Root canal or tooth out with afib ? - Atrial Fibrillati...

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Root canal or tooth out with afib ?

Paulbounce profile image
52 Replies

Hi all.

I don't want to kick off my afib again. I posted a week or so ago about gum infection affecting my heart rate and afib.

Sorted now with antibiotics. However it needs something doing - just chewing on one side. The dentist said either have a root canal or just take it out. It's a back tooth but I would like to keep it if possible (root canal job).

Anyone had experience of a root canal with afib and did it cause any heart problems ?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Paul

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52 Replies
BobD profile image
BobDVolunteer

Just make sure that you ask for non adrenaline local Paul.

Paulbounce profile image
Paulbounce in reply toBobD

Thanks Bob. I'll check that out and make sure I ask for a non adrenaline local.

Paul

mrgwair567 profile image
mrgwair567 in reply toPaulbounce

Hi Had a back tooth extracted 2 years ago with no problems! Just had to stop my morning Apixaban and as Bob has already said make sure you ask for a non adrenaline local.

Have no experience with root canal procedure since Afib diagnosed.

Hope this helps

Regards

Lynne

P.S. Thought I had posted this reply over an hour ago. Don’t know what happened to it !!

Must be gremlins at work!

Paulbounce profile image
Paulbounce in reply tomrgwair567

Ty Lynne. Darn gremlins 😎

sotolol profile image
sotolol

I had it done with no adjustments, just stopped morning Pradaxa. Normal injection all ok no problems.

Just my experience though

Paulbounce profile image
Paulbounce in reply tosotolol

Cheers Sotolol - pleased to hear no problems ;-)

Paul

oliviab9 profile image
oliviab9

Had a root canal done this time last year no issues whatsoever also had adrenaline free local hope all goes well .

Paulbounce profile image
Paulbounce in reply tooliviab9

Ty Olivia ;-)

Finvola profile image
Finvola

I've had two extractions without any trouble but I take Flecainide which controls the AF but not my nerves! All was OK.

Paulbounce profile image
Paulbounce in reply toFinvola

Ty Fin. I can understand your nerves 😜

CDreamer profile image
CDreamer

Yes had root canal, no it didn’t cause problems but it’s a considerable procedure & an expensive one these days. Not had an extraction since AF. Good luck.

Paulbounce profile image
Paulbounce in reply toCDreamer

Ty CD ;-)

Jalia profile image
Jalia

Yes I've had several with no probs. Just been told that one done 4 years ago will need redoing 🙄 and as CD says pretty expensive . Been quoted £550 plus £700 for crowning "😨

Paulbounce profile image
Paulbounce in reply toJalia

Ty Jalia. The denist said about the same for crowning. I'll have to start a 'Go Fund Me' page to pay for it all hehe ;-)

Jalia profile image
Jalia in reply toPaulbounce

Interesting to read other opinions on root canal treatments. They don't always last very long and as such are a ridiculous price and can be quite traumatic. Alot depends on your dentist of course but decent honest ones are a rarity in my experience.

Paulbounce profile image
Paulbounce in reply toJalia

Ty Jalia ;-)

Mrsvemb profile image
Mrsvemb

Personally, I wouldn’t have anymore root canal treatment. I had quite a lot some years ago. The tooth dies and becomes brittle to the point of just breaking off. When they have to come out they always break. It’s an good earner for a dentist, then another charge when tooth needs to come out.

I did have an extraction since having AF, no problems, didn’t even have to stop Rivaroxaban. Obviously, as others have said, no adrenaline.

Paulbounce profile image
Paulbounce in reply toMrsvemb

Ty Mrsvemb. Food for thought !

CDreamer profile image
CDreamer in reply toMrsvemb

Well my first root canal on my eye tooth lasted for 25 years so I thought that excellent. I ended up having to have an implant to replace it - now that was expensive but very worthwhile IMHO.

Jalia profile image
Jalia in reply toMrsvemb

I'm inclined to agree with you here !

cuore profile image
cuore in reply toMrsvemb

I would like to disagree with you. I have had several root canals; they have not become brittle or broken off. I am so thankful to be able to have root canal treatments because the alternative would be extractions leaving holes. In a root canal, it is the nerve that is removed which I guess you term " dies."

Paulbounce profile image
Paulbounce in reply tocuore

Ty Cuore - again food for thought ;-)

Oldiemoldy profile image
Oldiemoldy

I have AFib and dental issues. Extraction and root canal quite doable - and my US EP recommends against stopping anticoagulant. But I would skip the root canal and go straight to extraction for the reasons a previous poster gave. I have dealt with a failed root canal - awful awful awful. You can have the extraction site prepared for possible later implant without actually committing to it right away. I would recommend that. It’s what I did 3 days ago. And make sure to follow recovery procedures so you don’t get a “dry socket,”

Paulbounce profile image
Paulbounce in reply toOldiemoldy

Ty OM. Useful to know ;-)

Buffafly profile image
Buffafly in reply toOldiemoldy

That is a very good point - I tried a root canal on a molar but halfway through the dentist informed me that one root was calcified so the tooth would have to go anyway. Half the tooth broke away soon afterwards. I won’t bore you with the saga in between but I am going to have to have a somewhat dangerous dental procedure in hospital at some point 😱

I would check with your dentist that they are sure it will be successful and can be crowned too.

