Re:Dentists reveal new tooth decay treatment
by vectorjohn on Monday November 09, 2015 @04:49PM
(#10536062)
Hmm. Both of mine were on molars and certainly alive, so that explains that.
But I don't know how a dentist could possibly tell the nerves are dead before drilling in. And the way they know is that you say ouch that fucking hurts.
Re:Dentists reveal new tooth decay treatment
by etcet on Monday November 09, 2015 @06:51PM
(#10536671)
They do hurt you but they don't use a drill at first. I had a root canal done recently and the dentist briefly touched a piece of dry ice to my tooth. He did to a an undamaged tooth first, I guess to see if I could feel pain?
If you're getting root canal, because cavity is close to the nerve and your dentist don't want to use amalgamated filling then you will need anesthesia, because the nerves are alive.
[1] It gets a bit complicated with molars, which have multiple nerves, if one nerve dies, you'll still need anesthesia for the remaining ones, and you do need root canal, since you can't save part of the tooth and you do need anesthesia, because the tooth is not completely dead yet.