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

[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.