dentist , I love mine and his staff. When I went in an explained the pain I was experiencing, they told me I needed a root canal. My dentist gave me the name of an oral surgeon he recommended and that was all I needed to know.

Re the root canal itself, I had mine done in Dec 2014 and no problems at all.

I met with the oral surgeon, but he could not locate the specific tooth with certainty. He told me it was likely that the pain would intensify to the point where there would be no doubt which tooth was the problem.

That happened the same night. I called their service and they fit me in the next morning.

I was out of there in about 90 minutes I'd say and don't recall any after effects at all. I probably took it easy with food for a couple of days and took some Advil. But that was it, and I have not had any problems with the tooth since then.

 

[pullmyfinger]

1. I have had a root canal. No big deal.

2. I think I was chewing on it the next day.

3. No, the rough cleaning had nothing to do with it.

Yup, that sums it up for me. I've actually had 5 of them done, the most recent about 3 weeks ago. It took a little over an hour. It feels so much better after it is done. I've been fortunate that I had the root canals done before the crowns were placed so I didn't have to worry about cracking a crown.

 

[athena53]

Like many of the others here I've had multiple root canals. All were painless procedures. I did have an unusual amount of pain after one of them for a day or two- never figured out why since it was the same dentist and he was superb. No problems since. Only the cost is painful!

 

[Marita40]

I've had several, including through crowns. The worst part for me is the shots of Novocaine (or whatever they use now) to get the area of numb. Once that is done, just a lot of tedium and spit as they work the place. Mild soreness after for a day or two. One (many years ago) didn't "take" and had to be redone. You'll be fine. Anything is better than tooth ache to me!
I doubt that a "rough" cleaning would cause a tooth to crack unless it was on the edge anyway. Perhaps the two weeks given you before the root canal is to see whether the area settles down or is indeed in need of treatment. You can always wait and see.

 

[wrigley]

I had my first root canal recently. It was on a tooth that already had a crown. The doc went right through the crown and performed the root canal. Out of the chair in about an hour with zero pain during the procedure. I can recommend a guy but he's in Jacksonville Florida!

Good luck to you.

P.S. The worst part of the entire procedure was the 3 shots he gave me in the roof of my mouth!

Mike

 

[HadEnuff]

Retired dentist here:
No, your cleaning had nothing to do with the tooth requiring a root canal.

It is not uncommon at all for a tooth that had a crown a number of years, or decades, to be fine for many many years, and then need a root canal.

I have two in my mouth. One for 15 years, although it had to be retreated after 5, and the other just a few months. BTW, the one that I just had done, I never had a symptom, but routine x-ray revealed pathology in the bone around the root tip. Also very common to need RC and never have had a symptom.

I had a specialist do both of mine, BTW. It's all they do, they do them all day long, day after day. On a molar, under a crown? In my practice that tooth definitely goes to the specialist, who BTW, is called and "endodontist", not the same thing as an "oral surgeon".

Most endodontists now do their procedures while looking through a microscope with lots of light. Under a crown it is very hard to see what your are doing without one.
The chances that the tooth is cracked under the crown are good enough that I'd want a specialist with a microscope evaluating and treating.

You should discuss this with your dentist. Be prepared to pay $1,000- $1500 for a molar root canal under a crown, done by a specialist, depending upon your area.

Best of Luck!

 

[wrigley]

Retired dentist here:
No, your cleaning had nothing to do with the tooth requiring a root canal.

It is not uncommon at all for a tooth that had a crown a number of years, or decades, to be fine for many many years, and then need a root canal.

I have two in my mouth. One for 15 years, although it had to be retreated after 5, and the other just a few months. BTW, the one that I just had done, I never had a symptom, but routine x-ray revealed pathology in the bone around the root tip. Also very common to need RC and never have had a symptom.

I had a specialist do both of mine, BTW. It's all they do, they do them all day long, day after day. On a molar, under a crown? In my practice that tooth definitely goes to the specialist, who BTW, is called and "endodontist", not the same thing as an "oral surgeon".

Most endodontists now do their procedures while looking through a microscope with lots of light. Under a crown it is very hard to see what your are doing without one.
The chances that the tooth is cracked under the crown are good enough that I'd want a specialist with a microscope evaluating and treating.

You should discuss this with your dentist. Be prepared to pay $1,000- $1500 for a molar root canal under a crown, done by a specialist, depending upon your area.

Best of Luck!

Yes........I saw an endodontist also. Just like you said he worked using a microscope and he made it clear to me on a couple occasions to remain as still as I could while he was working!

It was actually quite a pleasant visit.........if you can call a root canal pleasant!

Mike

 

[Corporateburnout]

No problems since. Only the cost is painful!

Tell me about it. I had a crown done then they had to drill through it a few months later for a root canal then the tooth broke a couple of month later and needed an implant. Total cost for that tooth was $8500. Ouch...