Root Canal - Wait

[gawguy]

About a week ago I started getting an odd feeling on a lower pre-molar I think it's called. (Fourth tooth from the front.) It felt like a piece of filling had come out. No special pain, but I wanted it closed if that was the case.

 

I went to BKK Hosp in Pattaya where I've had all work done for year and was told that this is a tooth that was being "watched" for over a year or more. It's had filling on the side, so it has had some problems before this. Dentist tapped on it and took xray which showed black spot at bottom of tooth and dentist said need root canal.

 

It was scheduled for today, which is about 4 days after that appt.

 

While I was in dental waiting room I drank hot tea and had pain. Afterwards, same effect with hot food. Follow hot with a dose of cold water and pain disappeared. Looking on internet, that is a symptom that indicates root canal. That kind of sensitivity only lasted one day. Now all pains and sensitivity have about disappeared as of today, and I'm thinking of cancelling and doing "wait and see."

 

The timing would be good if I went in soon, however, because I'm scheduled to depart in one month, and the procedure is done in stages over a couple of weeks.

 

Questions:

 

How long can I safely wait?

 

Where would you get this done in Pattaya?

 

Any other thoughts / recommendations on root canal?

 

Thanks a lot.

Gaw Guy

[cavanami]

I had a tooth like that. Only cold would keep the pain in check. I went several months before I had the root canal as after a few days there was no pain but swelling and infection.

 

I went to the endo specialist and highly recommend them, much better then the regular dentist.

 

I would not wait so long again as the infection got into the bone and caused some extra work.

Also get a perm cap put on and be done with it.

[Flashermac]

A root canal can be done in one sitting. What takes longer is if you are getting a crown. If that's the case, you'll get a temporary crown whilst the permanent one is being made. Should be able to do it all in under a month.

 

Firgure about 10,000 baht total at a dental clinic. (They may not speak much English though.)

 

 

[Lord Toad]

I am allergic to dentists and was told a few years ago by a nice dentist that a root canal is caused by the tooth root rotting out.

He said in 9 cases out of 10 antibiotics will solve the problem. You may have to take 2 or 3 times but the root should be gone in about 12 months and therefore no more problems.

In the 1 case out of 10 anti bios will not work so you need the treatment.

The dentist is question gave up dentistry a year later.

[Neon Ninja]

I've had a sensitivity problem on a tooth recently as well. Had the opposite problem though, only moderately hot coffee/water would stop the pain.

 

Before I had a chance to do anything with it, the root died (no more pain anyway) and the tooth sort of crumbled away shortly after that.

 

Well I should say MOSTLY crumbled away. Still a large piece that I will have to get removed at some point.

 

 

I've also had a couple of root canals that have BROKEN in the last few years.

(I had the last one broken while eating a room service cheeseburger at the Nana Hotel!)

 

It pisses me off, for the price of the root canals over here in USA, I could have had some nice implants that would not be as likely to get broken.

 

Probably the trip after next I'll be getting a couple of implants! :thumbup:

 

-=/NN

[Flashermac]

<< Probably the trip after next I'll be getting a couple of implants! >>

 

Be careful when you tell them that, or you may end up with boobs like Pamela Anderson.

 

 

 

[gawguy]

I had a tooth like that. Only cold would keep the pain in check. I went several months before I had the root canal as after a few days there was no pain but swelling and infection.

 

I would not wait so long again as the infection got into the bone and caused some extra work.

 

Also get a perm cap put on and be done with it.

Okay and thanks. This is the kind of experience that's helpful.

 

I don't have swelling or infection, nor do I have any sensitivity to hot. That seemed to last about a day. But I'll be watching for swelling.

 

When you say "get perm cap and be done" do you mean not get temporary cap? I thought they needed a temp cap so they could pop it off and look in to see if there is any more infection. I've never had root canal so I'm not sure. Could you explain this a little more please.

 

 

[chuckwoww]

Pain is a warning. The worse the infection gets the longer the operation will take. You may even need surgery.

 

I'd recommend the perm cap...but only after you're totally sure there's no infection. Trouble with a dead tooth is that the enamel becomes brittle after a while and easily chipped.

 

(I learned all this the hard way )

[cavanami]

1. the endo specialist drills out the center of the tooth to get at the root.

2. they remove the root and clean up the middle of the tooth.

3. they put a temp cap (crown) on while the perm cap is being made.

4. about 1 week later, they remove the temp cap, inspect the tooth and if all is OK, they put the perm cap on and off you go.

 

I made the mistake of waiting and the infection got into the bone which made for more work for the docs. Not any additional pain, but extra trips to the doc and took longer (more cost) then if I did it quickly.

[Neon Ninja]

<< Probably the trip after next I'll be getting a couple of implants! >>

 

Be careful when you tell them that, or you may end up with boobs like Pamela Anderson.

 

 

 

Yes, this is exactly how I plan to pay for airfare!

 

After I get the implants, you will find me in front of Casanova bar looking for customers.

 

Only 1000bt for short time!

 

-=/NN