I am at my wits end please help. After visiting a dentist one month ago for a routine filling I was informed I had a crack in my tooth which would need a crown asap. If I failed to do this quickly I was informed I would also need root canal so to avoid this I agreed to have the crown done. Two weeks later (and after numerous pain killers) I had the crown fitted. The crown has now been fitted for over a week and the pain is continuous. I am again on more pain killers which when taking ease the pain but as soon as I stop the horrible tooth ache returns. Does it look likely that I will now need root canal after all? I am terrified of how difficult it will be to take the crown out and have to go through root canal after all that. Please tell me if there is any possible way I can have both procedures done by being put to sleep as after a month of being in continuous pain I don't think I can go through another long session in the dentists chair? I would really appreciate any help on this matter. Thanking you in advance.

This is what happened to me - I then had the crown removed and the root canal done surgically, under anesthesia, in one procedure.

And, yes, it was pretty much double the cost when I figured it all out because I could no longer use the crown.

not an expert in this area. All I can give you is personal experience. Always depend on a doctor of dentistry when in doubt.

my wife recently had a similar experience. x-rays showed a crack that the dentist thought would lead to a major failure and ultimately a full extraction and bridge if a crown wasn't performed. I've known and trusted this guy for years. Great, great guy... so when he says "look, we need to do this..." we do it...

she doesn't take to novocaine well anyway. Not allergic in the life threatening way, but it screws her up as is. And the temp crown left her in pain for over a week. Really bad stuff. She was sure shed need a root canal.

once the crown was in place and the temp was gone, problem solved... but she had no less than a week of really ugly pain.

I've also had a crown and I remember at least a few days of pain with the crown.

like I said, I am not an expert in this area. Your own personal doctor is the one to consult... but my wife's recent experience sounds a lot like what you are going through... other than her getting tylenol 3 to help with the interim pain, no root canal was ultimately needed.

Before going ahead with the root canal have your dentist check your bite. Often all that is needed is an adjustment of the crown to make things feel 100% better.

If your tooth is bothering you when you eat something hot then there may very well be need to do a crown.

There is no need to have the crown removed, your dentist can drill an access hole through the top of the crown to clean the nerve out and then refill with either plastic or silver filling or you can have a small gold inlay made to fill the hole.

As I said though, have the bite checked. I'm guessing that when the crown was cemented your tooth was frozen. It's hard to get an ideal occlusion check when you are frozen. Go back, there shouldn't be a charge for it.

Good luck.

Thank you very much for all your replies. I am going back to my denstist tomorrow to get this sorted once and for all. Just another question I meant to ask is whether getting an x ray of the tooth would show whether root canal is needed and should this have been done before my crown was put in place?

An x-ray is generally taken before a crown is placed to be sure there is no infection at the root tip. It only makes sense to be sure a tooth doesn't need a root canal BEFORE the crown is cemented.

Hi Flossie, yes that's what I thought should have happened. Is there no point in an x-ray now then? I drank a cold drink this evening and have been in agony ever since does this sound like the nerve is exposed somewhere? I am so confused about what's best to do next, one minute my denstit says it's that the crown has a "pocket" in it and puts some dental varnish between the tooth and the next he says maybe root canal is the way to go. I just need to know Flossie that when I go into him tomorrow that I can insist on him not removing the crown in order to do root canal (if needs be) and drill through the centre of it, I dread the thought of having to go through the process of having the crown removed and having to have it moulded all over again and go through that whole process. He had said that he was going to fit the crown with a temporary cement in case this happened and then changed his mind when fitting it and decided to cement it in final. I am so fed up I have had agony in this tooth for over 5 weeks now and have been on 5 prescriptions of painkillers. My whole summer month of July has been ruined not to mention holiday I just need closure on this for once and for all and need to know where I stand so that tomorrow can I insist on root canal being done through the crown or is what my dentists say is final? Thank you so much for taking the time to respond, I truly appreciate another view on this.

Hi Bridie,

I can understand your frustration! Cold sensitivity can be an indication of the tooth needing a root canal. It can also be indication that the bite isn't right. It can also indicate that there might be some root exposure which is why he would have put the varnish on the tooth. Taking an x-ray now will tell him if there is an abscess at the root tip. If nothing shows up the tooth could still be dying but I'd be making darn sure that is what is causing your problem.

Check for yourself. When you close your mouth gently, do you feel that your teeth hit first on the side where the crown is or do your teeth on both sides come together at the same time?

I don't know why, if the crown is so new, why there would be any root exposed.

If he won't drill throug the tooth to get access to the nerve then make sure he is going to cover the cost of a new crown for you. GET IT IN WRITING before he does anything (even freezing your tooth). If he knew from the get go that this tooth may need a root canal in the very near future he should have used the temporary cement but he chose to put it on with a permanent one. That's his problem, not yours.

