Dental Nightmare

[brothers_keeper]

My brother (47) went to the dentist over a month ago as he had lost a gold filling some time ago. The dentist had asked him to bring in the filling if he could find it. He did so but the dentist said the filling was not usable. He then told him that he needed a root canal. My brother was not having any pain, but is not knowledgable and trusted the professional. There is also a language barrier as the dentist is from India and the assistant is Russian. Following the root canal, a crown was to be put on in 10 days. The temporary fell off in three days but the dentist said there was nothing he could do. My brother went along with the pain and waited for his next appointment. At that appointment, the dentist said he could have to do work on the adjacent tooth and began drilling. This apointment lasted for two hours and ended when the assistant dropped something down his throat and he began to gag and choke. She tried to hold him down but he got up. They began again but then the dentist broke off part of a file in his tooth. They said they did not have equipment to "vibrate it out" and that he would need to come back the next week. That was this morning and they still cannot get it out and have reffered him to an orthodontist. They have also said that now he will need a root canal on that tooth.

I have had plenty of dentistry in my life but have never had a root canal unless I was in pain. I have also had two crowns but did not have root canals for them.

I am very concerned about this dentist. Any advise?

[brothers_keeper]

thanks for you help. My brother saw an endodontist today. One thing he said was that because the root canal was started he had to finish it - but he also said he never should have had two root canals done in such a short period of time (2 weeks). Next is to go back to the original dentist and try to see where we stand bill-wise - wish me luck.

[Sam Delfino]

Hi friend,
Sorry to hear of this situation about your brother. It is sad and bothersome to hear people having such negative experiences at a dentist. As Dr. Nassery had explained, pain is usually the last thing you want ot have or even swelling prior to having root canal. There are times that one may need a root canal without any pain. Also, Dr. Nassery is right on the fact that your brother should have been referred to an endodontist. See the link below please to see if that would help you.
http://www.top3dentists.com/pages/endodontics
Keep us posted on his progress please.

[Hamidreza Nassery , DMD, FICOI, FAGD, FICCMO]

I am sorry that your brother has had such negative experience with his dentist..
First let me answer your question about root canal.. We don't always need to wait for pain to do root canal.. I am not defending or saying that is what your brother needed , all I am saying is that pain alone is not the diagnostic criteria for a root canal.
Now beyound that, there are many other ed flags here in the story that would prompt me to want a second opinion. Your brother must have been referred to an Endodontist..rather than an orthodontist.. hopefully he/she can get the broken file out and finish the job right.. and at the same time get an opinion about the other tooth..
best of luck .