Does a month seem like a long time to wait for a root canal?

Question

I have been having tooth pain and this morning I went to the dentist, who diagnosed me and said I needed a root canal. However, they are all booked up until October. I am in a lot of pain, and to me this seems like a long time to wait. I haven't been able to eat and I have lost four pounds since Friday. The left side of my face is visibly swollen, compared to the right side. I got a prescription for penicillin - will this help with the pain?

I also got a prescription for 16 Vicodin. Since I have to wait a month, this amount isn't even enough for one per day. And...I have been taking four a day since Labor Day weekend, just to kill the pain. Ibuprofen or Tylenol just don't work...I don't know how I am going to stand feeling like this for a month with barely any pain medication. I can barely sleep even with the Vicodin.

Should I just find another dentist outside my network who can get me in sooner, and pay for the root canal? Or will the penicillin make the month long wait bearable?

Answer 1

I had to have one last year and i had to wait exactly a month to get it and the only thing that really helped was some orajel stuff that numbed it, but it does taste awful but its worth it. I dont remember the name of it but it'll be easy to find if you try it

Answer 2

ANDREA,

Any dentist can do what's known as a nerve extirpation where the nerve is removed first and the root canal finished at a layer date.

Ask the doctor if he/she can do this for you to get you out of pain.

BTW, Vocodin isn't as effective as 3-4 Advil for pain control. You can't drive on Vicodin because this narcotic makes you feel loopy.

Answer 3

I just went in for an appt with my dentist, and I thought they were doing a root canal cuz I was told I needed one.  I was in pain, so I was ready to go.  They got me right in, but I guess they only cleaned out the tooth to check if the nerves were damaged, which they were, and then put in a temporary filling.  It only cost me $42 and I have no dental insurance.  I think what they did was some sort of pulpotomy if I heard correctly.  I am no longer in pain, and I currently have an appt for 10/21 for the actual root canal.  Because of what they did, I wil deifnitely be able to wait until then sicne they at least fixed the pain.  Maybe that could work for you.  It was definitely worth it, since the root canal is $1500!

Answer 4

Yes! Get it sooner! I just had one...I got it done the same day I went to the dentist....