Paulbounce profile image
Paulbounce in reply toBuffafly

Ty Buff. Good luck with your dental procedure 😁

Had several Paul, and a bone graft for an implant plus implants x 2 no problem at all, stayed on apixaban as well bled a little but soon stopped ! Bit of swelling for a couple of days is the worst you'll get !

Andy

Paulbounce profile image
Paulbounce in reply to

Cheers Andy ;-)

I had root canal work done last year and had no problems. It is essential to tell the dentist in advance that you have AF as he will then use a different anaesthetic (without adrenaline I believe). You could also ask him not to have sessions in the chair which are too long. Btw, the anaesthetic I had was totally effective, but left little of the usual numbness afterwards. I don’t know why they don’t use it with all patients.

Paulbounce profile image
Paulbounce in reply to

Ty Sam ;-)

Maunei profile image
Maunei

I have had AFib for about ten years and in that time have had three root canals with no effect on my AFib even though I am quite susceptible to episodes of AF with other kinds of infections. Hope this is the case for you.

Paulbounce profile image
Paulbounce in reply toMaunei

Ty Maunei. Hope I'm the same ;-)

wilsond profile image
wilsond

Hello forum friendYes I have had root canal work and an apicetomy on a front tooth as well as an extraction.

No AF effects.

Make sure you double check you are having adrenaline free anaesthetic,even as you sit on the chair. I had a near miss!

My dentist put me in first thing so I missed first dose of Apixaban took layer in morning and adjusted evening time.

No bleeding issues other than took a bit longer to stop. He did put a little stitch in the extraction to aid healing .

All the best nothing worse than toothache ! 👍👍

Paulbounce profile image
Paulbounce in reply towilsond

Ty Wil. Hope all ok with you ;-)

wilsond profile image
wilsond in reply toPaulbounce

Yes all good here. Get vaccine today 🙂🙂

Paulbounce profile image
Paulbounce in reply towilsond

Great news Wil - pleased all ok with you and you have had your jab.

Take care and have a lovely weekend.

Paul

sapphy profile image
sapphy

Not had the root canal Paul but have had teeth out as Bob and others say ask for non adrenaline. I was sent to my local dental hospital for the extractions, they put a seaweed dressing (only way they described it) on top to stop bleeding before they stitched me up. Good luck.

Paulbounce profile image
Paulbounce in reply tosapphy

Ty Sapphy ;-)

Snowgirl65 profile image
Snowgirl65

Hi Paul,

I was in the same boat as you in January. I was a-fibbing badly after having Covid (another talking point here), but still scheduled a tooth extraction after I'd broken it a couple weeks previously. It was the last molar and I chose to not have a root canal or implant. I had no a-fib problems whatsoever during and after the procedure, despite the frequency of which I was having them at the time. Stick to your antibiotics -- inflammation is a trigger for a-fib.

Paulbounce profile image
Paulbounce in reply toSnowgirl65

Ty Snowgirl. You are quite right - inflammation can be a trigger. Pleased all ok with you now ;-)

Snowgirl65 profile image
Snowgirl65

Yes indeed -- it's nice to be able to chew on both sides of the mouth!

Buffafly profile image
Buffafly

Yes to root canal, no to problems but AF as a result of infection.

Paulbounce profile image
Paulbounce in reply toBuffafly

Ty Buff - I think for sure us afibbers need to look after our teeth. Indeed it's very important. I'm turning off the computer for the evening soon but I have suggestion for us all (or a question). I'll draft it out - maybe tomorrow or the weekend when I have more time ;-)

LouiseCanada profile image
LouiseCanada

I would not have another. It was not a good experience for me. Watch the documentary titled Root Cause imdb.com. There is a connection between root canals and heart problems according to the documentary. My husband has to make the same decision and he is going for a tooth extraction and then possibly a ceramic post with tooth. Expensive but better than root canal.

Paulbounce profile image
Paulbounce in reply toLouiseCanada

Ty Louise - again food for thought ;-)

Rubyray profile image
Rubyray

I had a root canal about three years ago. I have AFIB but had no problem with root canal

Paulbounce profile image
Paulbounce in reply toRubyray

Ty Ruby ;-)

FiveMilesSouth profile image
FiveMilesSouth

I’m on Apixaban and have had a right load of dental treatment this year. My dentist has been brilliant checking everything for me re AFib and Apixaban. No AFib.

Paulbounce profile image
Paulbounce in reply toFiveMilesSouth

Good to hear FMS ;-)

Sparky143 profile image
Sparky143

Ugh...I have self care issues and have neglected my teeth..BADLY. . I need a good dentist NOW ( yesterday, really 😐).Does anyone know a great kind skillful holistically minded dentist in lr near New York City?

Thanks, Wishing everyone all the best, heart and healthwise.

Paulbounce profile image
Paulbounce in reply toSparky143

Can't help Sparky as UK based. Tried a Google and a look on Trustplot ?

Paul

Paulbounce profile image
Paulbounce

Thanks Jem for your reply.

Paul

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