posted
I had a molar root canal years ago, before lyme.
I haven't had any problem with it. End of story. --------------------------------------------------
Whatever you decide, if this tooth is infected, doing something to get rid of an active infection is key. (Of course you know that, but I felt the need to say it.)
You say you don't have money for the root canal right now -
...It should be noted that a root canaled tooth needs to have a crown put on it -another expense.
A tooth that has had a root canal is dead, it will become brittle and crack if it has not been crowned.
If that happens, it will probably need to be extracted.
So, financially speaking: you can pay for a root canal and a crown OR a root canal and an extraction OR an extraction.
My root canal success story: it's a non-story. I had a root canal (and a crown). It's fine.
Would I do it again: yes!
Good luck.
Posts: 797 | From New York | Registered: Feb 2008
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posted
After years of problem-free teeth, mine are now falling apart! I had my first root canal 2 weeks ago and will have my second on Thursday.
My endodontist made the experience a relatively easy one. He has a TV on the ceiling so patients can watch TV or movies while he is working away. It really took my mind off what was going on.
Everything has been fine so far...I get my permanent crowns next week.
My first root canal was pretty uncomfortable afterwards...the endo told me he had to drill much deeper than usual, so I'm not sure how much pain a run-of-the mill root canal causes.
The procedure itself is pain free with just local anesthetic.
So my vote would be yes also. Good luck!
Posts: 345 | From East Coast | Registered: Apr 2008
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I already have a crown on this one. They keep the same crown, don't they?
I just had the crown done in May and it's been a problem ever since. Too much trauma to the tooth.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96239 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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Starfall1969
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 17353
posted
I had a root canal in a front tooth about 6 years ago. The dentist had filled a cavity in the tooth, and two days later I was back in his office because it had gotten very infected.
The root canal was nothing compared to the pain of the infection.
I didn't have any trouble with it till after being diagnosed with Lyme; now it does hurt sometimes, but before that, it was fine.
Posts: 1682 | From Dillsburg, PA | Registered: Sep 2008
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Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5829
posted
Sorry TuTu....
I've never heard of a "good root canal".
My mom worked for a dentist when I was young.. and I had great teeth.
Since Lyme, HORRIBLE!
Every procedure has gone bad... and because of cranial nerve pain, TMJ etc... many teeth were removed that didn't have to be... in search for the source of the pain.
Even a filling hurts for years at a time. Dry sockets too.
posted
They can do a root canal through the crown, yes. They just drill right into it to get to the roots.
IME, Star is dead-on right. The root canal is nothing compared to the pain of an infection.
Posts: 797 | From New York | Registered: Feb 2008
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posted
I'd suggest doing some reading about the potential health effects of root canals before going ahead with one. It's basically a dead tooth that dentists hold on to for cosmetic reasons, but it's a continuing source of infection.
George Meinig, Hal Huggins, Dr. K. are good sources of info.
Many people with Lyme and other chronic infections are getting root canal'ed teeth extracted. I'm planning to do that with mine some day, and since it's near the back, I probably won't replace it with anything.
Good luck! Nutmeg
Posts: 386 | From WA state | Registered: May 2005
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posted
Do you think yours is making you sick?? (nutmeg)
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96239 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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lightparfait
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 22022
posted
I am highly considering getting my three root canaled teeth extracted. Not because anything is wrong with the tooth as far as pain or infection. I actually had a good experience with my endodonist at the time and he did as best a job as possible.
But the jury is out on whether root canaled teeth also contribute to neurological problems as well as other chronic conditions that are similar in nature to lyme symptoms.
I have been researching this and am convinced there is a connection with the meridians that each tooth is attached to and I have experienced health issues, coincidentally?, with all the things associated with the exact meridians that my three root canals are in.
I would not encourage anyone to do a root canal or an implant or get mercury amalgams in their mouth! But more research need to be done on this.
When I get muscle tested with Dr. K"s ART....my three root canals have been pointed out to me by the practitioner as causing problems...
They are not painful and seem ok...but they test very bad for my health.
Would love others to comment on what they know or have experienced along these thoughts.
posted
Root canals are not only done for cosmetic reasons, Nutmeg.
Extracting a tooth and not replacing can lead to all sorts of future dental problems.
