Question about dental x-rays and root canals...?

I went to one dentist, and she said I needed a root canal (expensive!). I didn't remember which tooth #, but I knew it was on the upper right side. I went to an endodontist for a 2nd opinion. He said I had decay on tooth #2 that had to be removed, but I may not need a root canal right away. Went back to my original dentist...turns out she scheduled me to have a root canal on tooth #5. (I do not and did not have any pain on either tooth).

Okay, the Q is: Do you think if something was definitely wrong with #5 that it would have showed up on the endodontist's x-ray? (By the way, I already had the root canal on #5, since I decided to keep the appointment with her endodontist, and it wasn't until then that I found out it was #5 instead of #2). Is there anything else I should've done/asked? How reliable are these x-rays?

With root canals, they are typically done when a tooth dies. It's a method to save the tooth so it is usable in your bite, but not necessarily alive. To determine if the tooth is dead, they would have put this electrode thingy (I've forgotten what it is called) on the tooth to determine if you feel it anymore. Xrays are useful too. It can tell them how deep the decay has gone into the dentin and if it is now involved in the pulp (the live part) of the tooth.

I would not get a root canal on #2 until you are convinced that this tooth needs it. Ask why you are having no pain. Just ask questions until you are satisfied. Also, get a 2nd opinion from another dentist if you are unsure.

Also, when the endodontist said that decay had to be removed from tooth #2 first - why couldn't he/she do it? I guess they may just do the root canal only?

Here's a website below with some pictures of xray's and an explanation of root canals:

I guess you have to be able to trust your dentist. You definitely would want a root canal before you have pain. The reason for a root canal, is that the decay is basically all the way through your tooth to the nerve. Thus, they have to drill out the nerve, and fill in the space remaining. Essentially removing the nerve from that tooth.

A root canal is better than completely removing the tooth, if keeping your teeth is important to you. If removing the tooth is the only option, i would believe that to mean that the decay has progressed to such a point that there isn't enough of the tooth left to repair, thus he has to be pulled.

Xrays usually show only half the decay that's definitely there... so if it looks close to the nerve, it's probably IN the nerve.

nevertheless, if you were my patient, i'd at least TRY to do a regular filling and see what happens. at least it might buy you a year or a few months to save up for the root canal.

if hte dnetist sent you to the endodontist just to look at #2... HE might not have looked at #5. you can go back and ask him. also, ask her WHY you need the root canal on 5....

you pay for the xrays and exam; it's the doctors' job to adequetely explain your situation to you.
you can always ask, "how much does this cost? what are the alternatives? what does that cost?" tha'ts your right as a patient.

good luck an dfeel free to email me if you have any more questions!