Tooth problem - and costs of private treatment

[pboae]

I'm posting on behalf of a friend who is having a dental nightmare. She had a root canal done a little over a year ago, it wasn't finished she was left with a temp filling and then the dentist closed down. A few months later the tooth broke, but it wasn't painful (presumably it was dead after the root canal). It's the first proper molar on the bottom right.

Now she can't get another NHS dentist, and she keeps getting infections around the broken tooth. Once it reaches that stage she can see the emergency dentist and gets anti biotics, but they won't take the broken tooth out. It's now infected again (the 4th time in about 6 months).

She's in a small amount of pain now, but the emergency dentist won't see her until it is really painful, and then she'll be able to get anti biotics, but presumably this is just going to keep happening, and it can't be good to have all these infections?

She is thinking about trying to go private to get it removed, but she can't get credit, and doesn't have the money to pay up front. Will private dentists do payment plans? If not I suppose she'll have to carry on like this for a while until she can save the money up.

Does anyone know how much it would cost? Does she have any other options? She doesn't get benefits but earns very little.

[Toothsmith]

Has she tried contacting her local PCT? They will have a list of local NHS dentists.

Even if some aren't taking on NHS patients, they might be contracted to provide certain emergency sessions.

Also, if she's also in South Yorkshire, is she anywhere near Sheffield Dental Hospital?

That might be worth a try.

[whatatwit]

Could she not exagerrate the pain a bit and ask that after the anti-biotics course, she return and they extract the tooth.
I understand that usually they won't extract whilst there is an infection. Surely if the dentist closed part way through her treatment, then the PCT should have ensured that the treatment was finished. :confused:

(stop laughing Toothsmith :naughty: , I can hear you from here)

[alison999]

they cant extract the tooth while theres unfection because it wont go numb. it wouldnt be THAT expensive to have the tooth out privatly, id GO IN to a few local practices and see what information you can get from them. can any of her friends or family recommened any dentists to her?

[pboae]

She's not near me, she is north of Manchester. PCT have basically told her there aren't any NHS dentists (or rather none that are taking on patients) within travelling distance. It seems to be a catch-22 while it's infected they can't extract it (totally understand that) but once the infection has cleared it's not an emergency anymore and then they won't see her at all (until it happens again).

I guess that if she had forced the point when it first happened (when it wasn't finished) then they would have had to do something, but as it wasn't hurting and seemed to be OK, she just left it. Though the tooth could have broken anyway.

Could she get away with pretending to live at my house and going to Sheffield Dental Hospital?

I've suggested going in to ask, or even just ringing for a quote, but she is really embarrased about being so skint. I'd like to get a ballpark figure so she's got some idea what to expect, because if it's way more than she can afford, there's no point me pushing her to go and get quotes.

[cheap_charlie]

There are dental hospitals in Manchester - has she tried them?

[Toothsmith]

There is A dental hospital in Manchester.

Some of the countries very best dentists qualified there! :D

[SuziQ]

I thought it was posted on here a few weeks back,that we are no longer 'registered' with an NHS dentist,so that now you can go to any NHS dentist and take the first appt they have? I'll see if I can find the thread as there was a lot of info on there.

Amended-I can't search back further than June and I'm pretty sure the discussion was in May.

[Toothsmith]

That's exactly right.

Dentists with NHS contracts have to see anybody wanting NHS treatment - providing they have the 'capacity' to treat them.

That word 'capacity' can sometimes have a bit of a loose defenition though.

Getting in touch with the PCT to see who has 'capacity' is often better than ringing round NHS dentists every day though.

[bank_of_slate]

When you say that the dentist 'shut down' was it that the dentist retired or was shut down urgently and without notice?

In normal circumstances the practice has a moral obligation to ensure that all patients who were under treatment at the time were catered for either before the dentist shut or handed over by a prior arrangement to another dental practice during the dentist's normal 3 month notice period.

If it was an urgent and unforseen shut down then the PCT were responsible for ensuring all the patients under current treatment were taken care of!

I would contact the PALS department of the PCT to enquire and possibly complain about the situation.

If you are still not satisfied with the outcome then it may be worth contacting the Healthcare Commission.
...Linda xx

[pboae]

She's going to try the Manchester Dental Hospital on Monday (they don't do out of hours) thanks all :-)

EDIT: sorry I forgot to find out how it shut down, I will ask next time.

