So, how bad was your root canal?

[BV210]

I gotta say, my root canal was fairly easy. After I got my tooth broken off at the gum line (that's a story in and of itself), the dentist wisely decided that he needed to do the root canal before he could fit me with a new false top half of the tooth.

Once the Novacaine took hold (and I didn't even feel the shots, and didn't care due to the Nitrous Oxide) they began the procedure. Completely pain free. At one point as he as removing the pulp from the center of the tooth, he bumped the little metal tool he was using and it vibrated like a mouth harp. I remember chuckling and thinking, "boy, that oughta really hurt."

The down side is that once you're done, you probably won't want to eat till you can feel your tongue and jaw again so you don't end up chewing up the inside of your mouth.

Nitrous Oxide, good stuff.

 

[Pierce]

Good news and bad news

I've had two. The more recent one was a breeze, comparable to what everyone else has described. The first one tho. Whew. From what my dentist tells me (IIRC), there are four nerve endings in each tooth. You have a root canal because these nerves (along with the rest of the pulpy bits) have died, explaining the rotten flesh smell HoE described. Normally, all four nerves are dead long before you know you need a root canal. However, there's a slim chance that one of those suckers has held to life on like kudzu on an Alabama oak tree. This is bad. Very bad. The dentist has no way to tell that the nerve is still alive and sensitive and the novacaine shots in the base of the tooth doesn't reach the nerves within the tooth itself. End result: a high RPM metal drill bit boring into a live nerve. Man, I came out of the chair. Even worse? Yep. The still have to deaden the live nerve. So out comes another novocaine shot, only this time directly into the nerve itself. AAARRRGGGG. Fortunately, it pretty much put the smack down on any more sensitivity in the area and the rest of the procedure went perfectly. In all, there were about 30 seconds of excrutiating pain - the rest was a cakewalk. Pray that they're all dead.

The weirdest part for me was when they file out the root of the tooth. After they open it up, they have to scrape out all of that dead tissue. I couldn't tell exactly what the tool looked like, but it felt like some kind of pipe-cleaner/file type of thing. The dentist scrapes out all the junk in there, the bulk of it beneath the gum line so it feels like he's jamming this thing up into your head. It's hard to describe - it doesn't hurt, it's just an odd sensation.

Anywho - hope I haven't freaked you out. I'm not a dentist, so I'm not sure how accurate my info is - it's all just stuff I learned by talking to the dentist afterwards. Like I said, my second one was a breeze - in and out in less than an hour.

 

[Cthulhu's Librarian]

Never had a root canal, but I do have an odd dental related bit of info to share with you. My wife's father is my dentist. It's got it's perks, like free dental visits and all that, but it's extremely weird about going to see Dr. Andy for a checkup or any sort of work. On one hand it's comforting, since I really don't enjoy going to the dentist and it's nice to know him. On the other hand, it's bizarre as hell, knowing that my father-in-law has complete control over me while I'm there.
"So, you're treating Laura well, aren't you?"
"Yes, I am"
"Because if you aren't, I'm going to rip all your teeth out. Now rinse."
He also really likes to talk while I have amouth full of dental tools. And it's worse for me than other patients, because it's not just small talk. He really does want to know how things are going, and what's new at work.

 

[Henry]

On the other hand, it's bizarre as hell, knowing that my father-in-law has complete control over me while I'm there.

Kinda like that scene from Firefly with Jayne on Simon's operating table.

(Those of you who never saw the DVD will have no idea what I mean.

SPOILER:

Spoiler

After Jayne double-crossed them on Ariel, there was a scene in "The Lassiter" where Simon had Jayne on his operating table AFTER he and River had learned he tried to sell them out. He scared the HELL out of Jayne before letting him go.)

:END SPOILER

 

[WmRAllen67]

Not bad at all...

I'll have to agree with what other folks have said above-- it's really not bad at all once the shots are in. A little odd pressure, but that's about it.

If you need a crown, I found it more annoying to sit there with the molds drying in my mouth-- but the finished mold of your jaw makes an interesting conversation piece for your desk!

Other than an occasional twinge if I happen to bite on something the wrong way (like once every six months or so), I've had no problems at all... and like others, I'm real glad I had it done...

 

[talinthas]

my root canal sucked. apparently she thought there were only three roots, but found a fourth during the course of surgery. of course, my anesthaesia ran out half way on account of this miscalculation....

four hours.

of bloody screaming pain.

yeah. that sucked.

 

[Inconsequenti-AL]

I had one done a year or so ago. I was dreading it as I find dentists nearly as scary as clowns!

It was fine, took quite a while and felt a bit weird, but there was no pain during the procedure. It ached mildly for about a day or so afterwards... but nothing to write home about. Felt 'jangled up' rather than 'in pain', if that makes any sense.

It's not exactly my idea of fun, but you'll be fine!

The bit that really hurt was getting the bill...

 

[Buttercup]

Buck up you crybaby! I've had 4 in the past 15 years, and it's really no big deal. Just make sure you get the tooth crowned afterward, because a tooth that has had its root removed is dead, and will become brittle over time.

The worst part of a root canal is the expense. I hope you've got dental insurance.

 

[DungeonmasterCal]

Good news, everyone! I just received word that I need a root canal in two weeks.

Therefore, in my currently-novocaine-drugged splendor (which I hate, because I speak like I'm 4 years old, and can't feel my ear), I ask a favor: Allay my fears and regale me with how relatively easy your root canal was, or alternately, something odd about your experience (like, they found a human head in your gumline, or your dentist was Vin Diesel). Nothing extrememly bloody or gross, however - I'm feeling just dandy as-is.

Or, you can just post the equivalent of "I'm sorry to hear it - hope it goes well" or even "buck up, you crybaby."

No one was more scared of the dentist than I. I once had a panic attack during a checkup and trashed an exam room. But I had to have a root canal about 15 years ago, and I explained my fears to the dentist. He was really understanding, and gave me a Valium to take the morning of the procedure. At the time I worked overnight in radio, so when I got off work at 6 am the day before, I stayed up the next 24 hours. Morning of the root canal, I took the Valium, drank a glass of wine, and had to be wheeled in and out by my wife because I was so stoned. During the root canal I kept singing old Supremes songs and hitting on his assistant. He told me he'd never done a more enjoyable root canal.

Now...the point of all this is, today, I can go without fear or Valium. I had one a year ago, and with the gas and the numbing shot, I was perfectly fine. Had to be awakened when it was over. So it's not so bad once you get past it. Ask for the gas and make sure the area is completely numbed, put on your headphones and your walkman, and enjoy.

"Baby baby, where did our love go.........?"

 

[Hand of Evil]

Oh, the cost was a pain and hurt like hell...luck for me I have dental insurance!