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| | Archive By Date: Endodontics/Root Canal |
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Answered questions from the past 2 years:
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December 31, 2008
I've just had root canals on tooth #19 and tooth #20 and I am trying to decide whether I should use pins or posts. I've heard conflicting things about each. Which is safer and stronger? My insurance covers pins. My dentist wants to charge me a lot for the posts. |
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December 8, 2008
I had a broken first molar that already had a crown. About one-third of the tooth was left. My dentist told me one of the roots had been treated, but the other two seem calcified and difficult to access. He added a mummifying compound. He warned me that a new crown may have some risk of problems with those roots and he wanted to refer me to an endodontic specialist. Based on cost/benefit, it seems better to take out the rest of the tooth and get an implant, rather than risk an infection. What do you think? |
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November 12, 2008
I had a root canal on several teeth a few years ago. I recently noticed that two of the teeth have turned black around the gum. What causes this and how can it be fixed? |
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November 10, 2008
I have a filling that fell out a year ago. I have no pain whatsoever in the tooth but there is a big hole. My dentist says I need a root canal because there is an infection. He put me on antibiotics. He poked around at the tooth and I didn't feel any of it. There is no pain. I'm afraid there will be a lot of pain during the root canal procedure though. Why does my tooth not hurt if it's so infected? |
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November 7, 2008
A week ago I had a root canal done on one of my back teeth on the lower left side. The tooth is still bothering me. Sometimes the pain is so bad that it wakes me in the middle of the night. What is wrong? What should I do? |
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November 5, 2008
I have a back molar that has been broken and there is an infection. I am taking antibiotics to clear the infection and the dentist said I have to decide whether to have the tooth removed or to get a root canal. I am thinking extraction, but many people are telling me a root canal would be better. The cost of a root canal would be about $900 and then I would need a crown too. What do you recommend? |
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November 3, 2008
Just over a year ago, I had a root canal done on one of my front teeth. I have noticed that the tooth seems to be turning darker than my other teeth. Why is it getting dark? Is there anything I can do to fix it? |
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October 27, 2008
How long after a root canal can I wait before scheduling an appointment with my dentist to get a crown? I would like to leave it for as long as possible so that I can pay off the cost of the root canal before I have to pay for the crown. |
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October 15, 2008
I've noticed that there's a hole in my top front tooth. I'm scared and I don't know what will happen. Do I have to get a root canal on my front tooth? |
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September 24, 2008
I had a lot of pain, so I went to see my dentist. He said I had a decayed tooth that needed to have a root canal. He cleaned the tooth out. I now have more pain than before, as well as swelling in the gum area. Is this normal? |
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September 22, 2008
Is amoxicillin the proper antibiotic to take for a gum infection? |
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September 15, 2008
I had a cavity in one of my back teeth for almost two years and never had it treated. For a time, I suffered incredible pain in that tooth and even worse pain when I tried to chew on it. Now, the pain is gone, except when I chew on it. The tooth has significantly decayed. What will happen? Will the tooth be pulled? Do I have root canal done? Should I see a dentist for an oral exam first, or go straight to a specialist? |
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August 18, 2008
My dentist states that he must perform a build-up prior to placing a crown over the tooth. What is that? |
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August 12, 2008
I had a filling in a one of my top right molars that fell out a while ago. It doesn't hurt. It's a little sensitive to cold. I have tried to keep food out of the hole. But recently, a part of the tooth chipped off, and the filling in the tooth next to it fell out. I know I'll probably need a root canal and a crown for the first tooth. While I'm waiting to see the dentist, do you have any suggestions for products I can use to prevent infection? |
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August 11, 2008
About two years ago, I had a root canal done. In the process, the drill bits being used by the dentist broke three times. I have three tiny pieces of metal stuck inside my gum, under my molar. Should I be worried? |
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July 28, 2008
I'm faced with the option of having a root canal done on a capped molar that may have become infected. The tooth will then need to be recapped. Cost issues are making me consider just having the tooth extracted. But my primary care dentist is strongly urging me against that option. He argues that there could be complications, such as shifting of other teeth in the area or future breakage of nearby teeth. I'm in my late 60s. I've had teeth extracted several times before much earlier in life, and no shifting or other complications have happened. Given this information, what in general would you advise? |
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July 25, 2008
Three weeks ago I had a root canal on a molar that was capped. For the first day or two, I felt twinges through the tooth. They radiated out to the jaw and other teeth. The discomfort subsided, but in the last couple of days the twinges and pain have started up again. Is this common, or is something more serious going on? |
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July 21, 2008
I have a tooth broken off in my gum. After removing the tooth, how can it be replaced? Or could this broken tooth get a crown? |
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June 16, 2008
Two years ago, my dentist recommended replacing a filling in one of my molars. After that, I needed a crown. After the crown, I needed a root canal for pain and was told they could not get everything out. Today, I have severe pain in the tooth while eating or drinking hot foods. I went to the dentist and he put me on antibiotics and he is sending me back to the endodontist. Should I just have the tooth pulled? This seems like a lot of work to replace a filling that was not bothering me at all. |
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May 19, 2008
I am scheduled to have a root canal in two weeks. I know that many people are afraid of getting a root canal, but my biggest fear is not of the pain that will be involved but of getting the shots ? I am terrified. Will my dentist use a numbing gel on my gums before he gives me the shot? My dentist has prescribed me some pills that he says will help me relax. |
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May 9, 2008
My 7-year-old son had a cavity 6 months ago that was so small that they didn't have to numb him to fill it. He just had a cleaning and that tooth is abscessed. It is the # L tooth. The dentist wants to pull it out and put in a spacer. I was not given the option of a root canal, but will take him for another opinion. Is it best to pull it out or get a root canal? Which is more painful? |
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May 7, 2008
The gum around my crown bleeds a lot when I floss. I think it may be loose too. What should I do? |
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March 7, 2008
My boyfriend developed an abscess in his mouth, near the top row of teeth. The abscess is right above a tooth (I think it's the 3rd or 4th tooth from the back) that has significant decay on the side. The pus has formed a 'pimple' on his gum line. I know that he should go see a dentist immediately, but he doesn't have any dental insurance. Besides this tooth he has another decayed tooth, and both have been causing him a lot of pain. He doesn't have much money right now so he couldn't pay a dentist out of pocket either. Is there a way he could see a dentist, considering his situation? |
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January 21, 2008
I have recently had a temporary filling/crown put on. I am awaiting a final crown. Is it necessary to replace the temporary filling/crown within a certain time frame or can I keep it until a problem arises? |
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December 7, 2007
My dentist said that I will require root canal work. Wouldn't it just be a lot easier to have him extract the bad tooth? |
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November 20, 2007
I am pregnant (five weeks) and recently found out I need to see a root-canal specialist because infection developed in a tooth that had been treated 10 years ago (a root canal and a crown were done on this tooth). Is it safe to undergo treatment now or should I wait until after I give birth? |
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