root canal or extraction

[Angilion]

[..] In terms of pain it's like a flu jab so not very I think. psychologically you have a needle up to your face so things are unnecessarily amplified.

I think that's the key point. There are strong primitive instincts against piercing wounds and all the more so in your mouth. Intellect says "It's OK, just a minor thing being done for a very good reason", instinct says "GET IT AWAY GET IT AWAY".

 

[krooton]

Not trying to provoke you, but how could you think it would be the same prior to having major work done to it?

Because I thought the only difference between it and a filling is the removal of the nerve, I wasn't aware the nerve actually nourished the tooth and made it stronger so to speak. Plus I was only 28 years old

 

[Rotty]

If you get a root canal, get it crowned. You don't want to be living with a fragile tooth.

yes, that's what I was referring to earlier, both mine broke, fortunately leaving enough left to crown them after

 

[rxodium]

I can think of several things that are as much or more in your personal space than dentistry. Prostate checking, smear testing, a visit to the clap clinic, just off the top of my head. More so when there are people learning the speciality, which is often the case. "Do you mind if they observe?" Well yes, but they have to learn so let them watch.

Having someone's finger up my arse is uncomfortable. But they're not eyeballing me and right in my face when they do it (unless they buy me dinner and kiss me first) so prostate exams are far less bothersome than the dentist.

 

[CircleFaust]

best to save it if you can, it will cost you though for a crown

 

[marcg868]

Not been to the dentist since 2003. Got a chipped molar at the top with exposed dentin. Doesn’t hurt unless you jab at it to hard or I get ice cream in there, then it stings for a few minutes.
I work for the NHS and can poke people all day with needles and cannulas, I don’t even bat an eyelid when on the receiving end either.
But I really need to at least have a check up before I turn 40 but I’m absolutely crapping myself, I’d honestly rather have another cystoscopy or a shoulder and hip injection that have someone poke that metal spear thing into my exposed tooth.

 

[Bug One]

Not been to the dentist since 2003. Got a chipped molar at the top with exposed dentin. Doesn’t hurt unless you jab at it to hard or I get ice cream in there, then it stings for a few minutes.
I work for the NHS and can poke people all day with needles and cannulas, I don’t even bat an eyelid when on the receiving end either.
But I really need to at least have a check up before I turn 40 but I’m absolutely crapping myself, I’d honestly rather have another cystoscopy or a shoulder and hip injection that have someone poke that metal spear thing into my exposed tooth.

Go now and it's a filling. Leave it and it becomes an unbearably painful abceses and a root canal / extraction.

 

[Blackjack Davy]

Hi i have to go in on Friday for one of the above on a rear lower molar, so for some reason i am terrified of dentist yet will go to the doctors with anything, so which would you take and why and also any stories to tell ?
Thanks

Don't worry about it when the dentist mentioned root canal to me I was like "aargh!" and my eyes must have turned to footballs but when it came to it it was absolutely fine not sure what all the fuss is about tbh.

 

[Bald-Eagle22]

Extraction and an Implant.

Seems to be my route over the last few issues , but then I wonder why my dentists bills have been in excess of 5k over the last three years !