How urgent is treatment? Root canal.

Mom234

My 16 year old son broke his front 2 teeth over 2 years ago playing sport just before the pandemic started. At the time our regular dentist sent him to a different dentist in Dublin for a consultation. She said that he would need root canal at some point as the teeth were dead but that the infection was dormant (or latent maybe) so no urgency. She put a temporary tip on both teeth and said to come back in 6 months. Then the pandemic happened and we didn't go back since. My son has had no issues since.

My priorities have been with a medically vulnerable family member who I care for since the pandemic started.

My son has had no pain at all since then or any problems with his teeth until 2 weeks ago when he broke 1 of the tips during PE at school. We went back to our regular dentist who seemed very surprised that he has had no difficulties in the meantime. She repaired it but said that my son should have root canal asap now. He still has no pain. The other dentist in Dublin has no appointments until beginning of June. Right before the Junior Cert. My son wants to wait until after exams which is 3rd week in June. So end of June really.

How urgent is this ? Can it wait until end of June? Should I look for another Dentist ?

We had assumed that things were stable. Also, we don't have any dental insurance and from looking online, it will be a lot of money.

neris

If the tip on to tooth breaks and over the next few weeks gets infected it could turn into and abscess and he,ll be in agony. Ive had the filling on a tooth wear away and then the back of the tooth break away and did nothing about it till it was too late and in agony

Op, your son was referred to an Endodontist, they are specialists in root canal treatments so I would follow her advice. Most will provide you with an emergency appointment if symptoms occur, so don’t worry, contact the Endodontist and reschedule for after the JC, in all likelihood they can switch your son’s appointment with someone who is looking for one in early June.

In relation to insurance, check the insurance you take out with his school, this often provides 24hr cover for accidents outside school hours. If your son was playing in an organised GAA/soccer/rugby session/game, his player insurance should cover any injuries suffered during participation. But start with the school insurance, Allianz are fantastic to deal with, we have treated many adults who suffered injuries years earlier when students and as long as the injury was reported whilst a students, they cover the costs.

Mom234

Thank you for replying. I am going to reschedule and if like you say he develops any issues in the meantime then I will ask for an emergency appointment.

I will look into the Insurance. He was playing sport at school at lunchtime when the original incident happened.