Root canal appreciation day was May 11, 2005

[undeterred]

and I missed it...:banghead: :banghead:

http://www.dentalplans.com/Dental-Health-Articles/Root-Canal-Appreciation-Day!---You-Heard-it-Here-First.asp

[xultar]

1. AWW doodie stinkers, I'm getting one today. What should I ask for

interms of druggage after care?

[DemBones DemBones]

9. You should NOT have much pain at all, if any.

I had dental injuries from an auto accident so have had several root canals, have actually lost count but it's 6 or 8, if not more.

Some make your mouth sorer, because of where the Novocaine needle has to be put through the skin, but otherwise aren't too bad.

P.S> But get some pain meds, anyway -- you never know. They normally give you an RX for pain meds and one for antibiotics.

[phylny]

2. I had one last year in Northern Virginia.

It was PAINLESS. Absolutely painless.

Only novocain, and the doc was a magician, to be sure.

[undeterred]

3. the worst part is having your mouth/jaw open for a long time

oh wait, no, the worst part is when they stick that huge needle deep into the roof of your mouth!

[DemBones DemBones]

5. There's not always a big needle in the roof of your mouth.

Depends on where the affected tooth is.

I had my first root canal around 1959-60, when I was a kid. Hitting your face on a dashboard or other childhood facial/dental injuries bring you these things!)

You would not believe how much better the second one was, in 1969, despite the fact that I had abscess in the bone and the peridontist had to make an incision in my gum to clean it out in addition to doing a root canal on the tooth.

Dentistry has improved incredibly since the Fifties. I no longer even complain if I have to have a root canal, and the only tooth I've had to lose was the one that I had a root canal on as a kid. That procedure just wasn't quite right (pre-modern dentistry!) and eventually the tooth weakened.

So I DO Appreciate Root Canals! They save your teeth. :-)

[undeterred]

7. you're right... I've had a few over the years and each one was less

traumatic than the last. Best thing is always to go to a specialist who only does root canals- they're the fastest. Worst one I had was the one a regular dentist did, mostly because it took too many long appointments.

[DemBones DemBones]

11. Absolutely -- go to a specialist who does root canals every day, not

a regular dentist, many of whom won't do them at all.

They learn them in dental school, of course, but it's a specialty.

[undeterred]

12. the specialists have better torture tools

oops I mean they have the expensive specialized equipment for doing root canals while the regular dentist might have less of an investment in that sort of thing.

I don't think most regular dentists even want to do them, but I'd imagine there are some parts of the country where its hard to find a nearby endodontist.

[yellowcanine]

6. The rubber dam wedged into your mouth, wanting to swallow or cough,

the whine of the drill, the aching jaw - otherwise, a thouroughly pleasant experience!

[amandae]

4. When is pap smear appreciation day?

Definitely don't want to miss the opportunity to celebrate something so comfortable!

[yellowcanine]

8. Right after colonoscopy prep day.

You know, when you have to drink that salty liquid that makes you shit your guts out.

[Mutley]

10. way to convince me

to never EVER get one of those.... colon cancer here i come!