in tooth, i know not why i am so sad
09/05/2007
Went to the dentist today and confirmed suspicions that there is little to do to fix the tooth that’s been bugging me for a year. So, after two re-fillings and no resolution, I’m scheduled for my first root canal.
This Thursday.
It bugs me. That an otherwise pretty perfect set is going to be imperfect. The affected molar is cracked around from the buccal (cheek side), through the surface, then on to the lingual (tongue side) surface. I can feel it with my tongue.
Root canal treatment involves the removal of pulp tissue (pulpectomy) and nerves. To do this, they use different sized endofiles (imagine tiny pipe-cleaners on a handle, the size of those inter-dental brushes) to scrape out the canals where the root connects your tooth to your jaw. Though endodontists (root canal specialists) claim it’s mostly painless, I’m sure it’s uncomfortable. It starts with a bunch of local anaesthestics getting pumped into your jaw, then drilling into the tooth to get to the pulp. To isolate the tooth and keep the area dry, they put a rubber sheet over the rest of the mouth – has a small hole to show up the affected tooth – then the filing begins. The dentist usually has to take x-rays before he starts and some ways into the filing to see how much and far he has to go, and later on, whether he’s removed all the (infected) pulp and nerves. The canals are long, and some are very slim, but if anything gets left behind, it will likely get infected.
Anyway, when he’s certain the canals are clear, it gets filled – I’ll check what the filling is on Thursday, but according to Wikipedia it’s Gutta-percha with Barium. Later on, your regular dentist will cap the tooth.
There is discomfort when I put pressure on the tooth and it is sensitive to cold. But I don’t think my tooth is abscessed, since there is no throbbing achy pain. This will hopefully reduce the amount of pain I will have to suffer through. Generally I think I’ve a pretty high threshold for pain – anyone who’s had orthodontics done has a pretty high threshold for pain – but root canals can bring you to a whole new plane of pain.
Anyway, root canals are pretty expensive procedures, I think in Singapore it costs around $800 and up. The crown costs about $500 and up. Given it’s a pretty major piece of work done, and it costs a pretty tidy sum, you really want to be in hands you trust. It’s a good thing I know my endodontist and how he works. He was the one who convinced me that wearing my retainers faithfully for a year after removing the hugeass wires did nothing for him, so he’s cool. He also gets called in for second opinions every time I tell my regular dentist I feel something going on and he thinks I’m nuts. It happens more than I care to share.
Anyway, I still can’t figure out what I did to cause the fracture, but it happened about a year and a half ago. My dentist thinks I was chewing on nails. Maybe.
They really weren’t lying when they said your body starts breaking down past a certain stage.
By the way, if you ever get your tooth knocked out from its socket – you can still save it if you follow these instructions. Just thought you’d like to know.
