should I just get it pulled??

[Jster]

I have a tooth that's been bothering me now for, well, a couple of years. June 04 it chipped (molar with a big filling), Feb 05 major pain, some swelling, at this point I believe it abcessed and perhaps the nerve died. But after a few days of excruciating pain, it stopped hurting, the bump on my gum faded (never was a big pussy abcess, never drained). I've had a couple of flare ups since then in the pain, and last fall the soreness on my gum traveled to the roof of my mouth. In about 8/05, I had a cleaning and told the dentist about what had happened, he hadn't seen anything on the x-rays before that but looked again and said, you need a root canal. A couple of days ago, the swelling came back and is worse than it's ever been, the pain is very frustrating, and I have a low grade fever. Now almost half of my face is sore and slightly red and swollen...I think it's time to really do something about it.

My family has awful teeth, we just do, it's generations, and we eat quite healthy diets. My grandmother lost all her teeth by about 50, my mom has only a handful left (and only one or two molars), my aunt just got dentures at 56. So I know that I can't really expect much...though I do try and eat the whole foods diet.

I don't really want a root canal. I don't really feel it would help, I think the infection would just get trapped. But I feel kind of weird about an extraction...I'm only 28! I don't want a whole in my mouth! At the same time, I'd love to be past this pain.

Oh, I don't have any insurance, and not much money either, but could probably scrape some together with help from family and friends if I needed to. So what should I do? What would you do?

And FWIW, I looked up a natural non-mercury dentist nearby, and his procedure for surgical extraction sounded really good to me.

[momto l&a]

I had a broken tooth for 4 years. Didn't bother me till this past winter.

I had it pulled as I don't think root canals are healthy.

The dentist wanted me to have root canal when I asked how much he said 1100. Pulling it cost a little over 100.

I don't regret it at all.

I may someday when we have some extra $$ have a removable bridge made.

[Shiloh]

I'd pull it and put in a screw in tooth.
If you let the space go for six months you loose bone, your jaw can get wonky like. You can get a screw in tooth in stages pay for screw then it will hold the space for when you can afford the tooth... root canals don't stop infection they can promote it as they stop the infection that is there but if you sound like you may have gum disease issues in the family?

vitamin c in large amounts now

screw in teeth are expensive but if you did it in stages, see if there's a dental school you can get things done for cost, also tell your dentist you have no insurance you should get a discount of 20-30% mine offers that.

[sunshinestarr]

I had almost the same situation and I got it pulled..
No root canal!! They won't solve the problem, only cause more.

JMO

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

I will never have a root canal everyone I know that has had one ends up loosing the tooth anyway. I have had 2 molar's pulled one on either side because they were chipped and the filling was huge and everytime I had sinus trouble (every few weeks) they ached. I have 2 empty spaces now wish I could have afforded to get a false tooth put in but sadly couldnt so now I would prolly have to go with a partial but I dont regrete for a minute having them pulled. Being pain free after so many years of it is bliss.

[Jster]

Thanks for your experiences! I'm leaning towards the extraction and started looking up different procedures. How much does an implant actually cost? If I feel a lot better in the morning, I might do the wait and see a bit...but I really have started to worry about having an infection for this long. So should probably do something definite about it...my mouth is sore, has been for so long, and I just want to feel all healthy again. As some places I've been browsing have said, if you have a splinter causing an infection, you take it out...and I feel like keeping this tooth in at this point is just holding onto my infection.

[Shiloh]

Thanks for your experiences! I'm leaning towards the extraction and started looking up different procedures. How much does an implant actually cost?

my guy charges 1200 but i don't think compared to a root canal, crown its that much different in price except root canals do often fail more often and the infection can still be there my mother has had 2 replaced crowns and the same tooth root canalled more than twice... oops. My dh went through a root canal for two hours and finally they realised the crown would not hold thank goodness we didn't get charged.

For cheaper dental care call a dental school they will not be as convient but you will pay 'cost' which is often a third or less than a regular dentist would charge and the professors usually do it all themselves with the students watching, assisting asking questions.

[E.V. Lowi]

I disagree strongly with the PPs. I have had four root canals, all over ten years old now and problem free. You always want to keep your natural teeth in place, if you can and as for long as you can. A lot depends on the quality of the root canal work. I had one root canal procedure done by a quack and it had to be done over properly, later. Of course, all dentists are not equal- skill levels vary wildly and I would avoid a dental teaching clinic if at all possible.

