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root canal: the real pain
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squesen
Jul 3, 08 10:45
Post #1 of 30 (444 views)
root canal: the real pain
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I was told yesterday that I might need a root canal. I have some decay under an old filling, so she is going to take the filling out, see if she can get it , and then refill it. If she can't get it, then it is root canal time. She can't tell until she is in there and sees what she is dealing with.
Here is the real pain (in US dollars, not rupees or pesos):
- to get the cavity done: $175.00
- to get the root canal: $1,900.00 WTF!
Have you had a root canal? How many clams did it set you back? What hurt worse, the procedure or the bill?
:( Sarah
M~
Jul 3, 08 11:11
Post #2 of 30 (432 views)
Re: root canal: the real pain [squesen]
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Does that root canal cost cover the cost of a cap or anything else other than just the root canal procedure?
If not, yeah that is outrageous.
squesen
Jul 3, 08 11:22
Post #3 of 30 (429 views)
Re: root canal: the real pain [M~]
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Yeah, the procedure and then whatever they have to do to fill it back in. It is on one of my back molars. $1900 total for the whole deal.
TwinDad
Jul 3, 08 11:30
Post #4 of 30 (425 views)
Re: root canal: the real pain [squesen]
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I can't speak about the cost. You might comparison shop. I hear there's a lot of variation from dentist to dentist. My root canal was an emergency deal, and I was still (barely) under my parents' roof, so I don't recall how much it was.
The procedure itself really wasn't all that bad (upper molar) - not nearly as bad as it's made out to be, and I'm terrified of dentists. It was *waaay* better than the pain I was in *before* the procedure.
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Bob Loblaw
Jul 3, 08 12:07
Post #5 of 30 (392 views)
Re: root canal: the real pain [squesen]
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$1900 is ok, if it includes the crown. actually, that's pretty good. if it doesn't include the crown, that seems really high.
your options are what they are.
live in pain; get the tooth yanked, for far less money; or shell out the big bucks. if you're going to get it done, figure out which dentists you trust. better to pay $1900 for a good job than $500 for a bad job. i say this having had 3 root canals. the first done by my normal dentist. that didn't work, i've since had to have the tooth removed. the 2 others i had done by a specialist. those teeth are still there.
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SProboscis
Jul 3, 08 12:18
Post #6 of 30 (387 views)
Re: root canal: the real pain [squesen]
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Speaking as a Dentist, if the 1900 bucks is for just the Root Canal Therapy, yes, that is high. Very High. But if its for the RCT, post and core, and Crown, then that is about right. All RCT teeth eventually need the Post and Core and Crown. Why? During the RCT not only the nerve, but also the blood vessels wrapped around said nerve are removed. Because of this, over time the tooth will tend to become brittle. Kind of like a tree can die, but it can still remain standing, and over time it will tend to fall apart. If the 1900 is just for the RCT, then maybe your Dentist just doesnt like doing them, and thats why the price. Just a guess.
Are you seeing a General Dentist or Endodontist(one who specializes in RCT's)
squesen
Jul 3, 08 13:22
Post #7 of 30 (369 views)
Re: root canal: the real pain [SProboscis]
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My dentist is going to see if she can drill-n-fill if the decay is not too deep. That will be the cheap option.
Otherwise, she is going to stick a temp filling in there and refer me to an
Endodontist. The
Endodontist will charge $1900 for the root canal + crown -- the whole enchilada. So it sounds like this is about right. It just seems so expensive. I can see spending
$1900+ on a bike, but on ONE tooth. Man.
Right now I don't have any pain, so maybe I'll be lucky and just get the filling done.
Marco in BC
Jul 3, 08 13:34
Post #8 of 30 (359 views)
Re: root canal: the real pain [squesen]
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It just seems so expensive. I can see spending
$1900+ on a bike, but on ONE tooth. Man.
try to price a bridge sometimes and then you'll REALLY feel the pain...
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A wise man can learn more from a foolish question than a fool can learn from a wise answer.
SProboscis
Jul 3, 08 13:35
Post #9 of 30 (356 views)
Re: root canal: the real pain [squesen]
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Another possibility is when all the decay is removed, if it is just deep and there is no nerve exposure, a temporary filling can be placed that has some medication in it. This can help calm the nerve of the tooth. By keeping it calm, there is a moderate chance that it will heal itself and be fine.
