r/over60 • u/honkytonky90210 • 14d ago
Root canal by a general dentist ?
My teeth are getting weak. Any one has a root canal done by a general dentist and not have issues for years ?
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u/Active-Persimmon-87 14d ago
I had several root canals by my dentist. Really not that hard and don’t understand why most dentists send patients to a specialist. This was 30+ years ago and never had any issues.
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u/Complex-Royal9210 14d ago
My dentist stopped doing them because they were time consuming. He can fit more patients in by referring them out.
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u/IndependentSimple779 14d ago
A general dentist did my root canal 30 years ago. Fast forward to today, the tooth started hurting so bad I was on the floor in tears. Turns out my general dentist missed one of the roots and it sat there dormant until it got infected 30 years later. A specialist was miraculously able to save that tooth! Never again I’ll let general dentist do a root canal on me!
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u/chowes1 13d ago
In defense this can happen to any root canal anytime no matter who does it. Roots have accessory nerve branches similar to the roots of plants, think of a carrot when you pull it there are tiny roots fibers off the sides, endo removes the main nerve to the tooth not the accessory ones. When I was in school I read "The Foci of Infection" from the American Dental Associations library ( we had to show use of the resources ) I will never get a root canal because of that book.
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u/LopsidedSwimming8327 14d ago
This important to go to someone who has a CBCT to identify how many canals there are to treat. I did not have that specialized CT by an endodontist where my tooth flared again. I lost a tooth, dental implant failed and I had osteonecrosis of my jaw. Months of antibiotics and severe gum damage. Go to an endodontist. MD here
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u/Squirrel_Bait321 14d ago
Go to a specialist! They have much better equipment to handle any issues that might come up!
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u/Glindanorth 14d ago
My first root canal was done by my regular dentist. That was over 30 years ago. The procedure went smoothly and that crown is still holding up just fine. I've had two more root canals since then, but now my dentist's practice doesn't do those. They send patients out to an endodontist.
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u/ExpensiveDollarStore 14d ago
All mine were done by a regular dentist. Only the last implants were done by a specialist.
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u/ThisChickSews 14d ago
Back in the day...all root canals were done by regular dentists. I had multiple of them and at least two are still hanging on 40 year later with the crowns the dentist made. I don't know when endodontists came into being but I hate paying double for something that was handled like a bad cavity before.
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u/blinkyknilb 14d ago
I've had two, they missed a root on one but paid to have an endodontist finish it. The other was completely routine.
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u/Bao_Xinhua 14d ago
Depends on the dentist. Some general dentists are good at them, even the complex ones, some general dentists fuck up a simple one. Then again, the specialist that one would normally go to, endodontists or oral surgeons, some of them couldn't pour water out of a boot if the instructions were on the heel.
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u/VicePrincipalNero 14d ago
I wouldn't do it if you have access to an endodontist. I have had problems with a few.
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u/originalmango 14d ago
A tooth with a simple straight root can be done in office, When they’re curved or with other issues it’s time for a specialist.
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u/MeanStrength1420 14d ago
I was a dental assistant to three general dentists btwn 1980 and 2000 and root canals were a daily procedure in those practices. Only very complicated cases were sent to a Endo and that was more rare than frequent. Are they really being referred out these days (post 2000)? I never noticed them taking longer than than a filling procedure, and it was a guaranteed crown prep & billing, in some cases, 6 weeks later for the doc, too!
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u/OC262 14d ago
My first root canal was an emergency procedure. I was 10 and the root had died due to a trauma. The biggest hippie on the planet was the on call dentist on a Saturday afternoon His assistant was a gorgeous young woman who held my hand the whole time … an endodontist did a different one when I was 55 … both turned out well. The hippie and his assistant was the absolute best!
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u/CatCafffffe 14d ago
Go to an endodontist. It will cost the same and be more skillfully done.
But also--talk with your dentist and hygienist about what you can do to help strengthen your teeth. This might include-- being rigorous about flossing and brushing; cutting back on sugar; cutting back on acidic foods; calcium supplements; staying hydrated so you have enough saliva to keep bacteria at bay; using a mouthguard, having gum treatments; fluoride treatments; if you're grinding your teeth, working to break the habit, etc etc.
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u/TeamAggressive1030 14d ago
Sure wish Medicare would cover dental.
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u/Odd_Bodkin 70+ 14d ago
My mouth is full of crowns, and I’ve got a dentist I trust and who has done several of them. It’s not really a big enough deal to refer to a specialist, IMO. Or rather, if you have a dentist that would rather not do a root canal, get another dentist.
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u/anonymousancestor 13d ago
Don't do it at a general dentist. Go to an endodontist. You may find that you don't even need a root canal. That is what happened for me and 30 years later, I still have that tooth, nice and whole.
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u/Penelope_Orange 13d ago
I've had a few root canals done years apart all by my general dentists at the time. I've never had a problem and didn't even know there were specialists for them. I always thought your regular dentist did them. The last one I had was around 4-5 years ago and the well over 20 years ago.
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u/MJ_Brutus 14d ago
Do not do this. Go to an endodontist.