Do I really need Root canal?

tunguska

Hi
A tooth has been giving me problems off and on for over a year or thereababouts. I'll go through a two week period were it'll pain me and then it'll settle down and be ok for a few months then go again. Went to the dentist, he checked the filling that it has in it already and he said the filling was fine. The pain has been back, off and on for the past 2 weeks now and so I went back to the dentist. He said I probably need root canal.
I have no problem with this if I need it. I can take the pain and Im not afraid of dental procedures. The problem I have is Ive read that root canal treatment is over-prescribed within the dental profession. Its like Doctors and anti-biotics, theyre handed out for every ailment. Ive had a look on-line and the only sypmtom I have is the pain. I dont have the discolouration due to nerve damage or even swelling. My dentist took an x-ray of the tooth and he said theres no indication from the x-ray that theres a classice root canal problem.
So obviously I want to sort out the pain but at the same time I dont want to get a root canal if I dont need one. Is there another option here that I dont know about? Any advice would be really appreciated.
Cheers

vishal

second opinion from on endodontist.
i think root canals are generally under prescribed, most dentists (including me) will try to avoid root canal and do deep fillings with pulp caps even though in their heart of hearts they know it will not work longterm. We do this because most patients would rather an extraction than pay to have the root canal and we don't like people loosing teeth

btkm8unsl0w5r4

tunguska wrote: »

The problem I have is Ive read that root canal treatment is over-prescribed within the dental profession. Its like Doctors and anti-biotics, theyre handed out for every ailment.

Total rubbish, where did you read that :rolleyes:
If the nerve is dead of dying in a tooth you can have a root canal or have it out. Its that simple. If the nerve is OK then a simple filling usually will suffice. Usually a dentist will try everything first to try avoid the root canal cause as vishal said a lot of patients just decide to have teeth out and thats not necessarily the best thing for their oral health.

There your teeth and its your decision. Get a second opinion from a root canal specialist (endodontist) there will be a cost for this opinion just like a consultant in a private hospital.

harpsman

It sounds like you definately need a root canal treatment.if the tooth has been hurting on and off for a year then it means the nerve is dead or dying-obviously assuming that other causes have been ruled out,which it sounds like they have.you say you haven't had symptoms apart from pain for 2 weeks.you can wait until you develop an extremely painful and potentially life threatening oro-facial infection but its better to have the necessary treatment now to prevent that complication. also the earlier you have the treatment the higher the chances of success.

tunguska

Thanks for the replies lads. Looks like the consensus is to go get a second opinion from an endodontist.
Just a couple of questions:

Do I need a referral to see an endodontist or can I just call an get an appointment?
Can anybody recommend an endodontist located in Dublin?

Cheers