Root canal is necessary?
Added: March 29, 2006 - 8:04 PM
By: pinetaj@yahoo.com, Tempe, AZ
Need Dentist / Specialist:
Yes
Provide Cost Estimate:
Yes
X-rays Available:
No
Case Summary
Teeth:
Last Full Mouth X-Ray: dec, 2005
Last Cleaning: dec, 2005
Case Description
my filling on 18 came out ( around dec 15th,2005). My dentist stated to clean it up, and then decided it needs a root canal. I came back home with sedative filling (temporary filling.) (jan 10, 2006) Due to too high cost, I went to another dentist (jan 20, 2006). He said he can't know by looking at x-lay film. But he said if it needs root canals, you should have a severe pain. But, I hadn't have any pain. he recommended me to stay for a while to check whether it develop any pain. Since then, 3month passed by. (mar 29,2006). I didn't have any pain (i have some sensitivity on that with cold water pretty rarely). Does it mean i don't need a root canal? Having a regular filling is ok? I appreciate any advice.
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Reply: Root canal is necessary?
added: April 01, 2007 - 12:04 AM
Cost Estimate: $ No Estimate at this time. Additional information required.
This is a tough situation. It was probably so close to the nerve that the original dentist expected a root canal would be necessary. A sedative filling was to help sooth the tooth until a root canal would be completed. It is there to buy you time.Here is the hard part, the sedative filling material is weak and will not last, requiring a more permanent restoration. From the description it sounds like a crown would be best (trust me, in my mouth, I would take a lab made restoration like a crown, inlay, onlay, etc over a large filling EVERY TIME!!!). This further work will further inflame the nerve. A healthy nerve would be able to handle any necessary fillings or crowns, but an unhealthy nerve will not survive the inflammation that will occur from the necessary work to fix the tooth. I would expect the root canal on this tooth.This is the most important part. LACK OF PAIN DOES NOT MEAN LACK OF PROBLEM. It is like heart disease, some experience no problems until they have a heart attack. Does this mean that there was not a problem? NO, it was there for quite some time.The tooth could be dying and this would initially diminish the pain and cause abnormal sensitivity to cold. Eventually the pain to cold will be lost then followed by a latent period. After that, a radiating, unprovoked pain in the angle of the jaw. It may swell as a result of an infection or cause a blister that drains the infection.Hopefully this will help others in the future.
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