Two failed root canals - endodontist recommends general anesthesia
TLDR - anyone ever had to be knocked out or knocked someone out for a root canal after two failed attempts at getting the nerve numb??
Let me start by saying this is not my first root canal or experience with dental work. I do not have dental anxiety. I have never had any issues getting numb in the past. I have been placed on blood thinners since my last root canal due to a clotting disorder/getting a massive blood clot through half my body.
All that said, I have a tooth (#13) that had a 20ish year old metal filling that was removed and replaced and a crown placed over it. Having had a nerve die and needing a root canal in the past, I recognized the nerve pain after having the tooth worked on and the temporary crown placed. I talked to my dentist about it who said it was likely a poor seal on the temp crown and replaced it, put me on antibiotics and told me to come back when the permanent crown came in. It was still being a problem when they wanted to place the permanent but my dentist insisted it would likely calm down once I had the crown on. It did not. He assured me he could just go in through the crown and do the root canal. He tried but the second he got through the crown to the nerve I could feel it. He said he could not give me anymore shots and referred me to an endodontist. I just saw the endodontist this morning who was very confident and made me feel sure he could get me numb. He did not. He did multiple cold tests after trying and I could only feel it only on the one tooth so he said he knows it is that tooth but also implied the pain is in my head?
I have been told both by the dentist and endodontist that this tooth has very little bone left and is basically in my sinus cavity. So much so that they don’t think removal of the tooth would be possible without a bone graft and/or moving said sinuses. Even though I had the very back molar on that side removed years ago after having a root canal but the tooth died anyway. And have had my impacted wisdom teeth removed on the same side. But I digress. I only asked about removal because I figured that was the next step.
The endodontist says I should do everything I can to save the tooth due to the sinuses and the extensive issues that could cause and recommended general anesthesia. I’m going for the consult for that tomorrow at a different endodontist who has a company come in to administer anesthesia.
Has anyone ever heard of such a thing or know what would cause this tooth to be so difficult to get numb? The doctor mentioned my blood thinners possibly being the issue and also that he would not give me something with epinephrine because he’s worried about my stroke risk due to the clotting disorder? I’m so confused and frustrated and just wondering if anyone has had a similar experience, heard of such a thing or knows what could possibly cause this type of inability to get numb?? I’m seriously ready to just give up and live on Tylenol and pain meds until this nerve dies on its own.