My right mandibular 1st molar had very bad plaque a couple years ago. They tried to fill it it but the nerve was too damaged, so they put it a "temporary" filling (which was basically a plaster-like filling). Due to this, it was left practically useless, meaning everytime I bit something with it, I felt a horrible pain which made me double over and cry. This continues until this day. Leaving me with only one good side of my mouth to chew with, which is very uncomfortable, mainly because the other molars are starting to show signs of plaque as well.
Anyway, about a month ago I felt a sharp pain, similar to the one I felt when biting with said damaged molar, but I hadn't bitten anything with it, the pain came out of nowhere, not to mention cold temperatures made it hurt as well.
It got infected and I was in sharp shooting pain for 4 days. I was given the choice of a Root Canal or an Extraction once the infection passed.
I wanted to stop suffering and my main choice was the extraction, but the Root Canal sounded good too. I decided for the Root Canal but I read online that it could have serious side effects and that it can lead to very serious illnesses such as cancer and arthritis. So I changed my mind and went back to extraction. Once I was in the chair ready for the extraction and the Dr. was about to put the medication in my mouth I panicked and called it off.
He says I have about 20 days until the infection comes back.
I'm aware that any medical precedure has its risks. But I'm still a little bit freaked out on the RCT.
I don't want to live without my tooth, (although you wouldn't notice it was missing). But maybe that's just me being paranoid.
I don't want to keep suffering the infection, which by the way can get infected even worse.
People tell me to have it extracted while others tell me the RCT. I know this is basically the same thing. But I had to ask.
So am at this crossroads, and I don't want to make any choice under pressure. It may sound silly to be doing this over a TOOTH. But it is a part of my body, and I want to make the right choice for me.
Thanks in advance.
Update:If you have had similar experiences to this one, please tell me and write it down. I would really appreciate that.
Answers & Comments
Verified answer
I had a root canal about 2 years ago, and it was absolutely great, it was entirely non-painful, I was up and about in an hour, and I was off my medications in 2 weeks.
This year my brother had 2 molars extracted and his story is far worse than mine. he had a longer surgery, is was painful, he was in bed for a few days and couldn't eat, and he has had a few complications since.
I am not saying that it is like this in every case, but I am telling you that if it were up to me, I would do 10 root canals before doing an extraction (disregarding the cost.)
Also, my dentist was a very well qualified and well known root canal specialist, which is probably part of the reason I had such a perfect experience with him
Root canals are an expensive proposition and there is no guarantee on what will happen to the tooth in the future. I have had 8 root canals and crowns to the tune of about $1800 each. Of the 8, 2 have held up and 6 have broken off and had to be extracted anyway. A root canal "kills" the tooth for lack of a better term. Once dead, the tooth becomes brittle and can break very easily, even with a crown. Once the tooth breaks off, usually at the gum line, it's surgery to get it out, not just a simple extraction.
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RE:
Molar Extraction or Root Canal treatment?
My right mandibular 1st molar had very bad plaque a couple years ago. They tried to fill it it but the nerve was too damaged, so they put it a "temporary" filling (which was basically a plaster-like filling). Due to this, it was left practically useless, meaning everytime I bit something...
I would be brave and do whatever the Dr. Tells me if it's necessarly. I wouldn't want an infection to attack me like that. You can still use a fake teeth. So you wont have that empty gab and you wouldn't feel paranoid about your body.
If root canals gave cancer or arthritis, they wouldn't be done.
can do the implant ?