I've just been told I have to have 4 lots of root canal treatment. Reading all the about the pain involved and the fact that they 'go bad' doesnt appeal to me at all. I'm in no pain whatsoever and only went to the dentist about a small chip in one of my lower teeth, again with no pain. When i was a kid, it was all about fillings. So if i'm in no pain then why cant i just have them filled. Does anybody know anything about this. Also, fillings are a damn sight cheaper. Can i insist on fillings instead of root canal treatment.

Have you had a second opinion? If you have no cavities why would you have anything done? I"ve got an appt next week about a root canal but I've had pain for 2 yrs which started with a new filling. Good luck!

I don't know why you say they "go bad." That should not be the case. Once the root is removed, it's gone. Nothing to "go bad." And the process isn't really painful. My BIL is an endodontist so I have experience with this.
But I'd get a second opinion. My ex was going to a dentist who liked to crown everything instead of doing fillings. And DO NOT let a general dentist do a root canal. That's not his area of expertise.

I had a root canal where the canal developed a slight infection at the very tip of the root near the sinus several years after the initial procedure was done - so it was retreated by an endodontist. It was initally done by a regular dentist whereas the others I have were done by the same endodontist - so I would agree to go to an endodontist if a root canal is necessary. The procedure was no more painful than having a filling done - the most I felt was the shot of novacaine. They may ache for a few days afterwards but so does a tooth with a large filling when its replaced. A few advil or tylenol for a few days helps.

Luckily for me each time I have needed one it was obvious the tooth was in trouble or infected - a white pimple would form at the base of the tooth on the gum and pain would follow shortly thereafter.

I would go for a 2nd opinion. Some dentists prefer doing crowns for larger fillings to ensure the future health and stability of the tooth - but prepping for crowns (filing the teeth down) can sometimes damage the tooth structure thereby requiring a root canal in the future as well - so some dentists always want to root canal a tooth when a crown is done. But I have had a few crowns done without root canals and never had a problem with them years later.