It's not bad teeth, but TMJ that was the hereditary factor for me. The constant night grinding broke my molars. These hairline fractures were the entry point for decay and gave me a lot of cavities and very sensitive teeth. No matter how much I brushed and flossed, I still had poor checkups. I finally found a GREAT holistic dentist who correctly diagnosed my issues. I had no idea that this TMJ, with the clenching and grinding was the source of the problem and I woke up every morning with tooth pain. If you suspect this to be your problem, seek the services of a dentist that specializes in TMJ. The oral appliance that was prepared for me by my dentist has saved my teeth and I have been trouble free since receiving it, 8 years ago. It was a bit difficult to get used to sleeping with it in place, at first but now I can't sleep without it.

Gum disease is another important issue. You can be sure that gum disease is linked to the cause of heart disease. It is important to floss daily. Keeping a healthy seal around the teeth keeps bacteria from entering the bloodstream at this point-- a source that has been implicated in the formation of plaque in the heart and resulting inflamation. Good luck to you. I hope you will continue to research this important health issue and seek additional information from qualified dental health care professionals.

[nicolelynn]

I actually just got back an hour ago from getting 1/2 of a root canal done.
It is still pretty infected so they packed it with antibiotics and a temporary filling and have to finish it next week after the infection goes away.

I had a molar filled 2 1/2 years ago in europe and I guess the decay went so deep it has gotten infected twice since then. The worst was last month- the pain was honestly the worst pain I've had in my life.

After much thought and research I decided to go with the root canal- this time around. Thankfully, I have dental insurance so it is only $300. My concern is that it is right next to the one wisdom tooth I had extracted (upper left) and I would definately have to get a screw in tooth as I wouldn't want a gap of two teeth. I'm only 25 (but had very poor oral hygine habits for a few years because I was "punk rock" haha). Also...my insurance won't cover this as it is an hmo so I don't have a "choice".

Also, the research done by Dr Weston Price was done 70 years ago. I'm pretty sure the root canal procedure has improved since then. I am otherwise healthy, eat 90% NT and this is my first root canal so I decided one won't hurt me.

Yet I am convinced enough by his research I have decided that if they say it needs to be done again later on I will just have it extracted (the way they did it in Poland worked for me- just stuck me with novocaine with no topical...yanked it out within 2 minutes and didn't even give me any antibiotics! I just took a regular dose of aspirin for a couple of days because the pain was minor and other than that it has been fine!). If any more teeth end up needing one I will seriously consider extraction at that point in time...but I am confident in my drastic change in nutrition and oral hygine.

Ultimately- do the research and decide for yourself.

[countrymom]

I voted pull it---but I don't know which molar it is--how far back etc.--in part because of the no insurance /$$$ issue-------but I have had @ 5? molar root canals---and 1 extracted--it was the way back one--a wisdom tooth-----the last root canal was a back one on top--but not wisdom & we root canaled it---having help w/ the paying for it---or I'd have pulled it maybe......

Mt dentist uses a laser for root canal w/ some ultrasound thing (and cavities)which is way better for killing bacteria--etc....my other root canal from years ago are still fine--no pain or problems----I figure w/ my tooth genetics, I have to hold them as long as I can, because by the time I'm in my 50's or 60's ....I don't know what!!!!

The root canals are a 1 stop process, lasting @ an hour & a half.......but then the crown has to follow later & that's pricy too.

I think if it's a FAR gone tooth--years & years....pulling may be better---just in case it's too far gone for root canal to save---(and I have no idea what actuallt makes it too far to save...)

[Ruthla]

I wouldn't get the root canal. It's a fairly long and drawn out process, and almost guaranteed to cause problems in the future.

Either live with it, or if it's bothering you too much then get the tooth pulled. Based on the details you've given of this particular tooth, I'd get it extracted if it was my mouth.

[boingo82]

I really identified with your post...I had the same type of deal going on with one of my molars, the one right behind the canine - some pain and inflammation going on. Eventually it all tapered off and didn't hurt any more. About a week after that, I was chewing gum and it was like the middle of the tooth fell out. It wasn't chunks though it was almost powder. I couldn't afford to do anything about it so I waited...that was about 8 months ago. Today the side broke off. I am going in tomorrow morning to see what my options are. Probably there's nothing left.

I have the exact thing going through my head...I am only 24!! I cannot have a big hole in my mouth. But I don't know what I can afford. How do you guys who have 5+ root canals and crowns AFFORD that?!? Good lord, we have insurance and even with insurance it is thousands per tooth. My husband needs about $5k of work done. Turns out being a homeless druggie for 4 years is not good on the teeth. And I was doing really well until I got calcium deficient while pregnant.

I am sorry we are both dealing with this and I hope that whatever you choose works out for the best.