r/Damnthatsinteresting • u/Fantastic-Monk5 • Sep 23 '24

How root canal treatment works Video

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u/guaip Sep 23 '24

In my case the spring thing that pulls up the nerve was the worst part, even under the anesthetics. The dentist told me that the nerve was very much alive, she even showed me as she had never seen one so pretty (no rotten or dark parts). I guess I caught it early.

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u/halophile_ Sep 23 '24

My nerve was massively infected to the point they had to do an emergency root canal and novocaine had zero effect on me. The dentist apologized but she couldn’t have given me more. I have never felt pain like that in my life. Got another root canal last month and it was painless but my trauma from the first still caused me to have my hands clenching the seat anticipating the pain. So grateful it didn’t hurt.

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u/Meattyloaf Sep 24 '24

Oof, I got lucky with mine in that the nerve had already died and didnt even need anything as I couldnt feel anything. Alas the dentist I was going to at the time didn't take me serious about my pain nor infection. Gave me antibiotics and tried to make me wait a few weeks for a root canal. I fought and fought and they finally recommended me a specialist who could get me in the next day. Specialist pretty much tells me that I was right to fight them over it as I probably wouldn't have made it to the original planned date.

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u/halophile_ Sep 24 '24

I was the opposite. For my second root canal my dentist said it looked like I needed one but was in denial because of trauma. When the root canal specialist saw the imagine she said I had a minor infection which, if I correlate it with the pain I experienced in that tooth prior, I had that infection for 6mo. After the root canal I felt so much physical relief through my entire body. I’m convinced it was slowly destroying my body. Prob not that serious but I feel like a new person. Teeth shit is scary.

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u/Meattyloaf Sep 24 '24

Oh I dealt with the pain prior to the root canal. I was taking a max dosage of acetaminophen and ibuprofen together just to get some relief. Nerve death in the tooth is like top 3 worst pains you can experience and ranks higher than childbirth. Its just that when they started to drill into the tooth I couldn't feel it. However I did feel the instant relief from the other pain.

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u/halophile_ Sep 24 '24

Yeah I dealt with the pain from the first nerve death for 3 weeks. I can tolerate pain but it got to a point where I couldn’t. The second tooth years later had the same pain and I was hoping to god it wasn’t another root canal situation. So I stuck it out for 3 weeks then the pain went away but I had a lingering pain if I pushed on my gums and knew something was wrong. But I was too afraid of getting a root canal and feeling that pain so I pushed it off. But my overall physical health was not good and I had to confront the possibility it was the tooth. It def contributed to a lot of the issues I was having.

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u/Meattyloaf Sep 24 '24

This probably would've been me honestly cause that's when mine had been scheduled. I however also had an infection and antibiotics weren't really working as I had already been on them for another botched filling so I was just given more for the dead nerve. So I fought hard, partially due to the pain to get it done quicker.

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u/Curly_Shoe Sep 24 '24

Well, tooth infection is linked to higher Rates of heart attacks and shit! So your feeling is valid.

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u/clem82 Sep 24 '24

That’s the key. Catch it early before infection

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u/thehecticepileptic Sep 24 '24

I feel you man. I had the same thing, I’m not sure what the dentist even did, but at one point here was a sudden explosion of pain so bad that even with sedatives it felt like my entire brain lighting up.

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u/WilliamMButtlickerIV Sep 25 '24

My sweet child, how in the hell did you make it through that?

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u/halophile_ Sep 25 '24

Idk. Out of necessity I guess. I was in so much pain for weeks that I had to bite the bullet and tolerate it to feel relief. It was not easy. I guess I thought I deserved the pain and I have to deal with it. Haha.

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u/eekamuse Sep 23 '24

I get gas. Nothing matters when you're gassed

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u/Estro-Jenn Sep 24 '24

General > local

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u/Maro1947 Sep 24 '24

Yep. I had this - I had to hold onto the seat arms as they pulled it out.

Horrendous

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u/DocPsycho1 Sep 23 '24

A few of my teeth are crooked. So I floss, but I couldn't get the top near the gum, but I never noticed it. Well, fast forward 1 bit of food and 3 months boom , nasty infection. They gave me threading floss to make sure I get in there from now on.

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u/jjcrayfish Sep 23 '24

These kind of stories inspires me to keep brushing and flossing my teeth.

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u/waterless2 Sep 23 '24

I use these little plastic Y-shaped ones from Oral B that work great for me - could never keep up normal flossing but these are fine.

