Lets undo a cavity - Dental Health Message Board

Mlgemi · 03-05-2009, 01:09 AM

Ok so here is my dental story.
I'm 28 years old, I'm incredibly vane about myself. I'm a model (not famous) but nonetheless a print model.
Two Years or so ago I had gone to my dentist because I was having some discomfort on my upper #14th molar. My dentist tells me that I have a cavity that should be taken care of so we proceeded and had that done. A few weeks later I'm in incredible pain. I had my dentist check it out again and now He tells me well I thought I could've saved your molar but I need to perform a root canal on it. I'm freaking out. I've never had this done, all I know is that it is a painful procedure blah blah blah. But I went for it because what else could I do. He's drilling away, hovering over me and I just can't wait for it to be over. Finally he says well I can't do it. I'm like WHAT? How come?! I'm devastated confused in pain in agony. Well I just can't get to it he says. He covers it up with a temporary filling and that was that. He referred me to a root canal specialist. After this I couldn't imagine going to see someone else about this. I was done with it. I didn't want to deal with it anymore. A month goes by and yes there is discomfort and now I have a little bulge from my gum surrounding my 14th molar (infection). It hurt so much, I can't even begin to explain. A few months go by and I decide to see another dentist about my little problem. He looks at it and says well we're going to have to extract this one. WHAT!!!! I cried and cried and cried to him.... a total damsel in distress. How can this happen to me? OMG what am I to do?!? I'm still young this stuff doesn't happen to young people. Anyway he tells me I can get an implant put in, and explains the whole procedure. I refused and left. After that the pain just went away. There seemed to be no infection anymore. I feel great, no pain. After 7 months or so I went to see this dentist again he couldn't believe I still had my tooth. But of course if it doesn't hurt why pull it out? I know that I have an infection there but it doesn't hurt and I don't want to take my molar out. I can't see myself in that predicament. The dentist made sure I knew what were the consequences, because there is an infection my vital organs are working extra hard to keep the infection away and cause the life span of them to deteriorate (liver, kidney and so on). I have to take the tooth out and if I don't well I will just live a shorter life because of it. Isn't this just horrible? I wish I could go back in time and redo it all over again. Along with other things in my life that I wish I could redo. Yes if I had one wish I would wish to redo it all.

Thelma-Louise · 03-05-2009, 06:49 AM

This is why I never recommend others let a general dentist do a root canal - even though they often charge far less than an endo. Do yourself a big favor and find a good endodontist - root canal specialist. They have the correct tools and technology and training to make root canals pain free and save your tooth as well. Generally 2 appts and the issue is resolved. Letting the tooth just sit there with an infection is not the answer. Also b/c this is a tooth used in chewing, the tooth should have a crown put on otherwise it might fracture as some point in the future as root canals can make teeth brittle over time. Ask the endo you go to to refer you to a good dentist for the restoration.

PS I have often wished for "do overs" myself - I have a list of them now - which is good b/c you tend to never make those mistakes again in the future. At least this is one of those that can be corrected.

Mlgemi · 03-05-2009, 11:08 AM

hi!Thanks for your advice! I didn't know that at this point I could restore my molar. Is that still possible? I asked the second dentist about that and he said because the tooth is perforated that it would be tough to restore the tooth. He said this because if he did restore the tooth there is a chance the infection would return. What do you think?

taape · 03-05-2009, 06:04 PM

I've learned my lesson and always ask for a referral to the endodontist. As Thelma Louise said, they have the correct tools and Experience. I didn't realize that tooth infections could be so life threatening until I experienced it myself this past summer.

My tooth hurt but not that much. By the time I went in the side of my face was swollen and I was in horrible pain. I had to take antibiotics before the procedure and only made it 3 days and then the specialist did an emergency root canal.

Teeth are located close to your head and brain. I never want to have an untreated infection there. I don't understand what the problem your first dentist ran into with the root canal but he should have refunded you your money so you could get it done correctly. I'm sorry your suffering so much. Let us know what you decide to do but I wouldn't keep an infected tooth in my body, it's too risky medically.

Stribe · 03-05-2009, 09:28 PM

I will slightly disagree with Thelma, some general dentists are equipt and trained well enough to do root canals correctly. Lower molars and anterior teeth usually have root canals that are so easy its sometimes easier to do the root canal than the crown. However, upper molars are the hardest to do (more roots) and are the ones I would agree should be done by an endodontist everytime.