Posts: 423 | From Upstate NY | Registered: May 2009
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posted
Hey Lymetoo, rings true to what I am going through now. Good post here is my story. I just got back from Oral Surgeon today.
I was perfectly healthy 2004. I had three root canals + crowns between 2004-2005. Cost $5,400.00
January 2006 severely sick spent next 16 months seeing a total 29 doctors to find out what was wrong (cost around $55,000.00 with all the doctors fees, MRI's, Ct's, bloodtests, ect.)We settled on Lyme + Co in May 2007.
During past year all root canals have failed. I have abscessed between the gum and the tooth in all three. I spent another $1,000.00 this year seeing an Endodontic trying to do what is called a re-treat root canal.
The endodontic failed to remove the Gutta percha in all three teeth. The gutta percha is what they use after they drill out the roots to fill.
The Endodontic tried on 9 different appointment dates to remove this garbage. Using several solutions to help soften the gutta percha. No luck his drill couldn't penetrate this stuff. Like concrete he said. Recommended extraction, oral surgery.
All three molars have to be extracted now. The last two lower left side, and the second one in lower right side.
I had appointment oral surgeon today. Check out these fees:
Oral surgery office visit $325.00 Surgical Extraction $240.00 per tooth Graft-Ridge preservation $500.00 per tooth General Anesthesia $445.00 Additional 15 min anesthesia per tooth $175.00
Total $3515.00! Yippee.
Then after a few months of healing I make a choice of either bridge, implants, fixed bridge..Expense another$2000-$5000 per tooth.
Now to answer your question. I am really starting to question if I have Lyme. Or the confusing part did the Lyme set into my weakened teeth after the root canals? No one can answer that. But keep in mind I was extremely healthy 37 year old fitness freak before any root canals.
If I would have known what I have gone through in the past almost 4 years, ie (severe neurological problems, brain problems, ect ect)prior to root canals, I would have had them extracted.
I am seriously thinking the old string around the tooth and door-knob trick, like the Three Stooges used to do.
Hey Moe, Hey Larry, Nuck Nuck.
Karl A
-------------------- HERX is a Four Letter Word! Posts: 716 | From If you're going through hell, keep going......Winston Churchill | Registered: Apr 2007
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GiGi
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 259
and here the words from the researcher who has tested 100 plus root canals in the lab and in the mouth while he was showing photos of cavitations .....
"now this happens to be cavitations, the bone toxins, but if you have root canals, you will have cavitations because they cause them" (from a recording)
Take care.
Posts: 9834 | From Washington State | Registered: Oct 2000
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My Lyme-friendly MD definitely thinks my root canal tooth is making/keeping me ill, and he thinks it's why my C-reactive protein (blood test for inflammation) is so high. Higher than would be explained by chronic infections, he thinks.
All the muscle-testing, intuitive work, TOPAS testing (somewhat equivocal), and thermogram (of my face to look at the jaw) I've had suggest the root canal is a factor in my health issues, but not a huge one.
If I believed that extracting it would make me instantly well, I would have already done it. I've been putting off the decision for at least 3 years.
I checked the records with my ex-dentist who did the root canal and found out that it does contain some mercury too. I hav definitely gotten sicker since I had the root canal, but nothing I can definitely trace to the root canal placement/timing.
Unfortunately I won't know if the root canal is affecting my health until I have it removed, which I will probably do within the next year. I know a couple of people who have done it and I'm waiting to see how they do. I had all 4 wisdom teeth extracted about 30 years ago, so I probably have cavitations at those sites as well.
The tooth itself seems sound, looks good and has never given me a lick of trouble. Hard to know what to do now, but based on everything I have read and heard, I would absolutely never have another root canal done.
Topaz, I think I could have chosen a better phrase than "cosmetic reasons" to explain why root canals are done. One of the links that GiGi posted used the term "dental convenience." That's more like what I meant.
I honestly don't know what I'd do about the missing tooth space when I have this root canal extracted. My leaning would be to just leave it empty.
Of course my MD and dentist would be horrified if I didn't replace it with anything, but I'm not excited about the process or safety of an implant and don't like the idea of a bridge or partial either.
Hard choices sometimes. Nutmeg
Posts: 386 | From WA state | Registered: May 2005
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lightparfait
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 22022
posted
Nutmeg..I'm in the same place as you.
