Fear of impending root canal....specific conerns

[lorien33]

This is for anyone that has any knowledge about root canals.

I have one coming up on an upper back molar. The tooth is dead and yesterday started giving me extreme pain. I just got back from the dentist now with pain killers and a root canal appt. I feel awful.


I put off having this root canal due to my fear of the procedure. I am NOT afraid of the pain...whatever, that will pass.

I am terrified of dying during the root canal! This may sound silly but I am genuinely afraid that...

-the dentist will accidently let something fall down my windpipe and i will choke (its happened to people)
-I will have an irregular heart rate due to the local anesthetic (when they give me epiniphrine my heart races so bad)
-if I dont get epinephrine however I fear I will get an allergic reaction and go into anaphalactic shock (because epinephrine reduces likelihood of allergy)
-I will get a post op infection that will travel to my brain (but i dont do well with antibiotics either...they are dangerous as well)

With all of those fears weighing on my mind i dont know how i can get through these next 4 weeks. HELP!

[scottma]

It's your responsibility to imform the dentist that epinephrine will cause tachycardia(fast heart beat). Lidocaine without epinphrine generally yields shorter duration of anesthesia.However, the condition is much easier to manage than a cardiac crisis.In today's practice of root canal treatment, infection is rarely encountered if you see a competent endodontist.

[lorien33]

Thank you! I really appreciate it. Will the dentist be annoyed if I ask him to use lidocaine without epinephrine? Because, doesn't this mean he will have to keep  injecting me to keep me numb?

I have never been allergic to preservative substances as far as i am aware.

If I do not use antibiotics prior or post root canal do i put myself at risk for infection?

Thanks again!

[scottma]

Rubber dam application will definitely prevent anything falling down to oral cavity.
Local anesthetic solution without epinephrine exerts no effect on heart beat.
Lidocaine has never been reported causing anaphylactic shock.However, the preservative substance containing sulfide compound may cause allergic reaction. For those who are allergic to preservative substance, a special request to manufacturer of local anesthetics to supply anesthetics without preservatives may be necessary.
Epinephrine has nothing to do with allergy.
Short-term administration generally causes no harm to the body.In addtion, antibiotics is not always required during root canal procedure.