Why Root canal on permanent tooth

amother

Pearl

Mon, Oct 15 2018, 6:02 pm

For teenager. She has fillings done at age 10. Now feeling fell off and dentist claim she need root canal because it looks infected. No pain or discomfort noted. How does dentist deside that. There is no pain.

amother

Blonde

Mon, Oct 15 2018, 6:12 pm

The dentist sees how far the infection has spread. Once a tooth is infected it almost always needs a root canal.
I've had a root canal done, no pain. I went for a second opinion to make sure.

amother

Periwinkle

Mon, Oct 15 2018, 6:16 pm

You can wait it out, but at some point the tooth either needs the root canal or to be extracted. Why wait for the child to be in pain?
Always get a second opinion if you are questioning it though.

Amarante

Mon, Oct 15 2018, 11:16 pm

If the filling fell out, there might not be pain because there isn't pressure. Also just because there is infection that has gotten too deep, doesn't mean there will be pain.

I had a tooth with a large cavity and the dentist said I needed a root canal because there just was too much decay and it had gotten into the nerve. I didn't feel pain in that tooth although it might have been more sensitive.

If a dentist you trust recommends a root canal, then one should get it to make sure that one saves the tooth - especially for someone so young. I am assuming that he will refer to an endodentist as mine did - in my experience dentists to not do root canals but refer to a specialist and I wouldn't have a general practice dentist do it. The endodentist I went to had special equipment as well as special skills just as any other medical specialist has.

Not to make your daughter feel crummy, but you might have her up her oral hygiene practice because it is unusual for someone relatively young to need that kind of dental care absent special circumstances. I have terrible teeth and didn't need my first root canal until I was about thirty :-)

Amarante

Mon, Oct 15 2018, 11:33 pm

amother wrote:

You will only need to see an endontist for a molar root canal. A regular tooth any dentist can do.

Different strokes for different folks - I have had root canals in various teeth other than molars and always done by an endodentist.

I haven't been to a dentist in years who hasn't referred me to an endodentist for a root canal - I have genetically bad teeth :-( with numerous root canals and crowns.

A general dentist can't afford the kind of specialized equipment that a specialist can nor would they have the same skill level because the endodentist has specialized instruction and does numerous root canals day after day.

amother

Pearl

Tue, Oct 23 2018, 6:59 pm

This is OP. Thankyou everyone for your replies. We were busy visiting dentist for second opinion and looks like she will need root canal. I have been referred to dr Greenspan for root canal. Price will be 1600-1700$ just to remove gunk without crown and other follow ups. What to do? Is that normal price. I just had root canal for myself with regular dentist cost me total 1200$. I want my teenager to get best care. Should I go to endo and pay all that and plus more. Is it worth it.

Amarante

Tue, Oct 23 2018, 7:15 pm

That’s not a bad price for a really top notch endodentist. I just paid $1800 for a root canal.

I know it’s easy to spend someone else’s money but I think getting the best care for a tooth - especially a teenage tooth is worth the extra money. I have never had issues with any of my root canals and the procedures were done so well that I had no discomfort afterwards except for the normal little pinching ache from the numbing shots.

My root canals have lasted many many years without needing extraction because of decay. Of course a really good crown is also necessary because without a good crown, the remaining tooth would be susceptible to decay.

And as I posted earlier, it’s pretty rare for a young person now to have such extensive decay. I would make sure she knows proper dental hygiene and she should be scrupulous about dental cleanings at least twice a year. Investing in a good electric toothbrush and waterpik would also be helpful.

ectomorph

Tue, Oct 23 2018, 7:26 pm

I had my root canals as a teen done by an incompetent dentist and weve easily spent 10k replacing them... I have bad teeth despite regular brushing etc. Really worth it to be done right the first time.

amother

Pearl

Tue, Oct 23 2018, 7:54 pm

I am also furious why and how so yong and already root canal. We do have water pick and electric toothbrush she lazy to use till now. And that tooth got filling done 4 years ago by dr Weiss and now decayed from under the cavity. How??