Root Canal Treatment or Tooth Extraction? Not for the squeemish!

[washboy2005]

You've never been offered gas??

I have a massive phobia of needles so when I needed major dental work for tooth extraction etc... My dentist referred me to a Dental Practice/Anxiety clinic where they offered excellent treatment, they put a nozzle over your nose and you inhale deeply and within seconds the gas makes you feel like your really heavy, and just oh so relaxed LOL.
Once that has taken effect, they also slip a small needle into the back of your hand (not sure of its purpose, sorry). But once thats done, your still conscious however you are not really aware of what is going on around you LOL, very nice feeling actually.

They carry on your dental work ETC with you being so relaxed and whatever you dont realy notice that theyre sticking needles in your gums to numb ya chops LOL.

Perhaps you could asked to be referred to a similar place?

Whichever route you decide to take, I hope your pain and suffering ends very soon!

Take Care
Good Luck!

 

[sikiguya]

Gas

My son had to have a few cavities filled and he does not like dentists either (he is 4 now but had these done when he was 3). I was referred to a dentist who uses the nitrious oxide gas. What a difference it makes! He was able to let them put the thing on his nose and within 2-3 minutes he was all loose. He sat on my lap and could answer the nurses and Dr's if they asked him a question-he was very lucid. They did all the work without novicaine too. It was amazing.

On the other hand, my daughter had to have 3 teeth pulled because of overcrowding as her adult teeth were starting to come in. She had a tiny mouth/bite and there is not enough room for all the adult teeth to be there. At the age of 6, she had the 3 baby teeth pulled with just novicaine. I will NEVER let that happen again. No one told me about the gas that could have been used and she went through a lot of pain for no reason (and so did the dentist because she clocked him in the nose!!!!!!!)

 

[chestermikeuk]

Molars!!!!

Hi Nick

I would go with the root canal work, I had one done 16yrs ago along with a permenant bridge following an incident with a Brass Band Bass Tuba ( I played in a band and whilst marching some bozo smacked into me whilst I wasnt looking and the rather large metal mouthpiece whacked me in the mouth). The only thing I felt after the injection was the brushes to check everything was clear...a friend also suggested using Oil of Cloves, available from chemists, dab a few drops on around the area, doesnt half sooth the pain...have had no probs since...

All the best, Mike

 

[toggleswitch]

Q: What's more dangerous than a criminal with a switch-blade (knife)?

A: A fa***t wth a chipped tooth.

 

[toggleswitch]

Heather:
Cavities in a 3 y.o. You can't tell me dentists fill baby teeth! Did I read your post incorrectly?

My childhood dentist was a leftie with a chair designed for a rightie. *UGH* He had no touble giving laughing gas though!
His X-ray machine had a big black cone on it. I thought that was the drill! And I was no stranger to it. Due to digestive issues as an infant the formula used was indigestible to me. Long story short, teeth did nto get nutrients needed out of formula.. Had them all filled by the time I was 12. Freikin silver amalgams still endure. Perhaps we can blame my erratic behavior on mercury poisoning from them.. *LOL*

~I have a massive phobia of needles.
I used to also, but with weekly allergy shots, one becomes densensitized.
Let's put it another way. With the more prickin' you get, even the really big ones become *YAWN* ho-hum.

 

[sikiguya]

My son has really deep crevices in his teeth and the dentist said that no matter how clean we keep them, he will always get small cavities (they were so small that he needed no novicane to fix them). They are in his back molars so he will have these for a long time. He doesn't have any loose teeth yet but I have a feeling it will happen within the next year. My daughter lost her first tooth Sept 2005 at the age of 5 1/2 and now has 10 baby teeth missing.

I had allergy shots too for several years weekly. It was not fun but at least I can have a dog now but I am still allergic to cats, rabbits, or anything with soft fur. Did they help you?

 

[sudsmaster]

"I don't believe he had any birth certificate or re

The father of a friend of mine, of Greek ancestry, refused to check the box on various forms that indicated his race was "Caucasian". Instead he'd check "Other" and fill in the blank with "Greek".

 

[exploder3211]

FUnny

My dentist gives me tons of that gas and oh... HE's not cute at all, but boy does he learn what a gay man does.. Hehehehe...

 

[nickuk]

Thanks so much to everyone who contributed to this thread. It really means so much that you took the time to write.

This problem I had really affected by happiness between christmas and now.

Well I made my decision and just one hour ago I went to the dentist. I had the tooth yanked, and it was an absolutely great experience! I was given three shots of novocaine, skillfully placed and administered, then had to wait in the waiting room for 10 minutes for it to take effect. When I went back int he dentist said that he'd have to drill the tooth out because it was broken too far down. He did this, and I felt him using the drill to loosen the tooth. Then he rocked the tooth about vigorously (I actually quite liked that bit!) and he just pulled it out. It took about 3 minutes in total. I had to bite on a big puffy pad thing filled with stuff which is probably antiseptic and clove oil for a few mins, job done. The cost? £42.

