Health
Related: About this forumWhat can I expect with a root canal?
I'm having my first next week. Note: I'm not asking for advice. The decision has been made. What I want to know is what kind of misery during and after the procedure can I expect? And any tips for how to deal with it.
Chainfire
(17,757 posts)Don't worry about it, you will be fine.
Response to Chainfire (Reply #1)
claudette This message was self-deleted by its author.
Jilly_in_VA
(10,886 posts)any discomfort should be minor. You will be numbed good and proper and the main discomfort will be having your mouth wide open for a considerable period of time. I've had a few and I'm considered pretty hard to numb, so I'm telling you it's not anything like horror stories you may have been told. Any problems afterward may be some soreness at the injection sites or places where the dentist may have had to place something to help keep your mouth wide open so he can get where s/he's going. You'll probably want to avoid extremes of hot, cold, or spicy food for a day or two after if your injection sites are sore. Good luck! (I have dental phobia so please be assured I'm telling you the truth!)
Turbineguy
(38,376 posts)It's a piece of cake. They've really made it much better, but the procedure has a bad reputation.
I've had 5 of them.
bahboo
(16,953 posts)it's pretty easy nowadays...have had a few myself...
Midnight Writer
(22,972 posts)Had it done in the evening, after hours. Was fine to go to work the next morning.
alwaysinasnit
(5,253 posts)day after I'm fine. I would just eat soft foods for a day or two. I hope your procedure goes well.
wryter2000
(47,454 posts)Good idea
yonder
(10,002 posts)I was close to panic with dread due entirely to awful stories I had always heard. I suppose some procedures might have complications but in my case, nothing to it.
enough
(13,454 posts)but a competent dentist or endodontist knows exactly how to use Novocain for the situation, before the procedure and during if necessary.
claudette
(4,492 posts)lots of Novocain, no real pain during the drilling, joy when the dentist says nerve is out no pain now, lots of digging, temporary crown put in. Done. Some discomfort after the Novocain wears off but Ibuprofen works on that. No problem. I had 2 but hope I never have to go through such an intense procedure. Even worse than an extraction. But dont listen to me. I have ALWAYS hated going to the dentist. LOL
TheRealNorth
(9,629 posts)Don't be afraid to ask for another shot of novocaine (or whatever it is they use nowadays). I actually had to have it done over 2 visits, because my root structure was pretty complex and one visit wasn't enough to get it all entirely.
But otherwise, pain during the procedure isn't an issue as long as they gave you enough pain killer. Probably will have more discomfort afterwards for a few days, which can be treated with ibuprofen or a acetominophen.
claudette
(4,492 posts)any procedure, my dentist always says raise your hand if you feel pain. I ❣️him for that!!😊
wryter2000
(47,454 posts)NewHendoLib
(60,500 posts)Cleaning out the infected root. Not a pain...just a unique sensation!
claudette
(4,492 posts)No pain. Just pressure
Jirel
(2,259 posts)It all depends on how good your dentist is. Mine is ex-military, used to working in battlefield conditions, and a former professor, so he is HELLA fast and good. He numbs you up so hard that half your face will be numb for the rest of the day, and is in and out with no pain and as fast as a basic filling. The only irritating part is doing a temporary casting for the fake tooth - nasty tasting, drooly, and may take more than one try. Afterward, he usually gives me an RX for 5 hydrocodone. Ive only ever needed 1/2 of one, the time he was training a new assistant so there had been a bit more fumbling. The other 2, I had no appreciable pain afterward. Finally, you have to come back for your permanent fake tooth when its ready. Easy-peasy, and quick.
Mileage may vary depending on the dentist, of course. If an oral surgeon is doing it, chances are itll be a lot like my dentist. If its a regular dentist, you may have technique from crappy and slow, to excellent, with a lot more variability.
MOMFUDSKI
(7,080 posts)no pain at all. The only thing that did happen to me once was a heart-pounding episode that scared me a lot. Thought I was having a heart attack. Dentist and nurse said nothing although they could see veins in my neck pounding. Talked to neighbor nurse later that day and she said the novocaine contains epinephrine and a big dose can cause that. Only last a minute or two. Why don't the dentists tell you it MAY happen and then you could ride it out. A good doc years ago froze my upper arm to remove a skin cancer and did forewarn me but that was after the endodontist fiasco. You have your good docs and you have the others . . . You will be fine. And let your dentist know you are aware of the epinephrine and what could possibly happen.
Warpy
(113,130 posts)Getting the temporary and permanent crowns to seat properly seems to be the fiddly bit.
phylny
(8,585 posts)No pain. Good luck!
wryter2000
(47,454 posts)I feel totally reassured now!
twodogsbarking
(12,228 posts)womanofthehills
(9,265 posts)My dentist is into Lazar dentistry. Once my mouth was numb, he did the root canal in 5 minutes - bunch of flashing lights. Definitely not like yrs ago. No pain at all.