Question for *Ship* or other DDS - Dental Health Message Board

picca · 05-16-2001, 11:07 PM

My Dentist has advised I need a couple of caps(crowns). He gets no agrument from me there I have 3 sided fillings on both (very large) and I had a "blow out" on one. I walked through the door knowing my teeth needed work. My dentist and I have a good relationship and I trust him (hard won after 20yrs of no treatment). My problem is this, he has advised me that after removing the old and shaping the new any cavitey under the old may be very close to the nerves and that setting the new base may really stir things up, and that if my teeth dont settle down in a couple of days a root canal might be needed. He has told me that if that happens hell send me to an OS. He said he doesnt do them??? I thought that all dentists were trained to do root canals.
So My question is this, Is that so? are all dentists trained to do root canals and if so is doing them or not, simply a matter of choice that each dentist makes. As Ive said before I like and trust my dentist Id rather he did it if it had to be done. Particularly since I have my wisdom teeth just out and the pain and discomfort Ive endured and the indifference the OS has shown me, I believe it will be a cold day in hell before I let one of them touch me again.
Any info you could give me would be appreciated, and sorry to ask you to bring work home with you on your off hours.
Thanks, Picca

Ship · 05-17-2001, 04:28 AM

I'm glad you have a good rapport with your dentist, he seems like a pretty sharp guy. All dentists are trained to do root canals in school, this is true. Some dentists choose not to do them at all, some will do easier ones, and a few do as many as they can. I'm personally in the later category but I've had extensive post-grad training in this field and enjoy it. Most dentists don't and refer their patients to an endodontist (root canal specialist). If your doc has refered you to a specialist rest assured that you'll receive the very best of care. Take care!

Christie · 05-17-2001, 04:31 AM

Hi!
I'm not a dentist or health professional but having seen quite a few over the last 5 months I feel i am more than qualified to give you an opinion.

I have seen 3 different oral surgeons. You are right - they are not the friendliest people but as long as you get one who is competent or has been referred to you by other people you will at least know they can do their job. There are a lot of people in dentistry that are only there for the money and there truly are people there who care about their patients (and the money)

I read somewhere that even in medicine the doctors with the best bedside manners are sometimes the worst doctors and the ones who are cold fish are the most competent.

I think oral surgeons are the way they are because look at what they do all day - deal with people who are terrified of them. Did you know that dentists have the highest suicide rates? They probably have to detach themselves a little as they know they are causing the person pain but know it's necessary to get their job done. I do think some of them could learn to be a little more gentle and compassionate though.

I saw 2 periodontists and both were different again. They were very pleasant. Apparently dealing with soft tissue, gum and bone puts you in a better mood than pulling wisdom teeth or breaking jaws all day long! :-)

I saw numerous regular dentists also. Like you, my regular long time dentist doesn't do root canals and it terrified me to learn i would have to go to someone else. The first person who did a root canal on me was 6 months out of school and did the wrong tooth.
It turned into a big screw up and it still isn't over yet.

I've lost 2 teeth now. The first because the one they did the root canal on had nothing wrong with it. So when i had continual pain in it they said the root canal failed and i had it extracted. (since none of the professsionals I saw could figure out that it was the tooth beside it hurting from needing a root canal!) The second one because noone could decide if my pain was coming from the tooth or not. This was after consulting yet a second oral surgeon and an endodontist as well as a diagnostic person.

The dental diagnostic person was great - I paid him $120 to see what his opinion was after the first oral surgeon who i had paid $160 to said he didn't know why i had pain and referred me to him. If i were to go into the dental field I would pick diagnosing. You sit in your office and see patients but mostly just look at xrays and talk to them and write reports. Great job - short weekday hours! Low overhead - only one secretary needed. Did you notice most dentists or specialists don't work on Fridays at all? We are all in the wrong field!!!!

Then i saw yet a third oral surgeon who was a little rough and not pleasant.He had a great tan after a 2 week holiday though. He extracted the second tooth under sedation.
I also saw infectious disease specialists. Out of all these professionals and specialists,none of them figured out that my pain was from a tooth (or teeth) needing a root canal.

I finally went back to my original dentist and asked for a referral to a different endodontist (as by now I thought it was probably the nerve in the tooth - as i had never had a root canal in my life i really didn't know what it felt like prior to this)

The endodontist i am seeing now is the best!!
He is what i feel all dental professionals should be like. He calls you the day after he starts the root canal to see how you are.
If you have a problem & call his office you are not left with a rude staff member or secretary - he calls back within 15 minutes with instructions for you. Or to set up an appt. if needed .

Also, i found it took him 1/2 hour to do the first part of a root canal where it took the one who was 6 months out of school over 2 hours. And with this endodontist i didn't feel anything. With the first dentist it was hurting - he had to keep freezing me more.

So, my advice to you. Don't go to an oral surgeon - they don't do root canals anyway.

Get an endodontist and go in for a consultation with 2. It will cost you for one extra consultation. You will get to see the general attitude of both doctors. Ask what they do when there is an emergency after hours. So later if you develop problems you will know that they will be taken care of. Not just ignored.

Get recommendations from other people you know and get someone who has at least 7 or more years of experience.

I hope I have been helpful to you and haven't offended the regular dentists who take time to answer questions here. I think people should hear the good, the bad and the ugly!! :-) As well, people should post good experiences too.

Christie

picca · 05-17-2001, 09:35 AM

Thanks Ship,
Your right he is sharp. I saw him today and asked(actually I pesterd him)he told me that he prefers not to do molor root canals too many roots and complications, and that he prefers to leave that upto someone who has choisen to specialize in that field and there for is more competent. Good Answer!!! And you were right it was the Endodontist he wanted to send me to. I wasn't listening. Gave me hell for that he did. Promised to "hold my hand at the Endodontists (if I quit pestering him.)O Well I managed to cop a new tooth brush and a roll of floss from his stash.
Feel better now. LOL
Thanks for your reply I was a little "hurt" when he told me he wouldn't do it. Guess I should try listening next time.... Novel concept that.
Thanks again for bringing work home.
Most sincerely yours
Picca

PS Christie,
Thanks, your right it does pay to "shop around" thats how I found my dentist and I Consider him worth every penny I spent in consults with others, and then some.
As for my problem with the OS, on a follow up visit( after three days of pain and no sleep) he told me that I was being "Hysterical and that for a woman my age I should expect that it would take longer and hurt more"....Worded just that way....Wrong Answer!!! and I told him so (in very unlady like fasion for a woman my "age" )!! I think he got the jest of it. I think anyone in hearing range got the the jest of it. I was very, very creative with the english language. The door to his office slams really good too!!.
Picca