Backpacking with tooth pain

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rlown
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Re: Backpacking with tooth pain

Post by rlown »

it's not about being a Marine. It's about prepping for a trip, and if you know you have an issue you deal with it before leave, or you have to press your spot device or make me have to use my pliers.

Gutting it through is ok to get out after a problem. Not ok if you know you have preexisting conditions that put you at further risk. My root canal was failed, but the tooth was stable and dead and packed. It couldn't have hurt me in the 10 days I was out.


DaveB.. loved the reference!!
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longri
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Re: Backpacking with tooth pain

Post by longri »

Maverick -- I'm not a dentist. And I understand that money is part of the equation.

In my own experience the years of extra time that root canals (which eventually failed) bought me was well worth it in both cases. But your mileage may vary.

In terms of the backcountry who knows how someone will respond to whatever treatment they choose. For myself the only period of time that I've been worried was when my first implant was in the process of failing. While that was going on I routinely carried antibiotics on longer trips in case it progressed to an infection.
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rlown
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Re: Backpacking with tooth pain

Post by rlown »

i had a post put in in '74. she failed in '91. and the implant replaced the old style post is fine. #9..
I reiterate, if you have pain or known problems, take care of it at least a month (or two) before you go out. agree though, carry the antibiotics.. Still a preplan prep.

russ
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maverick
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Re: Backpacking with tooth pain

Post by maverick »

Longri wrote:
For myself the only period of time that I've been worried was when my first
implant was in the process of failing. While that was going on I routinely
carried antibiotics on longer trips in case it progressed to an infection.
Great, so the implants can occasionally get infected, so there is no real better
avenue to take. How long did your root canals last? Seems like stocking up
on some antibiotics and vicodin for my backcountry trips will be a routine
procedure from here on.
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I don't give out specific route information, my belief is that it takes away from the whole adventure spirit of a trip, if you need every inch planned out, you'll have to get that from someone else.

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RobS
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Re: Backpacking with tooth pain

Post by RobS »

I am a dentist and see patients weekly with acute pain and infection. Acute pain from a fractured tooth, an acute abscess, or an acute abscess from a failed root canal would definitely be a trip ender for me. I would hike out unless I was somehow able to manage the pain.
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oldranger
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Re: Backpacking with tooth pain

Post by oldranger »

Russ,

You missed my point, no problem for Mav to handle he plier thing.

Mike
Mike

Who can't do everything he used to and what he can do takes a hell of a lot longer!
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rlown
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Re: Backpacking with tooth pain

Post by rlown »

RobS wrote:I am a dentist and see patients weekly with acute pain and infection. Acute pain from a fractured tooth, an acute abscess, or an acute abscess from a failed root canal would definitely be a trip ender for me. I would hike out unless I was somehow able to manage the pain.
Very cool, RobS! glad we finally got direct dental advice on this thread. You're going to become popular to hike with. :)

And Mav, everything can get infected and fail. Just make the choice and get it done. What wasn't mentioned is the "throb, throb, throb" that comes with toothpain while hiking. it's still there even with pain killers on-board.
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maverick
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Re: Backpacking with tooth pain

Post by maverick »

RobS,

PM sent.
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I don't give out specific route information, my belief is that it takes away from the whole adventure spirit of a trip, if you need every inch planned out, you'll have to get that from someone else.

Have a safer backcountry experience by using the HST ReConn Form 2.0, named after Larry Conn, a HST member: http://reconn.org
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longri
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Re: Backpacking with tooth pain

Post by longri »

maverick wrote:Great, so the implants can occasionally get infected, so there is no real better
avenue to take. How long did your root canals last? Seems like stocking up
on some antibiotics and vicodin for my backcountry trips will be a routine
procedure from here on.
My root canals lasted different lengths of time (about 2 and 8 years) and did not fail catastrophically. The extractions were not emergencies. But personal anecdotes have limited value.
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