Root canal - yes or no?

Joined
Jun 12, 2025
Messages
1
Not sure if this forum is an international one or a UK one like doctors.net, but I mention it as options may differ across countries.

Our dentist (my wife's and mine) has recommended that she have extraction or root canal treatment as below. She has has referred her to a colleague with post graduate qualifications re Endodontics (Root Treatments).

Date
Completed
Tooth
SurfaceScheme
Code
ProviderDescription
09/06/2025
LR6​
MORFPT
14​
PRComposite filling
09/06/2025
RFPT
34​
PRCBCT (No report)
09/06/2025
LR6​
RFPT
5​
PRRoot filling Molar
At the moment, post treatment and a dressing has sorted pain. So for now all is well. She is aged 81 and not very well at present due to bowel problems. No diagnosis but at least malignancies have been excluded. She is therefore not sure whether to "wait and see", go for extraction or root canal treatment. I think she would struggle to tolerate the length of the procedures. I have to say that she is also influenced by my experience - toothache (UR 7 ) a few years ago. Dentist opened it up and put a temporary dressing on it. Referred me to root canal specialist but for some reason appointment did not materialise and I didn't chase it up! 2-4 years have passed and I have had no problems and temporary dressing still in place. I was lucky.
I am inclined to say wait and see, if further problems go for extraction, but my qualification is medical not dental.
I'd welcome comments.
 

Dr M

Verified Dentist
Joined
May 31, 2019
Messages
2,359
Solutions
136
If her health problems prevent longer appointments, then an extraction can be done, if there are still enough other teeth left to function. If there is no pain, then she can also consider functioning with the tooth until it becomes symptomatic. When we grow old, the nerve canals tend to sclerose, so a lot of times people walk around with teeth such as this for long, without any issues. But this is not a guarantee.
I always tend to leave extraction as a last option in people that are a little bit older, since extractions can be traumatic. You have to weigh up the risk of infection though.
Do you perhaps have x-rays you could share?
 

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