I have to have what done now?

[Misanthropical]

So, I went in today for my root canal, which was good because I was in horrible pain from that damn tooth. I would wake up in pain, because I would bump that side of my face. It was so bad that my face was swelled up on that side.

Anyway, half way through the dentist tells me that took the main nerve out, so I won't be in pain, but he can't finish the root canal because he can't get the last two nerve endings out, or something like that. I was too busy wondering why it was taking so long and why he kept saying "damn it!"

So, I have to go back next week to have the tooth pulled. Which I had thought about doing on my own since it hurt so damn much!

The dentist will pull the tooth and put in a fake tooth, so the rest of my teeth don't go "HEY! AN EMPTY SPOT! LET'S ALL MOVE AROUND!"

That's just great, not. I wonder how much this is all going to cost me out of pocket when it's all said and done, since we have horrible dental coverage.

I was trying to save that tooth, but it was so badly infected and in pain that some of the nerve endings closed shut.

Oh, and I found out from my pain specialist that the reason I had to take so many antibiotics for it was because the steroids that the pain specialist is using to keep the pain in my back from coming back makes the antibiotics less effective.

I'm going to hide under my bed from the world now. :p

[DGoddessChardonnay]

I'm hurting right along with you as I read that post, Mis.:eek:

I'm in need of dental work myself. Luckily, none of them hurt or are infected but (like my brother and one of my aunts) I seem to have inherited soft teeth and I've got several that have cavities coming up.

I could spend a couple of thousand to have them filled and the older fillings (done back in the mid 80's) replaced, but within a few years my teeth would start to deteriorate further most likely.

So, hopefully late this summer or early fall (after I get new glasses) I'll go to the dentist and have all of them removed and get upper and lower plates. It'll be less expensive and actually better for me in the long run.

And actually having some good teeth will be a major plus - even if they are artificial.

So just send some Fixodent and a walker for Christmas. Hopefully by next year I'll have the hearing aid I was told last year I didn't need.:lol:

[BroSCFischer]

So just send some Fixodent and a walker for Christmas. Hopefully by next year I'll have the hearing aid I was told last year I didn't need.:lol:

If you really want it, I got a walker for you, from when I got my leg run over by a car.:)

Cheap.:D

SC

[BlaqueKatt]

The dentist will pull the tooth and put in a fake tooth, so the rest of my teeth don't go "HEY! AN EMPTY SPOT! LET'S ALL MOVE AROUND!"

That's just great, not. I wonder how much this is all going to cost me out of pocket when it's all said and done, since we have horrible dental coverage.

around here(wisconsin) a permanant dental implant runs around $3000.00 no insurance will cover it.

a bridge is around $1800.00

and a partial is around $800-$1000

[Misanthropical]

Well, that tooth still hurts, but not nearly as much as it was. The dentist did do his best to finish the root canal, but he just couldn't get things to work right.

I don't like the thought of having a tooth pulled, but it's either that or it will get infected again.

I wish I had the money to just get porcelain caps on all of the rest of my teeth and be done with it. :(

[blas]

I feel for you. Every time I go to the doctor to get girly stuff done, I already know I'm going to be paying out the wazoo anyway, then they find something else wrong with me, and I get to come back days later and go through more pain and shell out more money! YAY!

[BookstoreEscapee]

DGoddess, I have inherited somewhat soft teeth, myself...I haven't had a cavity in a couple years, though (knock on wood...). I also have TMJ problems and my jaw has been hurting a lot lately... though right now it's OK.

I hate my brother...he's never had a cavity and is the only one in the family who doesn't wear glasses. No fair. <pouts>

[marty]

I have a chipped tooth I don't have money to fix right now. Very sensitive to hot and cold. I hate teeth sometimes..

[protege]

I've never had a cavity either. Of course there's a reason for that--according to my dentist, my saliva is basic, rather than acidic. It still sucks though--every so often I have to get the 'scale' scraped off. I can't complain though--both of my brothers have had many cavities :p

Jaw problems suck. Some of you know that mine isn't quite the way it should be. That's what happens when you bounce your face off a steering wheel :eek: Ever since then, the joint sometimes swells, or makes a popping noise. It sucks, but there's not much I can do about it.

[Andara Bledin]

I have crap teeth. Bad enamel, so nothing would save them. Every tooth I've had worked on proceeded to fall apart even faster. Meh. Thankfully, I don't get toothaches except when I have sinus infections.

As an aside, the dental community are trying to determine whether or not root canals are actually not dangerous in and of themselves.

^-.-^

[Aethian]

My two front teeth shared one root but were two seperate teeth...explain that one to me. Well no the dentist tried to explain that one too me but I think he was too mad from me biting him from when he was scrapping out dead root and then suddenly hit live root.


As for my lower jaw I only have baby teeth and there will be NO adult teeth coming up. None...don't have em...so I have a overbite oh well. Guess I'll be gumming my food in the future.

[Misanthropical]

As an aside, the dental community are trying to determine whether or not root canals are actually not dangerous in and of themselves.

Why would root canals be dangerous? I would really like to know, since this is my fourth one! :eek:

[Andara Bledin]

The basics on why root canals might be dangerous are related to the fact that you are keeping something that is dead within the body. In some cases, new bacteria are introduced during the procedure, and in others, already-existing bacteria are left.

Most people (and most endodontists) believe that they are perfectly safe and millions are performed every year. However there is a growing contingent that believes that performing a root canal is nothing more than swapping one very obvious and serious problem for another, quieter one that is no less serious in the long term.

They've had evidence from the turn of the last century that they really don't know nearly enough to know whether or not root canals are safe and it's essentially been ignored. Evidence provided by the head of the ADA at the time.

^-.-^

[Misanthropical]

Maybe I'm just too vain, but I would rather have a root canal than go around with missing teeth. Unless, I'm going to drop dead from them within the next few years.

[Andara Bledin]

Oh, no, you won't drop dead from an infected root canal. At least, not unless the infection spreads through the soft membranes in your head and infects your brain, which is a possibility any time you have any sort of infection like that, including the sinuses and ears.

Of course, having a bad root canal will lead to systemic issues which will increase the frequency that such infections occur and can eventually lead to issues with the circulatory and immune systems, especially. But no studies have really been undertaken, so nobody knows how likely this is to happen. It could be a 1 in 1,000,000 possibility or it could be more like 1 in 100.

For me, it's a moot point. I've actually had a couple of root canals, and they were worse than useless. Those teeth (and any others with fillings) just fell apart faster. It's a genetic problem. Many of the women on my mother's side have the same problem. But the men don't. It's just not fair, I tell ya!

^-.-^

[Misanthropical]

My tooth and jaw have stopped hurting, so I'm thinking of just leaving the tooth there.

[Andara Bledin]

Just kidding. ;) I'm naseous just thinking about it though...

Yeah. I didn't mean to be so doom and gloom here.

And Mis, I'm glad to hear it stopped hurting. Tooth pain is one of the few things that get bad enough for me to take pain pills.

^-.-^