Naive Posted August 23, 2005 Share Posted August 23, 2005 I hope someone can give me some insight. I have a tooth that has a small black piece in the middle, as much as I have tried to brush it out of there I can't. I don't know if it's a part of my tooth or a piece of something that is stuck there. Anyone has an idea of what it might be? I am trying to expedite my dental plan ASAP but it seems it will take at least 1 1/2 months. My F tells me that it might be a cavity and that I might need a root canal!!! That sounds super scary. I am probably going to go to a dentist and pay out of my pocket and after that wait until I get my dental coverage. Anyway, if anyone has a similar thing please let me know what it was. It does not mean that I will take it as done that it's what I have but at least I can get an idea of the different things that it MIGHT be. I just want to make it clear so that no one misunderstands my thread and thinks that I want medical advice. I ONLY want personal experiences for my own reference but not for medical advice. Thanks. Link to post Share on other sites
laRubiaBonita Posted August 23, 2005 Share Posted August 23, 2005 does it hurt? or bother you(other than aesthetically)? i would think it is probably a cavity. if that is the case, a simple cleaning to get all the decay off and from inside the tooth, an then they will fill it, with an amalgum (sp?). a root canal would be needed if the decay was soo deep, or so severe that it was infecting the root of the tooth, or if the decay was soo close that it would just be "safer " to do a root canal. safer because the decay could flare back up, or not be totally gone, and result in infecting the root and then they would have to do a root canal as well. i am an "expert" on root canals, as almost all my teeth have been done, and it really is not that bad. Technically, per my dentist, the only root canals that cause pain are roots that are infected and hurt before you go to the dentist. if a root canal is done a healthy, or dead root pain is minimal, and it can all be lessened by novicaine, which they will give into the actual root of that tooth if nessecary. But, if there is no pain, sensitivity, etc... i would just think it was a cavity. Link to post Share on other sites
Merin Posted August 23, 2005 Share Posted August 23, 2005 Could be calculas on the surface... Are you sure this tooth hasn't been filled before? The black/grey your seeing could be from a prior amalgam filling... Again if it isn't hurting, I doubt very seriously this tooth needs Endo... there isn't any indication of root or pulp damage (pain) so sit tight, and when your insurance kicks in, get yo butt to the dentist Link to post Share on other sites
april Posted August 23, 2005 Share Posted August 23, 2005 Pfffft...getting a root canal is nothing nowadays...nothing to be scared about. And I'm not being a smarta$$ here, I'm serious....I have had eight of them. Link to post Share on other sites
NTB Posted August 23, 2005 Share Posted August 23, 2005 i'm a chicken .........if it don't hurt then i'm not going........ aside from the cleaning i try to take extra care of my teeth that way i don't have to go that often man i hate the dentist Link to post Share on other sites
Author Naive Posted August 24, 2005 Author Share Posted August 24, 2005 Thanks everyone!!!! My tooth does hurt once in a while but it's not real bad pain. When it hurts though I will even feel a tiny pain inside my ear I am going to wait for about a month and once I have dental coverage I am going to take advantage of it!!!!! Link to post Share on other sites
SoftDrink Posted August 27, 2005 Share Posted August 27, 2005 it sounds like a standard cavity if it's really that small. i just had a root canal on wednesday...NOTHING TO IT! i was so panicked i almost left the building. the biggest problem with a root canal is the time consumption. you're in that chair for at least two hours (for one tooth). better than having a big, gaping hole in your chomper though, i can say that! people who complain about dental procedures are mostly people who had work done 30 years ago. now they numb you so much (or in some cases put you right to sleep, like for wisdom tooth removal) that you don't feel a thing. honestly, the waterpick (it scrapes and flushes underneath the gumline) was way worse than the root canal. good luck, in your case, i think it sounds like a cavity---but don't be like me and wait too long, or you'll be posting your root canal story. Link to post Share on other sites
Author Naive Posted August 27, 2005 Author Share Posted August 27, 2005 Originally posted by SoftDrink the biggest problem with a root canal is the time consumption. you're in that chair for at least two hours (for one tooth). better than having a big, gaping hole in your chomper though, i can say that! Oh my gosh!!!!! 2 hours??? Why so long? Link to post Share on other sites
whichwayisup Posted August 27, 2005 Share Posted August 27, 2005 Originally posted by NTB i'm a chicken .........if it don't hurt then i'm not going........ aside from the cleaning i try to take extra care of my teeth that way i don't have to go that often man i hate the dentist Are you my twin?? Holy cow, I know how you feel. I'm the same way. I'm absolutely terrified of dentists! I'm 34 and such a f**k'n wimp! I'm actually looking into dentistry that will put you out cold for it! Link to post Share on other sites
SoftDrink Posted August 28, 2005 Share Posted August 28, 2005 Originally posted by ~Naive~ Oh my gosh!!!!! 2 hours??? Why so long? haha, and that's only part of it. then you have to go back and get a crown. (they'll fill it with a temporary filling until then.) it takes so long because they drill through to expose the nerve and then they scrape out all the pulp of the inside of the tooth. (the pulp is where the pain is when you have a cavity...if it's deep enough to touch the nerve and infect it.) removing the nerve takes the longest...they used maybe 75 of those pin-things to take mine out. they have to make sure every last bit is gone, or else you may still have pain and/or infection. it does take forever, but it's worth it to save the tooth instead of having it removed. do a google search on it. you'll learn a lot, really. but i honestly do think you just have a cavity, and as long as it's taken care of soon, you won't even have to think about a root canal. (in the event you do, though, it's really not bad at all! just tell them you want to be more numb, than you've ever been. they'll take care of you!) Link to post Share on other sites
Author Naive Posted August 29, 2005 Author Share Posted August 29, 2005 Thanks SF! I am getting my dental plan in about a month from now, I am hoping it does not get worse. Link to post Share on other sites
SoftDrink Posted August 29, 2005 Share Posted August 29, 2005 Originally posted by ~Naive~ Thanks SF! I am getting my dental plan in about a month from now, I am hoping it does not get worse. i really don't think much will change within in a month's time, so you should be okay. good luck! Link to post Share on other sites
Mir Posted August 29, 2005 Share Posted August 29, 2005 Dont worry about the pain if you find a good dentist. I had my 4 wisdom teeth pulled in under 2 hrs. I worried about having this done for over a year and dealt with the occasional pain. If I knew it was going to be this eazy I would have had it done a long time ago. The only thing that hurt was the first inital shots, and that was nothing like I thought it was going to be like. I used to be afraid of dentists, but now I get my teeth cleaned every 6 months. BTW I read that you have headaches from sleeping to much; are you sure that your tooth isnt related to that? Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts