How long for root to become sclerosed?

sudzs

I've been told that the root of one of my heavily filled molars has become sclerosed.

That was about a year and a half ago.... can it really happen that quickly? Though I think the nerve began to die around then. Could it possible happen in that time?

ballsymchugh

it's been happening for longer than that, it's the pulp reacting to stimulus and laying down 2ndary dentine to protect itself. unfortunately it can be a baxtard to get through, especially if one of the smaller canals is affected. are all the roots sclerosed, or just one of them? while a sclerosed root may not be able to be treated adequately, the other's might, and i'd see an endodontist about it if i could. some stuff can be used to clean a sclerosed canal.

sudzs

Thanks for the reply ballsymchugh! Especially as my op doesn't make great sense, Half of it's missing! I think I posted in pain!!!

Briefly, the molar had a huge amalgam filling that sat there happily enough for 15+ years. Around 16 months ago it was replaced, (long story) That was a botched job so it was replaced a second time, dentist mentioned at the time that it was very close to the nerve. Then a few weeks later I got quite bad toothache in it for 4 - 5 days. Went back to the dentist about it, he x-rayed it , said it was fine and off I went happy enough!

It's had niggling aches occasionally ever since but nothing that needed pain relief until a couple of weeks ago when it got very bad, went to new dentist (NHS) who x-rayed it, said its infected, not in the root but up at the top of the roots where the arched part of the tooth is. The nerve was dead and the root sclerosed, she advised private referral to endodontist. but thought it might not be a success and to prepare for extraction because it was "a time-bomb in your mouth" :eek:

I got onto the original dentist about it and he said that if the root had died after he replaced the filling 16 months ago, the root would not sclerose in that period of time. He kind of implied that maybe the NHS dentist wasn't too keen on doing RCT because of cost.... (should mention that I now live on the other side of the country to the original dentist, otherwise I'd have gone back to him.)

So now I'm confused!! But basically my question is, is it possible for a root to sclerose over that time frame, 16 months??

....sorry to go on

Would appreciate any advice or info!

sudzs

Just an update.... in case any of ye are losing sleep over my sclerosed canals!! :rolleyes:

Went to a private dentist yesterday (to get any work done that the NHS wouldn't cover) before emigrating and it turns out the canals in the heavily filled tooth are NOT schlerosed after all. :rolleyes:

I do NOT need RCT but if I did it definately could be done. And I definately do not need to have it extracted! :eek: The ache is a bit of a mystery as it's disappeared now.

ballsymchugh

i was wondering why i wasn't sleeping right!

RCT's on the NHS are .. well.... hated. the NHS guidelines to a successful RCT are nothing short of shocking, and may only prolong the life of the tooth by a year or 2.
a lot of dentists will try and talk you out of getting it done also because the new contract (5 years old now!) doesn't reward restoration over extraction, and extractions can be done in a few minutes, as opposed to a few visits for an RCT. looks like your NHS dentist was just going through the motions.

georgieporgy

Was it an upper tooth? the pain might have been due to sinusitis, often very painful but clears up in a couple weeks.

sudzs

ballsymchugh wrote: »

i was wondering why i wasn't sleeping right!

RCT's on the NHS are .. well.... hated. the NHS guidelines to a successful RCT are nothing short of shocking, and may only prolong the life of the tooth by a year or 2.
a lot of dentists will try and talk you out of getting it done also because the new contract (5 years old now!) doesn't reward restoration over extraction, and extractions can be done in a few minutes, as opposed to a few visits for an RCT. looks like your NHS dentist was just going through the motions.

I know... it's all down to budgets, isn't it. And this particular surgery was a bit clapped out too. In all my years of having tons of work done in various parts of the UK and Ireland, NHS and private, I have never before had to get up out of the dentist chair to walk across the room to have a rinse in a tiny wall mounted sink. And then turn on the tap to sluice it away myself!!!

It's not right though, giving someone the impression that an extraction is the best option under the circumstances, when it's not even necessary.

Still have the tooth, or what's left of it anyway (!) so I suppose all's well that ends well!

sudzs

georgieporgy wrote: »

Was it an upper tooth? the pain might have been due to sinusitis, often very painful but clears up in a couple weeks.

No, it's lower right.

btkm8unsl0w5r4

Sudz your dental problems are never-ending.......sympathy

sudzs

Sierra Numerous Rack wrote: »

Sudz your dental problems are never-ending.......sympathy

Thanks...

Though it's kinda self inflicted as I was such a phobic for years and years I would only go to the dentist when it came to the point of being on 12 solpadeine a day!

But then again having a blind (slight exaggeration.... he was only half blind!) dentist as a child meant endless infections and gumboils and then subsequent extractions of old rotten baby teeth when eventually with a new, sighted dentist, kinda put me off the whole thing!

Let me be a lesson to all! Look after your teeth..... and wear sunscreen!!