Getting a root canal fixed that another dodgy dentist did a while back. Understand your pain. If it's a chewing tooth better to leave in. I had one removed but it was the one right at the back and a wisdom tooth had pushed into it and cracked it.

Best bet is to shop around the price and see if you can get a better deal.

Not cheap but what do you do!!!!

Yeah, that's part of my worries, If I go the root canal and it needs re-doing down the track, the the total cost would be less, or roughly the same as having it pulled, and an implant (was quoted about $5k).

I need to decide, of course, while it's still in my mouth!!

Cheers,

Joe

And its very hard to advise you the best way to go,If you have the money,get more proffessional advise and prices,I do know of people that have had dental work in both Bali and Thailand,at a great price and been very happy with it,I also have been told some horror stories ,Unless there is some proffessional dental person on this site who is able to offer you honest advise,for my money,get the bastard out,jersey

Yeah, probably leaning that way at the moment Jersey,just hate to think what that'd feel like if the aneasthetic didn't work again!

what a horrible story you've written.  I can feel the pain!  

I've never heard of a dentist working on an infected tooth, they usually give antibiotics and tell you to come back when it is cleared up.  And they always take the root canal option because that brings in far more money.   Why can't you clear up the infection and have the filling replaced?

Get a second, and third opinion.

That's what I thought, but they only gave me those two options, I guess they don't want to grind out the hole, which will have to go deep enough to expose the nerve,(which will kill it), and then seal dead nerve tissue inside, which will slowly rot away and get infected.

All this thinking about it is making my poor ol' tooth hurt!!

Oh, and the infection is at the tip of the roots (inside the jaw)

tell ya mrs its gonna cost 3k - get it ripped out for 300 n go to the tackle shop! its a win win situation

Yeah, that wouldn't work......with the EX....I keep whatever I save!

JoeH, you've relived the experience I had about 2 months ago.

Identical story & situation... including the drill bit hitting my nerve which was the most excruciating pain I have ever experienced (but this was during the pulpotomy which I chose).

There really is more than 2 options...

1. Pulpotomy: removing the pulp of the tooth & refilling the tooth. A week or 2 of antibiotics should be prescribed to counter the infection post treatment.

The pulpotomy isn't a preferred or guaranteed option. It's a 50/50 chance. All hope is within the antibiotics to kill the infection.

2. Root canal treatment. Expensive, but far better success rate.

3. Extraction - personal call pending which tooth & how you will cope without it. Movement with other teeth will occur over the next decade which can minimise the gap.

4. Extraction with crown (expensive)

5. Implant (expensive)

I chose option 1, after health benefits, it only cost a couple hundred dollars. After the treatment - I was fine (no tooth ache).

A week later, I bit down on a piece of food to only experience the same excruciating pain. I returned to the dentist & he advised that I should give it more time for the medication to take effect.

So I began to eat only on 1 side of my mouth (which was frustrating), but I got over it & it became a habit.

It's been a few months now & I don't have any pain. I still don't bite down on anything too hard because I just don't want to take the risk.... although, I'm confident I've healed.

I had the same a week ago went the GET THE DAMN THING OUT option. A m8 of mine had a root canal done for a grand it got infected a few das later and they had to pull it out.

Quarter of the price and get em all done at the same time

It's still gonna cost the same, but that's including a ticket. And here, the standards are pretty well monitored. Dodgy biz just does not last too long here.

Nothing is as good as the original. I would try to save it if you can. How soon you get it done also makes a difference in treatment options.

Just fell on my face and getting a titanium implant done. Thinking should I splurge on the zirconia ( LA police dogs have titanium implanted canines) , or should I just get the blue LED? Costing around 4500SGD but i'm gonna make the insurers pay most of it - even my stupidity can be insured!!!

All the best, I love that codine stuff!!!!

The same thing ,  Pull it out and spoil my good looks

atm i got a tooth that needs a root canal or to be extracted,
and mine to is infected but its gotten to the point that the whole left side of my face is swollen (im told an absis) so im on Antibiotics for that, cant get it filled, it is the most horrible feeling doctors instructions were, no physical activity until all the swelling is gone, which sux cos my mates 21st birthday is this weekend and he has already paid for us all to go paintballing! what a rip off aye!

Thanks so much for spending the time to write responses!

As of Friday arvo, I find out my work is shutting down due to the GFC!!
We've had no new work come in since about November last year, and the've decided to shut shop rather than sell....a drafting office isn't worth much without income!

So.....that makes my decision a whole lot clearer, I go the cheapest option....pull the sucker!

DazSam, the pulpotomy isn't a real option, as I have an abscess same as incompleat_david, and the odds of failure would be too high.

Thankfully, the antibiotics I'm now on have relieved the pain and swelling of my face already, just bruised up from 4 needles, the only issue now is the tip of the nerve (exposed), seems to brush against everything in my mouth...I'm getting used to wincing!!!

Ganged, your mates' problem is my biggest worry with the root canal thing, if the tooth goes, you can still get the implant later (not too much later), without the expense of the root canal.

Thanks again for the responses,

Joe

PS anyone know of a mechanical/structural drafting office looking for people???

I know the feeling,
have a half broken tooth now since January, but spent the money for the cap-crown-post thing on the sounder...lol

So I'm hanging out till May when I can get it done.

but if it bothers you rip it out, and take the $2000 saving and gp catch a lot of fish that don't need teeth to chew ...lol

LOL Tony, that's exactly what I would have expected from you!!!

I have put buying new gear, holidays, fishing trips etc ahead of fixing my tooth for TOO long myself, so I know exactly where you're coming from!
HaHa....if I could sell my other teeth to upgrade the boat I'd consider it!!!

Cheers,

Joe

had to face the whole lot to be pulled out 37yrs go, as my first born, robbed me of calcuim and three years after he was born, I either had to fill my teeth (break like chalk) or pull the top teeth out, the dentist said, it will cost $1000 to fill my teeth but he only guaranteed another 3yrs of life or  for the same money pull all my teeth out and have false teeth for the top, got them all pulled, worked out better no tooth aches for the top teeth.

I wouldn't spend the money, get it pulled and now no work, pull the sucker when the infection is healed as infections of your teeth can cause heart attacks or heart problems. Very serious infections in your teeth or jaw. 

pull the bugger. my wife had root canal work done only to have the tooth pulled out a year or so later. i have had several teeth removed and it doesnt interfeer chewing on a juicy steak or ripping apart a rack of ribs. if its a back tooth you wont miss it and others wont notice it either. only down side of removal is it takes a couple of weeks for the gum to close up and toughen so your constantly rinsing with salt water. hell of a lot cheaper 

Ask the state Govt for a loan and get the most expensive job done you can.

Cheers
Dale