Root canal worries :(

[anxious_thoughts]

Hey guys,

so last week i started getting really bad pains in one of my lower molars that would worsen when I ate or had something to drink. Today I got the cavity fixed but my dentist said that it was a really really deep cavity and if it continued to hurt in the next few days to called I'm ASAP as I would need to do a root canal.

I'm so terrified of this because I already have really bad anxiety about being in the chair, which I request to be only put down half way, but my dentist told me I would have to go to a specialist because they would have to put me to sleep as they would need to put the chair all the way back. Just the thought of that absolutely terrifies me!! I'm even more scared to be to put sleep.

Anyone ever been in the same situation?
My mouth is currently frozen, and I don't know if it's all in my head but I still feel a slight pain in the area of my tooth. Is this normal after a deep filling has been done?

Thank you!

[rsanchez]

Hi,

I had a root canal done with local anesthetic only. Didn't feel a thing during the procedure, and felt very little pain afterwards. I was actually surprised how relaxed I was.

You'll be fine if it comes to root canal.

[nivekc251]

When I had my wisdom teeth extracted the oral surgeon had to put me to slleep. I was terrified. What if I dont wake up?!! What if it makes me go brain dead?!? Maybe too late for tht lol. Just do your research and get a good oral surgeon. Make sure other people are going to be in the room watching your vitals. Bp heart rate blood o2 leve etc. This day and age those monitors let them know if somethings happening. When I had mine the surgeon had an emt and a nurse assisting him with the extraction so if something happened they had a difficult intubation cart on hand and would be good to go. Consult ur surgeon and ask him about all this and if it fits ur needs go with it. Easy peasy go to sleep and wake up. But you could be extremely fixated on that tooth and any type of sensation you feel you associate it with pain. Just try to relax and stop worrying worst case scenario is a simple procedure the iral surgeon had done thousands of times.

[ricardo]

It's strange but I believe the biggest phobia people have is going to the dentist even higher than flying.(might be the other way round)

Root canal treatment isn't that unpleasant but it can be quite a long procedure. I had two teeth treated at the same time and despite my GAD I have never feared sitting in the dentist's chair, though I usually ask for my head to be raised slightly. The waiting room is the most anxious time for me as dentists invariably run late.

[Soulcatcher71]

yeah its dentists with me too, mostly because of a very high gag reflex, which is a nightmare in the chair.

In saying all that, i had root canal treatment in March - 4 sessions in total. (2 root canal, 2 crown fitting).
I could of had the tooth pulled which would of saved me all the trauma, but I thought 'no, i'm not going down the easy root just because of my anxiety'
So I did it - 4 sessions, 45 mins each, and I'll tell you what, I was so proud of myself afterwards - it was such a good feeling to know I didn't give in.

Either way, hope it all goes well jennclark!!

[poshpants]

I hate the dentist as well it scares the willies out of me. I broke a tooth last week never done that before, it was my fault munching on sweets getting anxious at the hospital and it hurt, thought nothing of it until I was eating my dinner later that night. I thought I had food stuck in my teeth or something as it felt weird when I looked I had broken a piece of the enamel off and then I was like ok so where's that then only one place it went and straight down.
I have been a bit of a dentist virgin, I go every 6 months and to the hygentist but manage to escape any treatment, couldn't escape this time had to have a white filling to fix the broken piece. Think he has got used to me not liking going although he is very nice as he always has a drink ready for me and says drink this for me please shame its not a glass of wine he's giving me instead of a sugary drink. I went though had it done I had to I had no choice couldn't leave it like that and I like to keep my teeth nice x