Root Canal....ugh !

[ctyguy]

OK....first signifcant issue since surgery. Got me a tooth thats achin and Im pretty sure its going to be a root canal and crown. Going to call the dentist tomorrow but Im hoping that I can keep it at bay till Monday seeing how his office is closed on Fridays. I know about getting anti-biotics prior which won't be a problem seeing I just started taking some yesterday for the lovely sinus infection I've been dorking with for about 10 days now.

So, my INR was 3.3 the other day when I had it checked, personally I am more comfortable with my INR in the 2.3 range. I've been eating Tylenol cold pills like M&Ms for the last week or so and I suspect that is what drove my INR up from what I deem my normal. I finally saw the doc yesterday, hence the scrib for anti-biotics that Im already on.

So, who can tell me about their root canal experiences ? I expect there will be more bleeding but you don't do anything special regarding your Coumadin do you ?

 

[Tbone]

You have to let your dentist know that you are on coumadin. When I had my wisdom teeth pulled I had to quit taking it for a couple of days. Good Luck!

 

[R&N Brown]

I went to my dentist of 20 years Wednesday at 9am to have what I hoped was to have a tooth fixed.
They took an X-ray then told me that because of the way it was cracked it was either an extraction or root canal and that they would not do either because of my new parts. Charged me $95.00 for 12 minutes in the chair and referred me to an Oral surgeon
I am scheduled for Tuesday at 3:30pm for the check out, ($100.00) and then they will advise me on how they will proceed. I'm told that they should be able to do something by the end of next week.
My cardiologist told me that either way, don't stop my Coumadin just get extra gauze. Tuesday I tested 2.3.

I apologize for not being of any help to you Ctyguy, I'm glad you started the thread.
Rob

 

[Blanche]

No problem for me

No problem for me

Ctyguy:

I take Coumadin for A-fib. I have not had a valvereplacement.

In November I got a terrific abscess in a side tooth. The tooth had a crown that came off. My internist gave me antibiotics and told me to call my dentist.

My dentist suggested that I see a specialist, which I did. I called late in the afternoon and they gave me an early morning appointment. After the specialist saw me, he said he could do the root canal four hours later ( for $1,100.). He sent me home with a prescription for antibiotics for before and after the procedure.

I took the antibiotics 1 hour before my appointment. The procedure was painless and lasted a bit more than an hour. When the specialist was done, I drove to my regular dentist and had the crown re-glued.

All of this took the better part of the day, but there were no problems at all....except that my INR was very high several days later.

Hope this helps. It truly was no problem for me at all.....except in the pocketbook.

Blanche

 

[ALCapshaw2]

I've had Root Canals from Endodontists and a regular Dentist.

The Endodontists were clearly Better and SAFER. They all used a Rubber Dam to prevent their tiny SHARP instruments from going down your throat. My (former) Dentist either didn't want to take the time to put in the dam or was so cavalier that he thought he would Never make a mistake.

Bottom Line: My recommendation is to see an Endodontist for the Root Canal, after all, that is what they do, all day, every day. You know the "drill", the more they do, the better they are.

FWIW, I don't recall any bleeding from a Root Canal.
They WILL want you to take anti-biotics (at least before the procedure).

 

[Nupur]

I had a root canal last Monday, with an endodontist. Had a cracked tooth from too much night-time grinding. He did put a rubber dam and I don't think there was any bleeding. The whole area is pretty sore though. I go back tomorrow to get a temporary crown and then the final one in two weeks. I did take the recommended 4x500mg of Amoxycillin an hour before.

All the best.

 

[Freddie]

So, who can tell me about their root canal experiences ? I expect there will be more bleeding but you don't do anything special regarding your Coumadin do you ?

If there is more bleeding with a root canal, I've never notice. I saw my regular dentist, who uses that rubber dam like thing that surrounds the tooth and I have had 2 root canals since surgery.

I didn't do anything special before my appointment except to take the antibiotics 1 hour before the appointment and 1 extra strength Tylenol when I got home.

 

[geebee]

I have had many root canals both at a regular dentist and an endodontist. I think the specialist does them faster because of much more practice. I have never noticed much bleeding from root canals and have never adjusted coumadin.

 

[lance]

My root canal was done ...................

My root canal was done ...................

by my regular dentist while I was fully anticoagulated and medicated because of an abcess.

The worst part is the length of time it took. Mouth wide open for what seemed hours. Of course it wasn't. There were a few small bruises on my cheek. Everything went smashingly well.