Root Canal

jm2926

I've had root canal treatment on an incisor, with a plan to have a crown fitted. However, on both occasions it seems fine by a few days afterwards, then descends into toothache over the following week or two.

Unfortunately the holidays have resulted in long gaps between appointments. I'm due back to the dentist on the 8th and I'm not sure how to proceed. At the last appointment (17th Dec) he said there shouldn't have been pain following the root canal, but he did it again and game me some antibiotics. He said if it didn't work the tooth may have to come out, and I'd really rather keep it.

Does this sound normal? Woke last night with toothache It's generally aching most of the time now and hurts when brushing.

Bayonetta

I've had two root canals now - one with something similar to what you've described and one with out - my dentist did warn me that it might be uncomfortable for awhile afterwards as it had been poked about quite a bit (The anaesthetic didn't quite take for that one either, oh joy!!) and it did feel rather bruised for about a week after the first appointment.

bacardi66

I had root canal on my front bottom tooth (think that's an incisor?!) in June, it took a good while for it to feel anything like normal again and it was painful for about 4 weeks and a while longer before I could bite into something like an apple again so I think my experience was similar to you. If you're still in pain in a couple of weeks perhaps you should go back to the dentist.

Im going to see my dentist in the next month for my routine check up and also want to find out if the root canal has definitely been successful and Im not going to lose the tooth.

Good luck!

nyc_451

Does anyone know if I a tooth infection is always followed by a root canal? I will book an appointment soon but curious for now.

jm2926

Back at the dentist tomorrow, not looking forward to it. I'll see what he advises, the tooth is sore when brushing but it's not terrible/as bad as last time.

It seems the way the NHS dental charges are structured that the patient only pays the same amount for a single treatment within 2 months. I wonder if this makes dentists reluctant to spend a lot of time and several appointments on the one issue when it's a fixed payment.

johnhoque

My experience....

Had excruciating pain and so went to my normal private dentist (covered by Tesco dental insurance that i pay £20 monthly). She advised needed root canal and would require 2 seperate appointments for the surgery and in meantime gave antibiotics.

The antibiotics worked but I didn't want 2 separate appointments over 2 weeks, so went on colleagues recommendation to Harley Street. One 3 hour operation immediately (next day), slightly sore afterwards but then zero pain. Don't think you should have any pain, I was warned can get infected. Found out not covered so I footed a very expensive bill.

In the end was worth the money as it wasn't as painful as I feared and zero pain post operation. I think the NHS guys don't do as good and thorough job and this was illustrated by my normal private dentist not being as good as Harley Street. My mother uses NHS and they have botched too many times, and I end up sending her to Harley Street through relative (who does cheaply).

Sorry long rant, but NHS dentists not up to scratch (my American boss says UK dentists in the Stone Age), keep moaning at them, there shouldn't be pain....my sister got lucky and got a good NHS dentist after complaining many times. She ended up getting referred to a hospital who had proper dentists, push for an emergency hospital appointment if it persists....

coldstreamalways

Nothing like a few sweeping generalisations johnhoque, I hope Welshdent doesn't read this.

Yes, an infected tooth always needs root canal treatment (not antibiotics).

johnhoque

I apologise for the generalisations. Just my experience across my whole family which has shaped those generalisations.

I agree there are some great NHS dentists which as I said my sister has found who have really sorted out her teeth but she only got them by complaining against 2 or 3 others. I know of some great ones as well within friend circles.

I'm not the type to complain or speak up nor are the rest of my family so they get poor treatment (except my sister who is a big mouth!). With the NHS I have found if you don't question and complain you don't get the best treatment....

nyc_451

Is root canal difficult to do? I am afraid of going to nhs dentist but private ones costs sooo much here... Wondering if nhs could do a good job also It's a front tooth, not much left of it already...

welshdent

coldstreamalways wrote: »

Nothing like a few sweeping generalisations johnhoque, I hope Welshdent doesn't read this.

Yes, an infected tooth always needs root canal treatment (not antibiotics).

Oh I spotted this but I was busy doing my late evening ... as it happens doing rubbish 2 vist root canal treatment that doesnt work

john FWIW if you read the literature .... which I have ... some of which written by british dentists .... there is plenty of evidence to show 2 visits are extremely effective. Single visit treatment is also extremely effective however its not a case of one being modern the other being old fashioned. It is about employing the best techniques for each situation. Today for example I treated one patient with a draining sinus on a failed root canal treatment (was done some 20 years ago and only recently started giving trouble) and another which had quite a large amount of infection causing significant bone loss at the apex of the tooth. Given it is bacteria that cause the problems it is logical to think there is a lot of bacteria associated with these cases. It is documented that a multi stage approach using appropriate inter appointment medicaments and irrigation solutions cause a greater reduction in bacterial load than single visit alone. Logically then, killing more bugs is likely to give a better outcome. Sod all to do with being modern or old fashioned, NHS or private. Its doing the right think and doing the right thing right. Incidentally "old fashioned" endodontic techniques offer the same outcomes when "done right" as modern techniques "when done right". I have found in my experience that in chronic infection cases such as these, it is preferable to avoid 1 visit management as post operative flare ups are harder to manage such as a phoenix abscess. Multi stages particularly involving a discharging sinus also allow you to assess if the treatment is being effective.
But what do I know? I am a rubbish British NHS dentist that's stone aged with my approach using a microscope and having access to a cerec bluecam unit.



A British NHS dentist who has re done more than a few American root fillings.


p.s. the NHS doesnt do root canal treatment. Dentists do

Applolgies for my soap box! I also do single visit treatments! haha

welshdent

blue_mango wrote: »

Is root canal difficult to do? I am afraid of going to nhs dentist but private ones costs sooo much here... Wondering if nhs could do a good job also It's a front tooth, not much left of it already...

I refer back to my last post ... its not the NHS doing a good or a bad job. Its the dentist that does it and how they are paid for their work should not inherently make them good or bad. It may make them give you more or less time but NHS dentits are not sent on a course to make them bad. We are mostly all trained the same way. Some of us then find a flare or interest in some areas over others as one may expect given other occupations doing similar. I for example make rubbish dentures. Not deliberately I hasten to add.

Is root canal treatment hard? A really unhelpful answer ... it depends. It depends on the tooth needing the treatment, it depends on your tollerance. It depends on what equipment is available.
One I did today for me in my surgery was very easy. I had to drill through the back of an old bridge on a lower tooth. An old bridge that was needed to be kept going. Took me about 5 minutes to find the canal and the rest was easy. Take me out of my surgery and put me in one with no microscope and no ultrasonic scaler and it becomes hard.

The best person to judge if your tooth is treatable or not is the dentist that sees it and knows you. If they do not feel they can do it there is no point coercing them because they know your tooth and how it relates to their skills far better than you or I. See what they say and be lead by them. If you arent happy then by all means get a second opinion but dont think its NHS v Private. Its skill and confidence in that skill. Root canal treatment can indeed be extremely complicated but it can also be reasonably straight forward.