Should I have a root canal even though I feel no pain?????

Message

#1 Post by **dugsmom** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 12:32 pm

I'll be getting braces on April 7th...but I have a little problem. Last April, a dentist drilled a tooth all the way down to the nerve (he says there was some rotting under a filling and had to do it...without my knowledge until after he was done). He just filled the cavity and told me that I'd need a crown soon (he wanted me to do it right away) and when it starts hurting I'd need to get a root canal. It's been a year and still no pain. I went to another dentist a few months ago, and she took an xray of that tooth (second bicuspid) and told me that I didn't need a crown because the other dentist had only drilled a very very very thin line down to the nerve. She says it's very close to the nerve and I would definitely have to get a root canal but she told me to wait until I felt pain. I told her I was planning on getting braced but she still thought I should wait.
So now I'm getting braced and wondering what I should do. I spoke to the Ortho and he says that's it's not a problem and that I could get the tooth root canaled and crowned later.
I will be seeing another dentist on Wed. so I'll be asking him for his opinion. But I was wondering if any of you have had this same problem? And if you did, and waited, did your tooth start to hurt the moment it started to move??? I am afraid that by moving the tooth, it's going to cause the nerve to some how wiggle (can't think of another word for it) and I'm gonna be in pain with braces. Is it a hassle to get a root canal and crown (I've read on this site to definitely wait on the crown till after I get braces off which I will try to do) while in braces? And what would you do...wait for the pain or just get it over and done with now before I get the braces????
Thanks everybody

Jessica

#2 Post by **micachica** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 12:48 pm

I have experienced both sides of this, I needed 2 root canals, one on a tooth that was causing me so much pain for over a YEAR and my old dentist thought I was crazy, my new one is soooo much better, looked at the tooth and was like woah, you need a root canal asap. And another on a tooth that was experiencing no pain whatsoever. From what I hear that's because the root is dead and you have no feeling in it. But that other tooth, which I needed to get pulled anyway for braces, was the mother of all pain and I'm so glad it's gone. But the other tooth that has had a root canal just has a permanent filling in it and is moving nicely, with little or no pain, just like all my other teeth. So I'd suggest waiting and listen to your dentist, if they think it's fine, I'm sure it is. And they'll be cleaning your teeth and giving you checkups every six months or so and they'll take care of any problems as they arise. Good Luck!

#3 Post by **jumbie** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 6:01 pm

I actually had a similar experience. On my visit to the dentist before I got my braces I had a really deep cavity that she said I probably would need a root canal eventually. I just had it filled but a few months after I got braced I started experiencing a lot of pain in the area. Another visit to the dentist and she advised that I just needed the root canal sooner than expected.
The dentist was booked solid so I had to wait a few days to get an appointment.During this time the pain subsided. I postponed the root canal and my dentist advised that as long as I was not in pain I could hold off on it. Months later I have not had any major pain. But it should be noted that I was going to get teh root canal done with my braces on and the dentist said it was no problem and did not indicate that I would have to deband it at all.

#4 Post by **kirjax** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 6:08 pm

Before I got my braces on I had the routine cleaning to which they decided to replace a filling. But once drilling she too said that the filling was already pretty deep and by redoing another filling your wiping away more of the enamel thus leaving me with a very hollow tooth. She said I should get a crown (didn't say root canal so I'm not sure if the two go together since I've never had either). But I told her I didn't have insurance. She said, "does it hurt" and I said no never. So she was like okay then it's up to you and I told her it wasn't happening atleast not until I get dental coverage. This is a tooth with a molar band around it. The only fear I have is the tooth cracking on debanding day but I don't think it will I think this dentist just left a fear in me. Anyways, I never in the 10 months have had any trouble with that tooth. So I would say if it's not painful don't worry about it.

#5 Post by **dugsmom** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 6:13 pm

Thanks so much for replying. I am feeling much better knowing that I can wait on the root canal and that my tooth will be okay (what I mean by okay is that it won't crack or fall out) while I'm in braces. The filling is deep but very very thin so I know the tooth isn't super weak. I think the Ortho is putting elastics on that tooth...which I am not looking forward to. I've been reading the posts on elastics and they seem like a pain in the booty!!

micachica- You must have a high tolerance to pain!! I don't know if I'd be able to live for a whole year in pain!!! I'll be getting a check up on Wed. (ortho won't put braces on till I get the go ahead from the dentist) so I'll find out what he things...but I ain't getting a root canal till I get the pain or the damage nerve shows up on the xray!! Thanks so much for replying.

Meryaten- Thanks so much for all the info. After I read your reply about sometimes a tooth that needs a root canal doesn't hurt, I did a search on that and found out that if I don't know I need a root canal and wait too long to get it fixed that I could lose the tooth!! That scared me until I read that a black dot will show up on the xray (where the nerve is infected) so I am getting the dentist to check it when I go in on Wed. I just had another dentist take an xray of that tooth about 5 months ago (yeah I'm pretty obsessed with that tooth right now) but I'm getting another xray taken just to be on the safe side. I am just hoping I won't need a root canal for a very very long time.

jumbie- Thanks so much for replying!! I am praying that my tooth won't give me any problems. I am hoping I will have the same experience as you and not have to get a root canal anytime soon.

Kirjax- Thank you so much!!! I feel much better!! I hope my tooth will last as long yours and won't give me any problems till after I'm out of braces!! We don't have dental insurance so we're stuck paying for the braces and implants so I don't want to have to come up with some more money right now.