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Hi everyone, I posted about a week ago in regards to pain I have been having before and after a root canal and whether I should have the tooth pulled. I took everyone's advice and went to a specialist for a second opinion. The specialist is an endodontist, and he did a test to determine if I had any bone loss around the tooth and since I didn't, and he didn't see any cracks in the tooth, he said he didn't believe the took was cracked or fractured. He said he thinks I have an infection in the bone of the tooth and suggested redoing the root canal, cleaning it out, and injecting antibiotics directly into the tooth. He put me on antibiotics again (third time in about 2 1/2 months). I am on a stronger type this time.
If I have the root canal retreated, I have to pay again since it is a different dentist redoing it. He charges $1800 and I may be able to have my insurance company apply my remaining benefits towards it, but will stop be paying probably $1200 out of pocket to have a procedure that I already paid for, done again,by someone else. I also don't know that a second root canal will stop the pain I am having and solve the problem.
If I have the tooth extracted, I would have to have a bridge put on which will cost about the same out of pocket.
I am only 26 years old, and don't want to start having teeth pulled.
Any suggestions? What should I do? I just want the tooth to stop hurting! :-(
Hi everyone, I posted about a week ago in regards to pain I have been having before and after a root canal and whether I should have the tooth pulled. I took everyone's advice and went to a specialist for a second opinion. The specialist is an endodontist, and he did a test to determine if I had any bone loss around the tooth and since I didn't, and he didn't see any cracks in the tooth, he said he didn't believe the took was cracked or fractured. He said he thinks I have an infection in the bone of the tooth and suggested redoing the root canal, cleaning it out, and injecting antibiotics directly into the tooth. He put me on antibiotics again (third time in about 2 1/2 months). I am on a stronger type this time.
If I have the root canal retreated, I have to pay again since it is a different dentist redoing it. He charges $1800 and I may be able to have my insurance company apply my remaining benefits towards it, but will stop be paying probably $1200 out of pocket to have a procedure that I already paid for, done again,by someone else. I also don't know that a second root canal will stop the pain I am having and solve the problem.
If I have the tooth extracted, I would have to have a bridge put on which will cost about the same out of pocket.
I am only 26 years old, and don't want to start having teeth pulled.
Any suggestions? What should I do? I just want the tooth to stop hurting! :-(
If it was a way back tooth i'd say have it pulled.
But it sounds like it is not since you're talking about a bridge.
That's a tough decision but so many people report issues with root canals.
I avoid them.
I had a way back tooth removed because i will not have root canals done.
It's a controversial subject and many will poo poo the notion that root canals can cause all sort of secondary issues with ones health.
I dunno ... if the cost is the same, i'd go for a bridge.
Arrggghhhh, sorry you're dealing with this.
Teeth and gum issues are such a drag.
Can i just say? ... you're young and already experiencing dental issues.
Start taking really, really good care of your teeth and gums now and save yourself much pain in the future.
That means, at the very least, brushing and flossing after every time you eat ... even a little snack.
After hours and hours in the dental chair and thousands of dollars, i never, ever eat without brushing and flossing and i'm much more careful about what i do eat.
I don't know where else your thread is on this - have you contacted whoever did the root canal? It seems like they should be somewhat responsible if it wasn't done correctly and/or you have an infection.
I feel for you though, I'm not as young as you but I've been having teeth issues as well and it's disturbing, I don't want teeth pulled either.
Boy, that's a tough call to make. I wrote on your other thread that I had the tooth pulled. I then had a bridge put on. Eventually I needed a root canal on both the teeth under the bridge. Unfortunately my dentist said it is not uncommon because of the change in pressure on the abutment (supporting) teeth, especially if the bridge is not exactly perfect. Then one of the teeth rotted under the bridge. I didn't feel anything because I had had the root canal on that supporting tooth! So in the end I lost the bridge and another tooth.
Something you might consider if you can't get rid of the infection is an implant. It is more expensive up front, but my difficulties with the bridge experience would have been avoided if I had gone that route right away. An implant would have cost no more than the sum of: the root canal, treating the resulting infection, then the extraction, the bridge, the additional root canals and the second extraction, two implants instead of one, then the crown under the remaining abutment tooth!