These are usually left alone for a couple of months. If there are no problems, then most this is removed, leaving a small layer as a insulating base, then a permanent restoration can be placed. Sometimes by moving too quickly and placing a large, deep, permanent filling too soon can irritate the nerve then leading to RCT. The key is nerve exposure. If there is no nerve exposure, no sign of abcess, and it is not constantly aching, then there can be some intermediate options available to you.
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last tri in 83
Jul 3, 08 13:38
Post #10 of 30 (352 views)
Re: root canal: the real pain [squesen]
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take a valium first.
_____________________________________________
Atilla the Hun could rise from the dead and endorse Obama and it wouldn't faze me in the least.
--MattinSF
sphere
Jul 3, 08 13:42
Post #11 of 30 (348 views)
Re: root canal: the real pain [squesen]
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I had root canal work last year, with BC/BS plus dental coverage. With insurance, it cost me over $2,300 out of pocket. I recall vividly, lying in the chair, jaw cranked open, drenched in sweat, gripping the armrests in agony (the anesthesia was not able to penetrate deep enough despite 5 or 6 tries), thinking "
I'm spending the equivalent of a new P2C on this torture. Fan-f#cking-tastic!"
sphere
Jul 3, 08 13:43
Post #12 of 30 (347 views)
Re: root canal: the real pain [sphere]
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Oh, and it was the result of decay under an old filling, too.
geekysteve
Jul 3, 08 13:49
Post #13 of 30 (343 views)
Re: root canal: the real pain [sphere]
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If there's one thing I hate in this world, it's the scam that BC/BS propagates as insurance. Worst company ever.
If the 'ole toof doc ever says I need a crown, I'm telling him to pull the son of a gun...
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"Children are for people who believe in the future; that's why I had a vasectomy."
SProboscis
Jul 3, 08 13:55
Post #14 of 30 (340 views)
Re: root canal: the real pain [sphere]
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I hate the fact that it took that many times. Out of curiosity, did you notice the Dr. using any different techniques with the anesthetic? I found out pretty quickly after school, I had to use other techniques with difficult situations. If the first couple dont do the trick, gotta to move on to something else. If infection is present, that changes the PH of the area, which messes with the anesthesia.
sphere
Jul 3, 08 13:55
Post #15 of 30 (340 views)
Re: root canal: the real pain [geekysteve]
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Trust me, if it weren't fully visible, I would have fixed it myself. A bottle of Yukon Jack and a claw hammer can't run more than $40.
sphere
Jul 3, 08 14:00
Post #16 of 30 (339 views)
Re: root canal: the real pain [SProboscis]
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Honestly, I couldn't tell. He was visibly uncomfortable with my pain level; I actually felt bad for the guy. He asked if I wanted to stop & reschedule (for general anesthesia, I presume), but he said we were within 20 minutes of wrapping it up, so I told him to just do what he had to do, I wouldn't hold a grudge.
Lightning bolts to the face, one after the next. Absolutely brutal.
last tri in 83
Jul 3, 08 14:09
Post #17 of 30 (335 views)
Re: root canal: the real pain [sphere]
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aggghaarrgg I'm having flashback of that little roto-rooter going up and down in my roots!!!!!!!!!!! GOSH THAT HURT!!
_____________________________________________
Atilla the Hun could rise from the dead and endorse Obama and it wouldn't faze me in the least.
--MattinSF
Jim_n_La
Jul 3, 08 14:13
Post #18 of 30 (331 views)
Re: root canal: the real pain [squesen]
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Interesting you mention pesos. There's a whole cottage (cabana?) industry built around dentral travel. Here's how it works, mexican dentist charge maybe a 1/3 to 1/4 what a good ol' usa dentist charges for things like root canals, extractions, bridges, crowns. So far, so good but you can't just drive down to Tijuana and find a dentist, plus you'll be drugged so driving back is a problemo. The solution: book a dental vacation, you go to puerto vallarta, get the root canal, speend a few days on the beach and come back with good teeth and a tan. Sounds easy but of course how do you find a reputable mexican dentist (no racist jokes please), and if things get complicated it might be embarassing to go to your usual dentist and ask to help out. Anyway, there are travel agencies that specialize in this stuff. How do I know this, just had a bridge installed 2 grand after insurance (ha!) made it worth while to at least consider the options.
