Not one thing, it's another

Do you know root canals cost $1400? I broke a tooth yesterday afternoon and had my first root canal this morning. Right now I'm feeling fine, but not looking forward to the novacaine wearing off.

The kicker is I was only eating a piece of pepperoni! No fair!

A couple years ago my dentist told me I had the teeth of a 18 year old. It stinks getting old!

Charlotte

Those can be sooo painful!!! I'm sorry you had to go thru that!! Hang in there buddy!

ouch ouch ouch. i'm so sorry charlotte..man those are tough. In a couple days you'll feel better. Glad you got it done and didn't wait though. Hubs is scared of dentists and has many cracked teeth that need to be extracted but wont go in and he suffers immense pain from it. Tooth pain brings him down to his knees sometimes...

Oh, I understand that! I went to my knees when it happened. I told my dentist I took a vico and it didn't do much good and he said he wasn't surprised. He said he's seen people in the ER with tooth pain that had to be put under for pain relief!

He said he was happy I came in so soon so it wouldn't get infected. Are you kidding me? I was almost pounding on the door at 6:00 am!

My hubby had very bad teeth too. Til he met me. I made him go to the dentist so quick his head was spinning. And he thought he was saving that money for a stock car engine.

Charlotte

Yeah.... expensive little suckers!! It's better than missing a tooth though. That throws your whole bite off. I shouldn't hurt too badly as the nerve is gone.

I had one done twice (only charged once) on a tooth that didn't need it!! It turns out I have Trigeminal Neuralgia which has horrible tooth pain as one of the symptoms. I STILL get pain in that tooth even though the nerve is totally gone.

Yeah when I had the dry socket from a tooth extraction I went to the hospital because I thought the dentist broke my jaw. (He was a dirty cheap crazy dentist..I went there because I had no money and was in so much pain.) The ER doctors gave me morphine injectable and it didn't even help! It just made me really really drowsy. ICK! Tooth pain is a killer.

Rest and sleep while the novacaine is still in your system. Take your medication early, not when you start feeling it wear off, but before it does. That stuff wears off REALLY fast, way faster than pills take to kick in.

Growing up very poor and with bad tooth genetics does not produce good teeth. I remember one dentist lecturing me at 16, telling me about how bad my teeth are and how I would always have problems. He wasn't wrong. It takes big bucks to take care of your teeth properly if you have a tendency to have problems. Charlotte, when that dentist told you that you have the teeth of an 18 year old, he was, of course, referring to and 18 year old with a healthy mouth. My teeth were already a disaster at 18.

On the other hand I had an instructor whose first visit to the dentist was at 55! He never had a cavity, his teeth were perfectly straight and white. Furthermore he did not practice good dental hygiene, sometimes going days without brushing and flossing. I had to chastise him a bit. I mean, the guy had the genetic gift of perfect teeth. Shame on him for not taking care of them.

Chris

I had extensive dental care when I was younger. All my baby teeth came in with no enamel and had to be capped (my Mom was a ER nurse working midnights when she was pregnant with me and caring for a toddler during the day. She was tired all the time so the Dr's gave her bennies. I have all kinds of funky congential problems). Then the eye teeth coming in over the baby teeth. A palate that wouldn't grow and had to be split which sent the teeth flying all over the place. Braces and night braces for years.

But, I've always taken good care of my teeth and haven't had any problems as an adult. That's why I'm so disappointed now.

Hubby's side of the family has the bad teeth genetics. Plus, they were very poor. Our dentist said they have high acidity in their saliva which eats at the enamel. Hubby takes much better care of his teeth than I do (I only floss once a day, he does after every meal, uses all kinds of rinses etc) but is struggling to keep his remaining teeth. He had to have some of his gum transplanted. But, he said he won't go through that again. (besides the fact that the specialist told us it would cost $2500 and the bill was $4000!!!!!!) Next big procedure he's going to get them all pulled and go to dentures. His identical twin had his pulled 25 years ago.

Charlotte

$1400 for a root canal ?! OMG !! that's expensive. I thought $800 CA for root canal was expensive.
I had to go to endodontist once and spend $1200 for extra deep, specialized root job and was freaking out at the price.
I suppose the dental is more expensive in US or your teeth are requiring some super specialized job, Charlotte.
Well, the most important is to have them teeth well taken care of.

Granted we Europeans were severely affected by WWII, but my parents had artificial teeth in their 60ties already.
So it's well worth to do what you can to keep your own teeth as long as you can.

Risa

No, sorry I didn't clarify. $700 for the root canal. $700 for the crown that he's going to put on next Friday. Luckily I have good dental insurance. Hubby, however, does not have any.

Charlotte

Oh oh, I see now. yep now it's more like here, too. Similar prices.
Still, very hurtful to the pocket for those who are uninsured.

Good thing you have an insurance, I don't...

Risa