Here's a bit of a background:

First noticed a slight pain on the middle molar tooth around the end of January

The pain soon turned to a throbbing pain on that tooth and the gum surrounding swelled a bit; this lasted for a day or two.

Then all of a sudden the pain was pretty much gone and I just waited for the swelling to go away.

For the next week there was no pain--yay!

Then two weeks ago the pain came back but not as bad as it was the first time. It's more of an annoying pain you only feel when you accidently chew with that tooth or put pressure on it. Very cold water tends to stimulate it. Sometimes the pain sorta "lingers" with an annoying effect.

I've come to the realization that I may have a tooth decay. I talked to a friend who experienced this and said something about a root canal thing.

My concerns are that it has beeen a month since I first felt the pain. Can the tooth still be saved? He said a root canal is a process, and it can't be done in one dental visit. Is this true? He also said it's expensive! Please give me more info! I plan to schedule a dentist visit this Monday!

First you need an iceskate.

Then rent that Tom Hanks movie, "Cast Away."

I believe a modern dentist can clean out the root and put in a permanent filling in on the same visit, if there are no complications due to infection... Probably $400.00-600.00 or higher depending on your market area.
Good luck.

__________________
-Marty

1986 300E 220,000 miles+ transmission impossible
(Now waiting under a bridge in order to become one)

Reading your M103 duty cycle:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/831799-post13.html
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/831807-post14.html

Hard to do really good dental work over the INTERNET. Open your mouth a little bit wider and say ahhhh.... Only a dentist with hands on will be able to say whether you need a root canal or a filling or tooth extraction. A root canal normally takes 2 visits because it is most often accompanied with a permanent crown. A root canal involves the removal of the tooth nerve or root and the sealing of the tooth afterword. Please pay the moderator $75 dollars on your way out. Come again...
Paul
_______
98 E300

Same thing happened to me 6 months ago..... Even eating a cold yogurt nearly killed me, extreme temp sensative and had to eat with one side of my mouth only.

Collected dentist opinions after getting X-rays.... One guy wanted to pull the tooth as easiest and fastest remedy. I chose the dentist you offered to fill the cavity, thats all and cost was about $150.

Meanwhile Bourbon is better than mouthwash for numbing the pain.

Damn, this brings back bad memories. I had a root canal a few years ago and the assistant must not have got the novacaine in the right spot. After opening up the roots with a drill and sending me ramrod straight in the chair, the dentist decided to inject directly into each root. God almighty! After doing the first two, I think he was wondering whether he was risking his life in doing the last two.

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

There was a time I had gotten so many in a row I could sleep throught the procedure if I could have slept with my mouth that wide open.

__________________
-Marty

1986 300E 220,000 miles+ transmission impossible
(Now waiting under a bridge in order to become one)

Reading your M103 duty cycle:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/831799-post13.html
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/831807-post14.html

"Is it safe?"

ARRRRRRRGGGGGGGG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

__________________
95 SL500 Smoke Silver, Parchment 64K
07 E350 4matic Station Wagon White 34K
02 E320 4Matic Silver/grey 80K
05 F150 Silver 44K

When you got a mouth full of rot like that... you blew your chance years ago... time to lay back open wide and take your medicine.

__________________
-Marty

1986 300E 220,000 miles+ transmission impossible
(Now waiting under a bridge in order to become one)

Reading your M103 duty cycle:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/831799-post13.html
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/831807-post14.html

"Is it safe?"

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eating sweets and brush after every meal.

__________________
-Marty

1986 300E 220,000 miles+ transmission impossible
(Now waiting under a bridge in order to become one)

Reading your M103 duty cycle:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/831799-post13.html
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/831807-post14.html

Ted? Izzatchew?

My brother-in-law's parents were poor. John needed a root canal. He had never been to a dentist before. His parents took him to a very inexpensive dentist in a nearby town.(ie--the guy was a drunken imbecile). He forgot to give John any anesthetic but being uninitiated, John suffered thru the whole thing. To this day, he cannot watch Marathon Man. Everyday life has to be inestimably pleasurable after an experience like that.

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Your general dentist can tell you if a root canal is indicated. If you need a root canal, have it done by an endodontist and not your general dentist. The root canal can almost certainly be completed in a single visit.