Have you ever considered getting a second opinion or asking about 3D scans before a redo? I’ve heard those can help spot stuff regular x-rays miss, though insurance is another battle...
Totally get what you mean. I actually did ask for a 3D scan when my first root canal didn’t heal right, and it honestly made me feel way better about the do-over. My insurance barely covered it, but seeing the extra canal on the scan was kind of wild. If you’re feeling uneasy, pushing for more imaging or another opinion is worth it—peace of mind is huge when you’re already anxious about dental stuff.
I totally get the anxiety around this. I’m honestly still a bit shook from my first root canal, so hearing about redos just makes my stomach drop. My dentist never mentioned 3D scans, which kind of annoys me now that I’m reading these posts. All I got were regular x-rays, and when the pain didn’t go away, I started spiraling—like, did they miss something? Am I just being paranoid? It’s so hard to know what’s normal pain and what’s “you need another procedure” pain.
I remember lying awake for nights after the first one, googling every weird twinge. When it finally came down to needing a second look, I was so frustrated—like, how can you not see everything you need to with all that tech? But reading that 3D scans can actually show hidden canals makes me feel a little less crazy about wanting more answers. Insurance is such a hassle though… mine barely covered the first round, let alone anything “extra.” Still, if I ever have to do this again (really hoping not), I’d probably push for the scan or at least a second opinion. The not-knowing is honestly worse than the appointment itself sometimes.
It’s weirdly comforting hearing that other people have had extra canals missed the first time. Makes me feel less like I did something wrong or just have “bad teeth.” Dental stuff is just so much more complicated than I thought, and nobody really talks about how stressful it is until you’re in the chair.
I relate to this a lot. I had my first root canal a few months ago and honestly, I’m still not sure if the pain I get sometimes is just healing or if something’s wrong. I keep second-guessing every ache. I didn’t even know 3D scans were a thing until I started reading here, and now I’m wondering if my dentist missed something too. I just got the regular x-rays, and he said everything looked “fine,” but I still get these random twinges that freak me out.
Insurance is such a pain. Mine barely covered the basics, and I’m dreading what would happen if I needed a redo or extra scans. The idea of going through all that again makes me super anxious. I keep thinking—what if it’s just my nerves being weird, or what if something is actually wrong and I’m ignoring it?
Is it normal to still have some sensitivity months later? Or does that mean something’s off? I hate feeling like I’m overreacting, but at the same time, I don’t want to ignore it and end up needing more work. Has anyone had pain that just went away on its own, or does lingering pain always mean a problem? This stuff is way more stressful than I expected.
Honestly, I get where you’re coming from with the whole “second-guessing every ache” thing. I had a root canal about a year ago and for months after, I kept getting these weird twinges. Sometimes it was a dull ache, other times just this random zap of pain for a second or two. I went down the rabbit hole of reading about missed canals, failed root canals, and all the tech like 3D scans (CBCTs, I think?). It’s wild how much you don’t know about dental tech until you’re suddenly dealing with it.
About the sensitivity—my dentist told me it’s not uncommon to have some lingering weirdness for a while, especially if the tooth was really inflamed before. The nerves around the tooth can stay irritated, even after the root canal cleans everything out. I was told as long as the pain isn’t getting worse, and there’s no swelling or weird taste, it’s probably just healing. But yeah, it messes with your head.
I totally hear you on the insurance thing too. Mine covered almost nothing on the fancy imaging. I wanted more answers and asked about a 3D scan just to be sure nothing was hiding in a weird root. They quoted me like $250 out of pocket. Ended up skipping it since my regular x-rays looked “fine.” Still, sometimes I wonder if I should’ve just paid for peace of mind.
There’s always that nagging “what if” in the back of your mind. For me, most of the random aches faded out after about 6-7 months. I still get an occasional twinge, but nothing like before. If you start getting sharp pain or swelling though, that’s when I’d probably go back in. Otherwise, it seems like some level of weirdness is just… normal? Teeth are complicated. Kind of wish they came with a user manual.
Anyway, hang in there. You’re definitely not alone in overthinking it—seems like everyone who’s had a root canal goes through this stress spiral at least once.
I get what you’re saying about the weird twinges being “normal,” but honestly, that’s what freaks me out. Mine started feeling better, then outta nowhere I got this deep ache again. I know dentists say to just watch for swelling or bad taste, but I kinda wish they’d just do the fancy scan anyway. Regular x-rays missed stuff for my friend before, so now I’m paranoid something’s brewing under the surface. Maybe I’m just overthinking it, but the “wait and see” advice makes me so anxious.