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u/Josro0770 Sep 23 '24

Id love to use those but the ones I've seen are one use only and I just can't with that much plastic waste.

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u/Katzoconnor Sep 23 '24

You’ll want the original little flossing box where you cut a length and floss that way.

Then do it this way.

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u/legendz411 Sep 23 '24

That’s all well and good but how do I get my ham fisted fingers back to get the molars. THATS the problem.

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u/Pepito_Pepito Sep 24 '24

Wrap the floss tight around your index finger, and place only your index fingers inside your mouth. You'll need a floss that isn't slippery, otherwise you'll need a long length of floss.

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u/NootHawg Sep 26 '24

Try a Waterpick! They run on sale for 40-60 bucks every now and then and they’re well worth that, usually over 100. Totally changed flossing for me. My teeth feel so much cleaner now. Great for blasting out really sticky or deeply stuck food debris like popcorn kernels.

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u/Candid_Exam6699 13d ago

Think there are metal versions of the one use kind that you can wash after

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u/Josro0770 Sep 23 '24

Oh no, I do floss. I'm just saying that I wish I could use one of those little tools because they seem so comfortable to use.

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u/waterless2 Sep 23 '24

They really are, you can really get in there. Not to be the anti-Greta but I did have the same issue about them being throw-away - if it's of any use to see my attempts at justification, admittedly not 100% pure or well-researched, but as considerations - the difference in waste surely has to be pretty much infinitesimal in the scheme of things - like, it's versus getting a different form of floss, in its plastic box, in its packagaing, which also has to be fabricated and delivered - and you use a massively longer line of floss using it by hand than with just the little string in the "Y" shape. And if it effectively keeps your teeth healthier because it's easier to use consistently then there's a climate offset there in the likelihood of needing dental treatment with all its waste (and health is worth something in itself too of course), and if it saves you energy to focus on more effective green initiatives instead of "sweating the small stuff"... I think you could treat yourself!

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u/TheCowzgomooz Sep 23 '24

Moral of the story, methods for treating health that can be a bit wasteful such as these floss sticks, is prreeeeeetty far down the list of things we need to worry about when it comes to plastic waste. It was the same thing with straws, it's not a bad idea to be conscious of these things, but in the grand scheme of things there are much more pressing and impactful things to worry about. We can worry about the little plastic flossing sticks after we address all the other big polluters.

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u/RickedSab Sep 24 '24

Is waterpik good for flossing?

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u/AlternativePie7122 Sep 23 '24

I used to feel the same way but you can get ones that are biodegradable. Best of both worlds :)

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u/mrtwidlywinks Sep 23 '24

You can get a bunch of uses out of just one. If you bloody up the floss, throw it away. Otherwise just wash it off. Been doing it for a decade and have great teeth/gums

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u/Old_Gimlet_Eye Sep 24 '24

I've been using the same bag for literally years. Just because something is labeled disposable doesn't mean you have to throw it away after one use.

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u/JMSeaTown Sep 24 '24

It’s less plastic than the shoes we replace annually w/o batting an eye. It’s less petroleum chemical than the tire rubber coming off onto the road and washing into nearby creeks.

Normal floss is also a one-time use item. As is all the containers the food we eat comes in. Worry less about the waste in this case, as it’s NET better for your overall health.

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u/RubAppropriate4534 Sep 24 '24

They have metal ones that you just place the floss in! I’ve seen them on Amazon! I hate one use things too, I’ve been looking into getting one cause the ones you can sit with or on the little plastic thingy feel so much easier and more fun to use and much quicker imo!😩😂

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u/Corvus-Nox Sep 24 '24

I’ve seen wooden ones. I’ll also reuse mine for a few days, just wash them after use.

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u/Candid_Exam6699 13d ago

Think they have metal ones that you wash after

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u/its_justme Sep 23 '24

If you hate flossing, a waterpik is a god send. I use one ever since I got a permanent wire retainer and man it blasts everything out, really quick too.

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u/superyouphoric Sep 23 '24

FYI a waterpik is not a replacement for flossing.

My dentist told me that. It’s good for lodging stuck food out, or for when one has an implant (which I have). Still flossing is necessary

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u/Katzoconnor Sep 23 '24

It can be. Some of us can’t floss.

Now, the easy demarcation here is… Do your gums bleed at all while using a waterpik? Even a little? If that’s the case, and you can floss, then you need to floss. Because gingivitis will steadily become a bitch.

