Joined: 19 Dec 2005 Posts: 24 Location: california
Periodontist Said I Need Root Canal Posted: 08-05-07 15:46pm
About 2 or 3 weeks ago I developed a
little bump on my inside lower right gum.
Last Wednesday, on my 3-month cleaning,
after examining it and taking ex-rays, my
hygeinist confirmed it was an abscess and
that the pocket nearest to it went from a
3 to a 7 mm, and was bleeding on probing.
(There was no visible bleeding when I
brushed).
My periodontist looked at it and told me I
needed a root canal. I've made
arrangements for a dentist to examine it
and I suppose I'll have it done, as I
don't know what else to do about it. It
doesn't really hurt, but it makes me
uncomfortable to feel it, and I understand
it has germs that will accelerate my bone
loss, besides being toxic to my body.
What I don't understand is how having a
root canal will help this. They remove
the root which is the source of tooth
pain---which, as I've said, I barely have,
if any---but will it get rid of the
abscess? Will it prevent another abcess?
The absence of a nerve doesn't eliminate
the conditions that led to the abscess in
the first place, does it? Also, I've
heard so many horror stories about how bad
root canals turned out.
I take excellent care of my teeth now, and
all my others were so clean and my gums so
healthy that my hygeniest put me on a
4-month cleaning schedual.
I know---if anybody answers this---you'll
say, "Go get a second opinion!". But
that takes a lot of time and often they
ask for big consultation fees. I don't
have the money for it, nor can I take so
much time off work. Besides, my
experience is that they're not all that
different.
Any comments or advice would be
appreciated.
|
Tmddyan
Moderator
Joined: 13 Jun 2006 Posts: 4349 Location: post falls, id usa
Thanks: 93
Thanked:63
Hey Posted: 08-06-07 12:38pm
my opinion is that if its not bothering
you let it be and take care of it when it
does bother you. yes second opinions are
always good but if you know that the
dentist you have is good i wouldnt bother.
if you feel it should be taken care of now
rather than later go ahead. sometimes
getting things taken care of earlier is
better than later.