Please will u get another dentist with some experience in dental surgery-there are many out there-get a couple more opinions-doctors are like mechanics-theres only a few good ones also go to the library under sec 613 and get educated on oral practices

Thank you for your replies. As regards getting another dentist I understand why you say this A S Burke as looking at it from another persons point of view it does look like that would be the best thing to do. Having said that I have no choice but to stay with this dentist as as Flossie rightly put it the dentist has agreed (in principle) to covering the cost of a new crown if this one has to come out and I need root canal (good point about getting it in writing, Flossie will make sure to do that). I do have faith in him and understand that like everything in life sometimes its trial and error before you get it right and I do believe that perhaps he was trying to save me the cost of root canal and genuinely thought I wouldn't have needed it. I (maybe naievely) also feel that his mistake was not perhaps x raying it first and then cementing it in permanently. However my husband is not so understanding and is insisting that after all this I should'nt have to pay for the root canal either. Oh and checking when I bite down both teeth do come together on both sides. I am going in later to see him so will let you Thanks again.

Good luck to you today Bridie. Have him check the bite first anyway. He should use either articulating paper (blue and/or red, similar to the old copy paper) or a green wax.

I'd love to hear how you made out today Bridie.

Hi Flossie well I spoke to the dentist whose practice it is (my dentist was out) and after looking through my records and seeing all the trouble I had he recommended having root canal. Now I mentioned to him how nervous I was of having to go through the whole procedure and he suggested I see a colleague of his at another surgery who can sedate me (using gas & air) they don't do it in my surgery and he also said this guy is a specialist in root canal (endo... can remember the term used) and that as the top molars are usually more tricky than the lower ones it would be better that he does it. He was going to arrange this for next week for me and said that if anything happens to the crown during the procedure they will replace it at no cost to me, but that usually they are fine and would just fill it instead. This I was happy with, but the story doesn't end their Flossie. After an hour or so my own dentist rang me to see how things were (he was off that day so wasn't aware of my plight). I explained to him that I had spoken with his colleague and that he recommended another denstist to do the root canal. My denstist said it was my choice but that he felt that I wouldn't need to be sedated and that once the area was frozen the procedure wouldn't be much different from having a filling. He also said that he would be more than happy to do the root canal for me that it was my choice. I mentioned about it being a specialised thing and what the other dentist said about being more tricky on upper molar and he assured me that he wouldn't be doing it unless he was 100 per cent confident and the only reason it was tricker is that access to the top is a little harder. I am in a bit of a dilema Flossie as I am worried about starting with someone new again and as I am comfortabe with my own dentist and think maybe I should stay with him. What do you think, is it something that should be done only by a specialist or should I trust my own denstist with the procedure? My own denstist has said I can have it done on Monday and if I wish can have it done over 2 visits instead of all the one day. He assures me that and hour and a half would see it all done or I can have two 45 min sessions. Thank you so much for all your help so far, I really do appreciate it.

I think you will be just fine with your regular dentist. It IS normally an access issue when it comes to the upper molars. They also have an extra root.

Having a root canal is no different than having a filling. It just takes a little longer. If you think you can sit with your mouth open for an hour and a half I'd have it done in one visit.

I've included a video so you can see how one is done.

YouTube - Root Canal Demonstration

Thank you so much Flossie, I've just watched the video of the demonstration and although it's not the most entertaining of viewing(!) ha ha, it was great to see what exactly is going to be done. At least I will have some idea once I get into that chair on Monday and will go in with the intention of having it all over in one visit! I will of course let you know how I get on and thank you most sincerely for all your help and kindness during this stressful time, I truly appreciate it. You have put my mind at ease and I am most grateful for you wisdom and kindness.

You are more than welcome Bridie. I am sure you will do just fine.
Now, don't worry about it over the weekend!

That guy has no safety glasses on his patient, and is using a threaded post in a molar! He's brave

I noticed no glasses as well but then thought perhaps the client chose not to wear them as many do. As for the post... perhaps he has a reason. Maybe you should contact him and ask?

On subject of glasses I never wear them either, is it necessary? A final question Flossie would a valium be OK to take before monday's treatment just to relax me, it won't interfere with the anasthetic would it or alternatively prevent me from keeping my mouth open? Sorry if this sounds like a foolish question but didn't want to take it in case. Mentioned it to my dentist who said I wouldn't need it but as I have one here I'm tempted to take it anyhow as I know my heart will be pounding to the dozen come Monday. Thanks again.

Sure Bridie take a valium but you might want someone to drive you to and from your appointment. You might also want to take an ibuprofen (Advil) before your appointment.

Glasses for the patient is a universal safety precaution and yes you should be offered a pair to wear at ALL dental appointments. If they don't offer, ask for a pair they will protect your eyes from anything splashing in them.

Good luck on Monday!