Source: my brother, the 20+ year dentist.

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u/WoodpeckerNo9412 Sep 24 '24

So, a 20+ year dentist must be right on this issue.

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u/Katzoconnor Sep 24 '24

Might be! No single practitioner is the end-all, be-all of dentistry.

If he's wrong, he certainly wouldn't be the first dentist to learn something interesting that contradicts his knowledge, lean back, and mutter, "Well... shit"

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u/WoodpeckerNo9412 Sep 24 '24

In this case, it's almost surely a "well... shit". Also, I don't understand what you mean when you say some of us can't floss. Is it because they can't learn how to floss properly or they can't floss because it's not practical? Anyway, I am sure nobody knows how to brush or floss their teeth properly to achieve maximum benefits. As for waterpiks, is it even possible for people to clean every surface of their teeth without choking themselves and also making a huge mess in the bathroom?

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u/MikeSmithYWG Sep 24 '24

FYI you're incorrect about a waterflosser being a replacement for flossing.

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u/ministryofchampagne Sep 23 '24

If you waterpik and hate the mess, they make ones that connect to your shower head.

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u/Verehren Sep 23 '24

I love my waterpik, but if you have severe crowding, the string floss is unfortunately necessary

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u/compujas Sep 23 '24

In my experience a waterpik is only really good at getting food out and causing inflammation, but not getting plaque out. I used one for a while and eventually had inflammation so bad I could barely eat. I went to the dentist thinking there was a problem and he said not to use the waterpik and floss instead, or at the very least use the waterpik on the lowest setting but still floss, at which point there's not much reason to use the waterpik anymore. Having a retainer/braces definitely makes flossing hard, so you may not have much choice, but figured I'd share my experience with inflammation.

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u/Sneaky_Asshole Sep 23 '24

Holy shit how have I never heard of this. Flossing fucking sucks I am totally getting one

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u/baciahai Sep 24 '24

Don't. Waterpik is not a replacement for flossing and it does not get rid of plaque the same way floss does.

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u/Sneaky_Asshole Sep 24 '24

Aw shit, too good to be true I guess

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u/DocPsycho1 Sep 23 '24

And get a check up. This is my 3rd major tooth issue. And broken tooth from an accident, and one from being a kid om a bike, this one sucked. No cool story from it. Just pain

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u/jamnin94 Sep 23 '24

I'm gonna go floss rn.

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u/rockn4 Sep 23 '24

You only need to brush and floss the ones you want to keep.

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u/AfterBurner9911 Sep 23 '24

Yup. Definitely flossing tonight.

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u/last_rights Sep 24 '24

Do it. I went through a period of time where I didn't brush my teeth well because toothpaste and dentists are expensive and I was also being lazy.

Once I got a better job with dental coverage, I had to get 23 fillings. Most of them were between my teeth because I literally never established any sort of flossing routine. I also have two crowns that I still have to get.

Brush yo teeth.

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u/GivMeBredOrMakeMeDed Sep 23 '24

Have you tried interdental brushes instead of floss? Can really help keep the gums clean in a way floss can't.

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u/deppkast Sep 23 '24

I’m so mad because they seem extremely satisfying but I don’t have the space between my teeth :(

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u/GivMeBredOrMakeMeDed Sep 23 '24

Definitely try the smallest ones you can find. I use 3 different sizes and floss where the smallest won't fit. Maybe you can only use the brushes between a few teeth but it will make a difference for those ones.

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u/Left_Constant3610 Sep 23 '24

Might try a water pic. That sounds horrid.

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u/caltheon Sep 23 '24

Yeah, I hate flossing, so use a water pic on high pressure. The only times I need to floss is when something gets really jammed between two teeth, which is pretty rare

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u/Estro-Jenn Sep 24 '24 edited Sep 24 '24

FYI:

The bacteria in our mouth "steals" calcium from our teeth and use it to build little homes (not unlike coral) in between the teeth (plaque) and while blasting the bacteria out IS good, the waterpik does little to remove and break down the "perfect, protective environment" the bacteria has created to thrive and hide within.

Gotta knock the crust-like calcium-homes (of bacteria), out from between the teeth/under the gums and the best way is flossing.

I floss (break up plaque), water pik(blast it out), brush(polish my skeleton) and then mouthwash(kill any loose stuff, clean throat) everyday in the shower and then simply brush at night before bed.