Have been contemplating this for awhile...and if they were all in the very back, I would have already done it. Also had 4 wisdom teeth removed in my 20's and think that was the beginning of my "lyme symptoms". I had lots of health crisis around that time, but I have no documentation.
But the mental/emotional negative feelings of having missing teeth is a hard one for me to take immediately.
I believe most of my teeth are very bad and I expect others to be needed to take out as well. they just crack as they are very week. Who wants to be toothless?
My ND says to move slowly and be ready if I decide this. Not on a whim so I won't have emotional fallout. As emotions are tied into health too.
I am feeling pretty good health wise...but I have cognitive issues, trouble making decisions and lack of motivation. No reason why pysically, but would like that gone. My teeth are on those meridians!
Also, I care for my inlaws with confusion and dimentia/alzheimers. They have been in case studies and trials at Columbia U. (they did not ask about dental work) My father in laws symptoms started immediately after he had implants! Brilliant minds now gone. I see the connection as I am their caregiver. Now their bodies cannot get rid of bacteria and virusus. amazing. When they go on IV antibiotics for their bacteria infections, they get better, temporarily!
Posts: 1009 | From NJ | Registered: Aug 2009
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Brussels
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 13480
posted
In my experience, if the reason to do a root canal is BECAUSE the tooth is infected, it will always be infected AGAIN, sooner or later.
All my 3 canals that were infected were reinfected again. One root canal was not, I lost it to an accident. This one rarely 'tests' bad and it's still with me.
I still have one that I lost to lyme infections, they also did root canal in it (as said above by Nutmeg, for cosmetic reasons....). It keeps testing good and bad, it DOES get reinfected and affects my health from times to times. I am trying ozone injections on it, but I think if it was not a frontal one, I would just pull it off like I did with my molars.
I'm with partials. You can't leave it empty because other teeth will move in to fill the space, you'll get biting problems with that. Besides, it is very uncomfortable to have the space.
Gosh, the prices Stan describes are amazing high. Even in Switzerland, that is considered an expensive country in Europe, I didn't pay that much .
I think I paid something like 1000 USD for the extraction of 2 teeth then cleaning (it takes longer to clean than to extract, for sure), then about 1500-2000 USD for my golden partial.
Everything done with a biological dentist, followed by my lyme doc, in a special lab. It fits me like a glove.
If I had a molar, and had the cash, I would take it off, clean it, and do a partial... For front teeth, I really don't know... I'm still wondering, the ozone injections give me time to think.
Posts: 6200 | From Brussels | Registered: Oct 2007
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posted
" Otherwise, wouldn't the teeth sort of cave in and the bite would be all off?"
Yes. It's like a domino effect. It doesn't happen overnight but it will eventually happen.
Your teeth are meant to hit on each other and be up against each other in a certain way to be properly functional.
Losing a tooth and not replacing can cause problems with the teeth next to the one lost as they will gradually tip and try to move into the space.
It can also cause problems with the opposing tooth or teeth on the opposite arch that normally occlude with the lost tooth. They won't have anything to hit on and will slowly extrude down(or up). Also not an ideal situation.
All of these things can cause perio problems, which will create areas where bacteria can thrive, bite/tmj problems. Decay can also occur in these areas created because they are difficult to get to and clean.
In my experience, partials are also not the most terrific thing for a lot of people, both psychologically and functionally. I personally would not want something I need to take out and put in each day. Not to mention the potentially harmful materials these are made out of as well being in your mouth all day.
So, what to do?
Toxins in the dental materials, the possibility of infection lingering with leaving it, problems with partials, problems with NOT replacing...
Damned if you do and damned if you don't I guess.
Just some things to consider. I know there is no one easy answer.
Posts: 423 | From Upstate NY | Registered: May 2009
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randibear
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 11290
posted
i've got an appt today at 2:30 to have a cap repaired that i broke and i'm dreading it.
i did have one root canal years ago that a dentist did. he was my husband's dentist and i didn't like him. well, it got infected and caused a world of hurt.
went back to my own doctor who sent me to a specialist who ended up doing surgery. the bone got infected.
now i stick to my dentist no matter what. he's expensive, but hey, i've got to keep these old clackers...
-------------------- do not look back when the only course is forward Posts: 12262 | From texas | Registered: Mar 2007
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