Jim_n_La
...what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, but only until it kills you - Cousin Elwood
mnbrotha2
Jul 3, 08 14:27
Post #19 of 30 (327 views)
Re: root canal: the real pain [squesen]
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My wife is a dentist here in Mpls. She tells some of my freelance co-worker's who don't have dental insurance to get procedures like this done at the U of MN Dental School. The students are have graduated or are close and are under careful watch. If you have a dental school close try that out. It will cost a lot less, it will take a lot longer.
sestivers
Jul 3, 08 14:32
Post #20 of 30 (323 views)
Re: root canal: the real pain [squesen]
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I can't comment on the cost of mine since it was paid for through military benefits.
However, I think most of the horror stories of physical pain during a root canal are when there was pain present before the root canal was conducted. If it doesn't hurt now it won't likely hurt during the procedure either.
Steve
sphere
Jul 3, 08 14:47
Post #21 of 30 (318 views)
Re: root canal: the real pain [sestivers]
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If it doesn't hurt now it won't likely hurt during the procedure either.
Nonsense. I've had two root canals in two years. The first hurt like the devil prior to the procedure; didn't feel a pinch during repair. The second was heat/cold sensitive only prior to the agonizing repair I described above.
From what my dentist tells me, it depends entirely on how deep the root goes, which determines how effectively the nerve ending can be anesthetized.
SallyShortyPnts
Jul 3, 08 15:38
Post #22 of 30 (304 views)
Re: root canal: the real pain [mnbrotha2]
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X2 on university dental schools. I'm receiving superb care at U of MO Dental School in Kansas City. You ought to be comfortable with the lead dentist plus 5 students simultaneously looking into your mouth. If you have an interesting case,you may have your mouth photographed as a case study for teaching purposes.
My fear is that my gums, tonsils, and nose hair may be posted on the internet for strange dental perverts. Other than that, care has been great and cost is about 75% less than going to regular dentists/ endodontists/ periodontists/oral surgeons. I needed all 4 for my dental implants.
Marco in BC
Jul 3, 08 15:40
Post #23 of 30 (302 views)
Re: root canal: the real pain [sphere]
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Honestly, I couldn't tell. He was visibly uncomfortable with my pain level;
ha, beats my dentist when I was growing up that did not believe in anesthesia, I had a lot of cavities (on molars etc.) done with absolutely no anesthesia up until I switched dentists in my early 20s... I remember him telling me to 'raise my hand' if there was too much pain and me sticking my hand straight up and him ignoring me, fun times... to this day I can't watch the dustin hoffman movie without getting very uncomfortable flashbacks
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A wise man can learn more from a foolish question than a fool can learn from a wise answer.
(This post was
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by Marco in BC on Jul 3, 08 15:42)
squesen
Jul 3, 08 16:00
Post #24 of 30 (293 views)
Re: root canal: the real pain [last tri in 83]
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I don't have any valium but I have some friends who could smoke me out, do you think that would help? I am squeaky clean these days so I'd probably be a cheap date. I am afraid it will just make me paranoid, hungry, and weird. Or I could have a few tequilla shots. That's pretty much old school anesthesia. Guess I can't ride my bike to the dentist's office!
Thanks for the horror stories. Those are great. It reminds me of that Ren & Stimpy episode with the nerve beaver. Maybe I'll watch that before I go.
Right now: no pain. Zip. Nada. So I was kind of hoping for the no pain now = no pain during the procedure theory. Looks like that one got flushed down the drain.
Now I am fear being broke and tortured.
last tri in 83
Jul 3, 08 16:03
Post #25 of 30 (290 views)
Re: root canal: the real pain [squesen]
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I take a half for a regular visit and a full pill for something highly stressful like a root canal. Your dentist can probably give you a couple. I freely admit I am high maintenance.
_____________________________________________
Atilla the Hun could rise from the dead and endorse Obama and it wouldn't faze me in the least.
--MattinSF
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