More of a personal health question...need input

Nurses General Nursing

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I wanted to ask on here, see what you all have to say. I went to get my teeth cleaned today, just the usual once a year thing. Well apparently a tooth was a little funny colored so they tooth an x-ray and come to find I have an abcess at the base of the roots of this one tooth I have a filling in. It's never bothered me really. So anyway right now my insurance is Medicaid, and it'll change once I get this new job going, but where I usually go to the dentist, Medicaid only allows him to do an extraction. I was given the numbers of other offices to call and see if they can do a root canal through Medicaid.

I'm just wondering if anyone here has had a situtation and what way did you go, root canal or have it pulled?

My teeth are otherwise in great shape, I had braces years ago, actually had to have 2 good teeth pulled to haveb races on and allow my wisdoms to come in.

Part of me is just wanting it pulled and done with, what good is a dead tooth with filling...The other part of me is thinking "am I going to have a gap then if it's pulled?"

Would appreciate some thoughts. Thanks

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get the tooth fixed! I had a back tooth pulled and now I bite my tongue all the time!!! Wish to goodness i had not had the tooth pulled and recovery time was no differentthan when I had root canals done.

good luck!

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Specializes in PACU, CARDIAC ICU, TRAUMA, SICU, LTC.

Unless you are planning on having an implant done or a bridge made once you have the tooth extracted, I would opt for a root canal. I would imagine that your teeth as well as your bite are well aligned (having had braces). Do you want your teeth to shift and your bite to change if you have the tooth extracted?

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Teeth are "pulled", they are extracted.

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Yeah, I'm probably going to go with the root canal...My teeth are in great shape otherwise. I feel this resulted from problems I had in the past with the filling - it had cracked, I had to go have it redone...Same guy to boot. And something I noticed, last 2 times I've been there for cleanings, when he comes to check, his hands shake really, really bad....so don't know what the issue is but I sure wouldn't want him drilling out my teeth...

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

It is definitely in your best interest that a licensed dentist provide all of the recommendations and ideas regarding your dental care and future interventions. The membership at http://www.Allnurses.com is not in the position to give any advice related to dentistry.

Let's hope for a good outcome for your teeth.

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Sorry, I was not asking for medical advice...apparently I was not making it clear enough that I was just wondering if anyone has had root canals before and what their experience was like. I'm pretty sure I know the difference between an RN and a dentist...I did not go through 2 years of h*ll for nothing.:uhoh3: Sorry to snap but I found it offensive...I'll drop it from here on out.Hope you treat your patients better....

Geesh...

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Specializes in cardiac/medical.

I have noticed that they shut down some threads fairly abruptly but I think it has to do liability issues.

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Specializes in L&D; GI; Fam Med; Home H; Case mgmt.

I didn't see your initial post but I had a root canal - aside from the incredible boredom and length of time I had to sit there with my mouth open (it took 2 appts to do one root canal - about 1 hour each appt) it wasn't too bad, really. BRING AN IPOD!! It really is very boring and takes a very long time!

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Specializes in Neuro ICU.

I spent 5 years working in post-doc endodontic clinics in more than 30 universities around the US.

Patient experiences seemed to differ for a lot of reasons including, but not limited to, the reason for the procedure (i.e. infection, deep carries, preparation for restoration, trauma, or old age), the tooth being worked on, pain tolerance, clinicians technique.

One of the coolest things about root canas were patients who came in with abcesses. Typically they were in a lot of pain, but as soon as the doc opened the tooth (or sometimes the gum, depending on the diagnosis) and allowed the abcess to drain the patient would report almost instant relief.

Typically patinets might have a little soreness afterwards, but I only rarely saw perscpritions for anything other than Tylenol. Some Docs would perscribe narcs when they felt it was necessary.

I've never had one personally, but I don't think they are as bad as what "Hollywood" tends to suggest.

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