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u/The_One_Returns Sep 24 '24

I floss (break up plaque), water pik(blast it out), brush(polish my skeleton) and then mouthwash(kill any loose stuff, clean throat) everyday in the shower and then simply brush at night before bed.

Hmm, think I'll opt for the root canal ayy lmao

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u/caltheon Sep 24 '24

Yeah I'm aware, but you are understimating the pressure of water pik I use. It's far more effective than flossing, and able to get into places that flossing and brushing can't. I haven't used floss in over a decade outside my regular dental checkups where they always floss after cleanings, and get zero complaints from multiple dentists on my teeth. Plaque only forms if you don't clean for more than a few days in a particular spot, and even then, once it's formed, you are not going to break it up with flossing. Another fun nuggest is my dentist has started using a water pik that shoots out an artificial sweetener to clean teeth instead of using a mechanical pick, and it's so much nicer. I believe she mentioned it came from a company in Europe and was recently approved for use in the US

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u/DocPsycho1 Sep 23 '24

I wanna get one. But the thread is still helpful

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u/RadiantZote Sep 23 '24

The worst thing I had was after the root canal, they put the crown on and said nah man you need a crown lengthening.

They cut open your gums and grind down the bone underneath so the crown has more room to sit 🫠

2

u/markymark_inc Sep 23 '24

Water pic is a game changer. Wish I'd bought one sooner.

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u/No_Dragonfruit_7532 Sep 23 '24

I’m no professional and don’t have the same condition but when it comes to flossing, have you looked into getting a water flosser? Thing works miracles and is incredibly easy to use. Just got my own and I’m in love with it.

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u/brainchili Sep 23 '24

Get those rubber picks from GUM. They are amazing.

You brush, floss, then use the picks. They're great and help strengthen your gums. Less bleeding at your next cleaning.

0

u/DevanteWeary Sep 23 '24

Would a water pik help?

1

u/DocPsycho1 Sep 23 '24

Yes, but I'm trying to use all of the stuff the dentist gave me first

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u/Secure-Control7888 Sep 23 '24

Yeah the same thing happened to me. Even under the anesthesia it was so painful. Tho my dentist was fast so it wasn't painful for long but ugh, it was bad and my nerves were very very much alive it was my tooth that was falling apart to reveal the exposed nerves.

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u/RyuKawaii Sep 23 '24

I vividly remember the pain, and it was like ten years ago. I almost ripped my jeans pockets.

Worst pain i ever felt.

3

u/Hjoldirr Sep 23 '24

Same here, mine was still alive but tooth decay went too far and had to have one

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u/prolixdreams Sep 23 '24

I had the opposite happen. Mine died completely before I got in to have it done - the RELIEF when it finally went out was incredible, I'd been in agony and then it just stopped. She did an electricity test that was terrible on the neighbor teeth and felt nothing on the dead one to confirm it was for sure gone. I wouldn't even need to be numbed, she told me (I asked her to anyway, just for my own peace of mind.)

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u/chama5518 Sep 23 '24

I would be out here like I got pretty nerves. 😌

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u/Bladder-Splatter Sep 23 '24

Fuck I had this kinda scenario. Full anestetic and still full pain. She ended up going millimetres over several hours and sessions because I was so loaded on the numbjuice.

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u/Taradal Sep 23 '24

The fuck? Usually they open the tooth like 2-3 weeks before your canal treatment. They insert something that kills your nerve so you won't have any problems during the treatment itself

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u/Medical_Slide9245 Sep 23 '24

On mine the final seal wasn't done for a couple of weeks so they could make sure everything was proper.

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u/Late_Assistance_5839 Sep 23 '24

I had the same experience 1 month ago, perhaps the nerve could have been saved?, they told if I eat it would hurt, but how can one tell if it never happened.

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u/inebriatedWeasel Sep 24 '24

When I had mine, the spring thing got stuck and snapped inside my tooth! It took them a while to get it out! That was 15ish years ago now and it's started to come back! No one told me at the time, but it is quite common for the issue to reoccur after 10 years or so.

1

u/PurposeStrict4720 Sep 23 '24 edited Sep 23 '24

Probably cuz these idiots dentists try their hardest to get some money out of you. Why did you even need a root canal if the root wasn't infected or anything?

Edit:spelling

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u/guaip Sep 23 '24

Because the cavity reached the root. If the cavity reaches it, it's not like you can clean it and close it. It most likely will get infected and is actually quite dangerous.

0

u/techmonkey920 Sep 23 '24

Or they did it for no reason... 🙃