You have my sympathy, this is certainly a pain to contend with.
I worked for an endodontist for 6 years, and the moral of your story is to never, never, never let a general dentist do a root canal! Always see a specialist.
I would have the root canal re-done. How long ago was the original root canal done? Contact that dentist, as well as your insurance company, and see if a reasonable compromise can be made. We occasionally had general dentists that refunded the insurance company for the cost of a root canal if it failed within a short period of time. I know that Blue Cross of CT will not pay for retreatments at all (well, they used to not... I don't know for sure if that has changed or not), and other companies will not pay if it's done within a certain amount of time.
Hi, thanks for your reply. Had I known that I could go to an endodontist initially to have the procedure done, I definately would have done that! :-( I have contacted my general dentist's office in regards to some type of refund, and am waiting to hear back since the doctor wasn't in. I also contacted my insurance company and I guess I have to have a "predetermination of benefits" done...I have to find out what that is! :-)
Anyway, as an aside, after 3 days on these antibiotics (Clindymyacin it is called, I believe), it is feeling a little better. I've also noticed it feels better immediately after brushing and flossing, like I'm removing the bacteria that keeps coming back with the lingering infection. Does that sound like more reason to believe it is an infection and not a cracked/fracture tooth?
I worked for an endodontist for 6 years, and the moral of your story is to never, never, never let a general dentist do a root canal! Always see a specialist.
I would have the root canal re-done. How long ago was the original root canal done? Contact that dentist, as well as your insurance company, and see if a reasonable compromise can be made. We occasionally had general dentists that refunded the insurance company for the cost of a root canal if it failed within a short period of time. I know that Blue Cross of CT will not pay for retreatments at all (well, they used to not... I don't know for sure if that has changed or not), and other companies will not pay if it's done within a certain amount of time.
Good luck!
If this person went back to the same dentist who did it in the first place they would probably produce the same results. My current dentist will not do root canals, but sends patients to a specialist. Most dentists cannot get the area clean enough to remove infection and they have to often get redone.
My Braun electric toothbrush does a much better job than manual brushing. The head is small and circular and gets around the individual tooth better.
My water pic seems to remove debris and tighten the gums so less food and bacteria fester in those areas. I admit I do not floss daily but I think the water pic is helping in that area. My teeth are very close together and it takes a lot of pressure to jam string in between them. I break fingernails while flossing.
I take a calcium formula that I believe is really helping as I am 65 and still have good bones which support my teeth. (Ethical Nutrients Bone Builder plus Boron). I mention the brand only because I think their formulation is patented and they are the only supplier of a certain form of calcium.
I take Co Enzyme Q-10(CoQ-10 for short) which strengthens tissue(gums, heart).
I have inherited bad teeth from my family and have tons of fillings, but I think the regimen I am now following from years has stopped all that and my mouth health has very much improved since I started it.
If I feel aches anywhere and think it might be an infection starting I try to boost my immune system with Olive Leaf Extract which was recommended by a regular (but open minded) doctor who said he took it during flu season since he sees so many people with the flu then.
I do not follow the alternate health lifestyle world, but I have found these few things that work for me, so I hope they help someone else, too.
Last edited by goldengrain; 10-05-2009 at 03:09 PM..
If this person went back to the same dentist who did it in the first place they would probably produce the same results. My current dentist will not do root canals, but sends patients to a specialist. Most dentists cannot get the area clean enough to remove infection and they have to often get redone.
Yes, definitely! Always see a specialist for a root canal!
This might sound odd but it works: if you are having some mouth pain, put a little peroxide and a few drops of mouthwash ('cause it tastes terrible), and swish that around in your mouth for a few days.
This might sound odd but it works: if you are having some mouth pain, put a little peroxide and a few drops of mouthwash ('cause it tastes terrible), and swish that around in your mouth for a few days.
That sounds good, also frequently (at least before sleep and upon awakening) slosh out the area with warm salt water, too.
Actually, a hygienist once told me to apply hot salt water compresses to the outside of my face. I guess anything that draws the infection out of that area. Maybe the immune system can tackle it better then.
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