Is my dentist qualified to do root canals?

I saw my NHS dentist today after 2 of my bottom molars broke. She said i need urgent treatment and i might get away with fillings or i might need root canals. She took an xray today and booked me in for a long session in 1 week and said she'll tell me on the day what treatment i'll need. My questions are 1)can she tell simply from the xray if i need root canals or not? 2)if i need root canal i would like sedation and need to book it in advance therefore can i find out before my appt? 3)She said she had done a few root canals and that she didn't like doing them as they are painful and horrible. I expressed my fears about pain and she said she would give me local injections but that i would just have to put up with the pain. I'm not overly confident in her now, especially as she rushed me out in 5 minutes! Do you think i should ask if she is qualified to do root canals as i understand it is better to have an endodontist do them? Terrified and grateful for any advice thanks!

Is my dentist qualified to do root canals?
Aren't you like, qualified to do everything dentist-related including route canals if you are a certified dentist...
Reply:well to be honest i want to be a dentist when I'm older and i will have to try really hard as i will need to do my A levels but you should ask her if your not too confident but I'm sure she knows how to do it because you have to study for about 5 years to be a dentist so I'm sure shes gone over it and ask her if she has ever done root canals or maybe just ask her to book you in with someone else in the practise i hope it goes well for you ;] and i hope this helped ;]
Reply:All dentists are trained to do them but it is complex and there can be complications so most dentists like to refer you on to a specialist. Your dentist seems unconfident-I would not want her to do my root canal.
Reply:1. Yes. The only way to tell if a person needs a root canal is really by the x-rays. The x-rays will show abscesses in the form of dark areas in the gum area of the x-ray right below the root of the tooth.


2. Sometimes they don't know for sure. Most dentists will try to fill the tooth first but if the filling goes too deep they will have to do the root canal. Your dentist is doing you a favor by trying the filling first.


3. Local anesthiesia is perfectly fine for a root canal. The only pain you should feel will be soreness after the numbness wears off. Most people actually feel a lot better right away because by removing the nerve, the root canal makes the severe pain from the abscess dissipate.





It is up to you whether you want an endodontist to do the work or not. They are specialists so if you are nervous you would probably feel better going that route.
Reply:I had root canal surgery but my dentist refered me to a specialist. I had a general anesthetic because i hate going to the dentists but I had to be driven home because you can't drive after sedation. I felt a bit groggy for a while after. If i were you I would talk to your dentist before you go, it may be that she won't do the surgery on that day and you may have to go back on another day. Anything to do with teeth is painful so expect a little discomfort. Best of luck
Reply:If your dentist took an x-ray today should be able to tell if the break is close to the nerve but once she actually prepares the tooth for filling crown root canal which ever then if you are actually into the nerve chamber of the tooth you will definately need a root canal because once the numbness wears off you would definately have pain the procedure itsself should not be bad she should get you numb before you ever get started with a root canal so I dont know why she would tell you it is painful to have a root canal not if you are numb then she would actually go in and remove the nerve from the tooth (you are numb ) this sounds horrible I realize and then once the nerve chambers are clean she will fill them with a root canal filling material and close up your tooth and either fill them that day or place a temporary and have you back for a final restoration another day you may have some pain that night when the numbing wears off she will probably give you some pain medicine to take in case you need it some folks have no pain at all some have mild soreness for a few days generally 1 in 10 will have toothache and have pain that needs pain meds for a few days .GOOD LUCK ! maybe you should get a second opinion because like any other procedure you should be confident in the person doing it.
Reply:I really do understand your concerns, but to answer your question, Yes your dentist is fully qualified to carry our Root Treatment.


The reason any x-ray is taken is for the diagnosis, and an xray will show up a multitude of sins which the eye alone cannot see.


Root treatment can be unpleasant, i assist my dentist on a daily basis whilst he carries them out and I have under gone root treatment myself.


I do find her bedside manner very off hand, many people are terrified of going to the dentist at the best of times, what might just be another day in the surgery for her, is obviously very daunting for you and she should have been more understanding.


I wont go into great detail on the stages of Rct as it often makes the procedure sound a lot worse than it actually is, i will tell you that it's normally carried out over 2 seperate visits, the 1st visit requires the dentist to drill out any old filling from the tooth and remove the nerve, a medicated dressing is placed inside the tooth, this helps to kill off any infection, a temporary filling is then placed over the tooth and this is the 1st stage done.


The 2nd stage requires the dentist to remove the dressing and filling and seal the canals and place a permament filling over the tooth, an xray should then be taken to ensure that the canals have been securley sealed.


It can be painful, but as your dentist pointed out, you will be numbed up, if you do feel pain during the procedure, your dentist can numb directly into the tooth and this really does help.


If your still having doubts regarding this treatment and you dont feel confident with your dentist, ask to see another dentist, to be honest if I were to visit a dentist who told me that he/she didn't like carrying out rct's as they were painful/horrible and i'd have to put up with the pain, i'd be somewhat alarmed at their lack of professionalism.
Reply:If possible, have an endodontist perform the root canal... your dentist doesn't sound very confident, and it seems she's concerned more about quantity than quality...





Best of luck to you~
Reply:If you have no confidence in the dentist then I would strongly recommend that you change and don't see this one again. It does not have to be that painful, they are uncomfortable and take a while to do, and you can feel a little but it is not agony if you have the right person doing it.


I would not go back to this dentist.