I've been having a bit of trouble with one of my molars, noticed it for the first time a few weeks ago. I was eating some ice cream and I got an intense stabbing pain in my tooth which lasted......20 seconds or so I'd guess, although it felt like forever! Anyway, the stabbing pain died down to a mild dull ache which lasted about another hour or so.

I asked a few people I know about it, and they all think I need a root canal, and from looking on the internet, I think they're probably right.

Problem is, I don't have a dentist just now and can't really afford one for about 6 months. Is it alright to wait until then? Or will the tooth get a lot worse in 6 months? At the minute, it's bothering me a bit, but I'm not in constant pain or anything.

Also, can someone tell me what it's like to get a root canal? I've never had one and I'm quite worried about it because I've heard bad stories growing up!

Does it only hurt when eating cold food? Have you tried toothpaste for sensitive teeth? I have been needing a root canal for almost 2 yrs now & it is no worse than it was but one never knows how long that will last. Sorry I can't help. Good luck!

Just because the tooth is sensitive to cold, does not necessarily mean that you need a root canal on the tooth.
You could have tiny fractures on the tooth
A filling may be loose and/or cracked
Your gums may have receeded
Using a hard toothbrush instead of a soft toothbrush
You could be grinding and/or clenching your teeth and that tooth may be sore from the trauma.


What you need to do, is schedule an appointment with your dentist. Have him/her take an x-ray and evaluate the tooth and your teeth in general. The pulp may not necessarily be damaged to the point of needing a root canal and you could just need a filling or some type of restoration and/or better oral care.

It's not the cold sensitivity that leads me to think it needs root canal, it's more because the pain lingers for a fair amount of time afterwards - apparently that's a textbook sign of irreversible pulpitis, which means I would need root canal.

I had the same symptoms last night but much more severe, the stabbing pain (I was eating ice cream again) was REALLY bad, and I had a moderately painful aching toothache for about 2 hours afterwards.

Just a bit more info, the tooth in question doesn't have any fillings in it, but last night after I got the pain I examined it very closely in the mirror and unfortunately discovered that I can see a cavity in it......

So I definitely need SOMETHING done to this tooth, whether or not it's root canal. Problem is, I can't afford to get anything done until I start working in August. I was just wondering whether it could wait that long or whether it's likely to get significantly worse in the next few months.

The longer you wait, the worse it is going to get. The rate at which a cavity grows, depends on a few factors. Your diet, oral healthcare, how acidic your saliva is, and how much saliva you produce.

If you need to wait a few months for the dental visit, avoid eating foods that irritate the tooth even more, make sure you brush your teeth, floss and rinse after every meal. You need to keep that tooth as clean as possible. Make sure to brush your teeth before bed. It's the most important time of the day to brush your teeth.

You can also get oil of cloves at the pharmacy and/or health food store. Just take a Q-tip and dab just a little bit of the oil cloves on the end and then rub it around the tooth. The oil of cloves will help soothe the nerve in the tooth and the pain will subside.

May be you can go to a place which have student dentists, which charge less and have it done.

I had the same symptoms you had. Unfortunately I waited and my tooth became absessed and they ended up pulling it. After I saw what my tooth looked like after they pulled it, I do not wait around any longer. Luckily, this was a back molar. Tooth pain never get's better, trust me, it only gets worse.

I do not have insurance, but my Dentist is good about discounting the bill, and letting me make payments if I have to.

I have another back tooth now that I let go, and I am having the same kind of pain you are describing, it is being addressed on Monday. My options would be to root canal it, and crown it or pull it. I am choosing to pull it because it is so far back in my mouth, and the procedures alone to fix it would be very, very costly. I just spent over $1,000.00 getting perio cleanings done. This will be my last tooth to be removed. After this I have 4 fillings and a crown, and I will be done.

My teeth in the course of 2 years, look 100% better. And IMO, anyone who has not had a cleaning done needs to go. I cannot stress how important this is. Letting this go can be dangerous. I am so glad I had mine done. My gums are a nice coral pink, and my fillings look better, and my gums have not bled once since having it done. If you get it done under novacaine, it is a piece of cake.

The sooner you can get in the better (of course). If it truly is in need of a root canal its best to get at it before it becomes worse. They can abscess which is excruciating. My mom had one that had an abscess and half her face was swollen from it. Definitely step up your oral hygeine in the meantime, and avoid eating the things that cause you pain and can be hard on your teeth (sodas, etc). The root canal procedure itself isnt bad at all. Ive had three done and they have never bothered me as far as the procedure goes. The worst for me is getting numbed up, and jaw pain afterward from having my mouth open for a long period of time.