RobJenks

I'm up for a root canal as a result of biting down on a cherry stone on a crowned tooth.

Researching the procedure on the net , I came across doctor that considers root canals as a potential haven for toxins that can result in heart disease and even cancer !

The alternative for me is just to have the tooth extracted and maybe later have an implant.

Anybody had problems with a root canal?

hodgy0_2

I have a poorly done root canal, and it can get infected

Only happened a couple of times in 20 odd years, but boy when does - it hurts

It does seem stress related too

And my options were the same as yours

wayne9t9

Had two done by two different dentists, no problems so far. I didn`t find it much different to a normal filling just took a little longer.

JackClark

They all fail eventually, given the option I'd go straight to an implant, long term saving. I had a root canal where the dentist snapped the file thing off in my tooth and left it there, that was a lovely surprise years later and a massive bill to get it removed, only to have a fail again recently, it's coming out at the end of the month and an implant is going in.

hodgy0_2

Yes, that is exactly what I have got too Jack

matt-c

iTrader: (5)

Known as a "focal infection" IIRC.

Unproven, considering the number of these procedures that take place, very unlikely that something sinister is going on.

Just be sure you are really confident of your dentists work, skill level varies a lot, if done properly you should not have issues with it ever again.

urban

iTrader: (1)

I have one root canal done, it somehow got infected some months later and had to be done.

But your right, it hurt hell, i didn't know what was wrong and visited the dentist.
They had to take an xray to discover the problem.
Touch wood what was over 6 years ago and its been fine since.

stilover

I needed it doing a few years ago, and researched it myself. If they leave just one fragment left in the canal, then it can become infected, and you have to have it pulled anyway.


Just get it pulled now, and save the money.

ditchmyster

iTrader: (7)

I had one for about 15yrs, but back then there wasn't the implant option, messed me around a few times probably about once every 5yrs, eventually lost the tooth and now I'm waiting until I have the time and money to go through the implant process and have 2 done at the same time, second one is attached to the first like a bridge is what I was told in India when I enquired.

When you find the price of it out you may seriously want to consider a couple of holidays somewhere, I could go to India twice 1st for initial treatment and 2nd for fitting a minimum of 6 months later and still come out evens or ahead, probably a lot cheaper in Europe too.

JackClark

Think I'm going to visit South Africa, Airmiles, Half Price and the timing are making it hard to resist.

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

My mum had her tooth removed instead of a root canal after cracking a tooth: Dentist left the root still in the gum!! I know this can happen, but she wasn't told and the dentist full well knew she would want a false tooth fitted. She didn't find out until another dentist looked at it.

For an implant to be fitted she had to have gum surgery to have the root properly removed. Basically cut gum open to gain access, so alot more invasive.

The point I'm making here, is if its on the NHS, don't presume its going to be done right or the best way long term.

thenewgalaxy

Seen the article about root canal causing cancer, absolute load of misleading nonsense. I'm hugely frustrated that people can push off such utter toss as fact without any comeback.

Root canal work itself is something that shouldn't work in my opinion, but does. Done to a high standard it works well but not all root fillings are straightforward and it is a risky procedure.

My advice? Unless your dentist is confident of a good result (I'd advise getting it done using a rotary system) I'd seek a prompt referral to a specialist (an endodontist) and get a largely guaranteed result rather than take the risk.

JackClark

My root canal was repaired by an endodontist, pricy.