Recently I decided after 10+ years that I better get brave and go to the dentist if I want to keep the teeth I have left. So this morning the dentist said I needed a root canal... but am really thinking this is something I don't want to do. Biggest reason being that I am not in any kind of pain. Yes, my teeth are sensitive to cold, but I am not in pain, and have no abscess. I have had all the scaling and root planning procedures done and am in the process of getting all my cavities filled and all the remaining molar roots left in my gums from broken teeth extracted. Mainly I am just trying to decide if I really need to put myself through a root canal.

How does a dentist determine a root canal is needed if there is no pain associated?
What is the threshold that must be crossed to determine more than a filling is needed, when there is no pain?
How does a dentist determine whether or not the pulp inside a tooth is infected?
How does a dentist determine if a tooth is dead or still alive?

Did you ask the dentist these questions?

I've had two Root canals, Neither of them took. The Dentist knew at the time that there was a potential problem with the root canal. He did nothing! They Don't really give a s**t about saving a tooth. They just like to Practice on a willing guinea pig. If you are OK having to go through a few hours of pain followed by (2-4 yrs later)excruciating pain, have them do a Root Canal.
I've had More than a few teeth pulled, never felt a thing until it came to pulling the tooth that had a Root canal 2 yrs earlier...man that hurt!

I've had at least five root canals with bridges then added. The root canals each took two visits. I had novacaine, so no pain. Discomfort afterwards was from the injection sites. This was 20+ years ago. Certainly dentistry has improved since then! Btw, I had a terrific dentist who explained to me every step he took.Years later, they are all intact, painless.

Quote:

---

I've at least five root canals with bridges then added.

---

Having a bridge might have saved your tooth (root canal)?


@SAStults

If your not a fan of the Dentist, I'd say have it pulled. 10 years is a long time to wait to see a Dentist.
There is really only minimal pain but there is heavy discomfort. There is absolutely no guarantee the Root Canal will take.
But anything is worth a try once.

@ waltero

No... your right... I absolutely hate and have avoided the dentist at all costs... but I had let my teeth get to the point that I am fearful that if I didn't fix them now then I wasn't going to have any teeth by the time I'm 40. I am 30 now and am forcing myself to fix what I have the best I can. I am at least lucky enough to look like I have teeth.... however what you cant see is that I don't have any molars left at all.

@wondergirl

No I haven't talked to the dentist about it yet, but I plan to when I go next Monday. See I dont have health insurance and I have state funded heath care. So I don't get to pick the dentist I see, and this dentist I have to go to doesn't really tell me anything... I went to the first examination and left with a handful of appointments over the next few months. The last 3 appointments I have attended I didn't know what was going to be done until I was there.

Only thing I can conclude is that because I am on state funded care, he doesn't really care much about me as a patient. But that also makes me feel like they can do whatever procedures they say I need that will be covered by the state and they will get paid for it (whether I need it or not) just like waltero stated ...... that would make me an EASY guinea pig.... in fact all of the dental assistants at this clinic are still students learning to become dentist or periodontist or orthodontist etc.