I think that root canal treatment in this country as opposed to the USA is less successful, based on my hours of research on the internet and asking everyone I knew. I didn't want to spend the best part of £1000 on a treatment and a crown if the tooth would need pulling eventually anyway. So many people aged 60 or so I spoke to had rear molars removed 20/30 years ago and never missed them or needed any further treatment.

Of course, I don't know if I made the right decision and possibly won't for a while. But I'm really glad it's sorted....and you know the best thing? My wife said that if I saved all that money on root canal treatment I could buy a new Miele washing machine!!! Yey!!!! I was thinking of that machine, and all the good things in my life, as that drill went it. Not that I needed to cause it was FINE.

So for anyone who is scared of having a tooth out like I was don't be....and I whole heartedly recommend Dr Ansah of Ellton surgery in Chelsmford. What a nice guy, what a great service.

And there the story ends! Thanks very much for your help once again.

Regards,

Nick

 

[jasonl]

Dentist = EVIL

My only experiences with a dentist is with the same asshole that held me down and hollered at me when I was a child. Why did I go back to him repeatedly I don't know but I'm in the same boat. Phobic as hell when it comes to dentistry. Whenever someone even talks about dentists I get weak and start to shake.

The one and only person I'm so glad got displaced by Hurricane Katrina was Dr. Britsch in Chalmette. May his old office rot with mold and rats, and may his drill that he used to hurt me rust away only to be thrown in a big pile of garbage.

 

[Bearpeter]

Pity you don't live in Edinburgh!!!

Our good friend is the consultant that runs the Emergency dental clinic there.... He is well versed in "Sensitive" patients. (Me being one of them!!!)
He's so gentle, reassuring and knows his stuff! Plus he is drop dead gorgeaous, so that made things easier for me to cope with. lol!
I had an extraction many years ago on one of my molars and, yes, I have found a little bit of inward movement but nothing at all to worry about. Personally, I was happy I had the tooth removed (after the event!!!)

By the way..... If you are like me and scared of the needles.... ask for some "Topical anaesthetic" for the point where the needles go in.... it really helps to alleviate the fear if you get worked up over the pain and also tastes like "bubble gum"!!!!

Would like to say enjoy but maybe not!!!!

Good luck!

Peter

 

[mayken4now]

Nick, hope all this has helped.

My .02 cents is:

Dentist are like lawyers, chiropractors, and the likes, they steal. (keep you coming back)

Have an extraction, be done with it.

I cannont speak from personal experience, however, if you have bad teeth and the cost will never decrease or get better, have them all taken out and get dentures. It is cheaper and looks nicer, and in addition, permanent.

Steve

 

[Bearpeter]

Aquarius!!!! Take Note!!!!

What your dentist said about sedation is TRUE!!!!
If he offers it.... have it. I cannot praise this sedation thing enough...! It is FAB! You are slightly aware of what he is asking you to do but you dont give a damn at the time. Afterwards, you have a slight recollection of being asked to open wide etc. Everything else is nice.... honest!

Peter

 

[Bearpeter]

....on a final note....

having just read all the posts on this thread....

I feel sick and trembly!!!!!

 

[petek]

I can only barely remember my 1950's childhood dentist horrors. Fortunately by the mid 60's my dad thru a work buddy found a progressive dentist, his buddys wife was the hygienist. What a difference. I've had numerous things done over the ensuing decades, molars removed, bridgework, filling replacements etc and while some of it was a bit discomforting none of it has actually been painful. The bill is usually the most painful. Contrary to popular belief we don't have free dental in Canada unless it's for medical reasons. You really have to shop around too. I went to one dentist in Calgary for years and years, he was great and fairly new, however as his practice built up, he moved up to fancier and fancier offices and more and more hygienists and assistants. My final, by choice, visit to him was when he had reached about 15 hygienists, 4 partners, and a bevy of babes working the reception area. You'd be laying there having him work on your teeth while he told you all about is new Land Rover or his new S500 blah blah blah . The clincher was when he asked if I'd be interested in trying those new at the time Crest whitestrips when they were first available only to dentists and you needed a prescription. I said "how much" and he said they were something like $200 but that $100 of that money went to his practices "charity fund" Yeah right.

 

[jasonl]

And the irony of ironies was that Dr. Bitch (as I used to call him) had the balls to put up a sign in his office that says "We cater to cowards". It should've read "We create cowards".

 

[paulg]

My root canal is over 20 years old.

You have so much good information prior to mine. Why am I answering?
I had a root canal over 20 years ago. Tooth is still perfect. Would I do it again? Absolutely YES.
I LOVE MY DENTIST. He is near PAINLESS. Actually he is a DOCTOR and a DENTIST together. (ex: If you have a heart condition and need dental work, he can perform the procedure).
Save any teeth you can. You soon forget the icky part of the ordeal.