[pboae]

Just to give you all an update. She contacted Manchester Dental Hospital who gave her the details of a Dental Access Clinic, which is basically a dentist for people who don't have dentists. *Why* the PCT didn't tell her about it in the first place, I don't know!

She had now had anti-biotics and had the tooth removed. She's feeling pretty sorry for herself because they had a hard time getting the remnant of the tooth out, but at least it's sorted out.

[domdent]

they cant extract the tooth while theres unfection because it wont go numb. it wouldnt be THAT expensive to have the tooth out privatly, id GO IN to a few local practices and see what information you can get from them. can any of her friends or family recommened any dentists to her?


This is a myth any competent Dental surgeon should be able to numb and remove a painful tooth. Unless a patient has a raised temperature antibiotics are not indicated ,removal of the tooth or drainage is indicated is the 1st line of treatment.

[alison999]

This is a myth any competent Dental surgeon should be able to numb and remove a painful tooth. Unless a patient has a raised temperature antibiotics are not indicated ,removal of the tooth or drainage is indicated is the 1st line of treatment.


im not a dentist and have never claimed to be, just trying to help thats all.

[tirednewdad]

This is a myth any competent Dental surgeon should be able to numb and remove a painful tooth. Unless a patient has a raised temperature antibiotics are not indicated ,removal of the tooth or drainage is indicated is the 1st line of treatment.

Domdent, although you are correct in what you say, its important to note, that if your dentist cannot get the tooth numb due to the effect of the infection, it does not mean that they are incompetant.

Just think its important to point out. You are correct though in saying that antibiotics should be used sparingly in severe cases, and i agree with your dental philosophy.;)

[marybishop]

I had a tooth extracted last week that was infected, or rather the area around the roots rather than inside the tooth was infected, if that makes sense! It all went numb and I didn't feel a thing except for a lot of tugging! Unfortunately the 'hole' got infected so on Monday I went back to the dentist and he plugged it with some evil smelling gunk (like oil of cloves magnified!) and he gave me a prescription for antibiotics saying to go back if it hadn't improved within 3 days.

[tirednewdad]

I had a tooth extracted last week that was infected, or rather the area around the roots rather than inside the tooth was infected, if that makes sense! It all went numb and I didn't feel a thing except for a lot of tugging! Unfortunately the 'hole' got infected so on Monday I went back to the dentist and he plugged it with some evil smelling gunk (like oil of cloves magnified!) and he gave me a prescription for antibiotics saying to go back if it hadn't improved within 3 days.

Its called a dry socket and what you had seems about right. Some dentists prefer not to give the antibiotics though and just let the gunk do its work.

[Olympika]

^^ I had that after two of my wisdom teeth, it can be really painful (and mine were kinda smelly!) The gunk really does help though and your dentist can pack the socket more than once if it is still stubborn to heal (least he did with me). IIRC dry socket is something to do with the blood vessels dying?

[tirednewdad]

^^ I had that after two of my wisdom teeth, it can be really painful (and mine were kinda smelly!) The gunk really does help though and your dentist can pack the socket more than once if it is still stubborn to heal (least he did with me). IIRC dry socket is something to do with the blood vessels dying?

NOt quite, but your on the right track. A dry Socket is caused when the bone is exposed to the outside elements. When you have a tooth out, usually it bleeds and a clot forms. If the clot comes away then there is nothing to protect the bone and it becomes very sore.

You are at more of a risk of a dry socket if you smoke, are on the pill or if the extraction was difficult.

[Olympika]

Oh right, thanks. Mine were both difficult extractions, and I was on the pill... :rolleyes:

[marybishop]

Thanks Olympika & Tirednewdad - I took the last tablet at lunchtime. I'm not convinced it's completely better as it felt quite uncomfortable this morning but couldn't get an appt to have it checked until Tuesday. The stuff the dentist plugged the hole with is still in place - how long does it go on working for? Presumably it gets pushed out as it heals from underneath? Anyway at least I've got another appt if it still feels uncomfortable.

[tirednewdad]

Thanks Olympika & Tirednewdad - I took the last tablet at lunchtime. I'm not convinced it's completely better as it felt quite uncomfortable this morning but couldn't get an appt to have it checked until Tuesday. The stuff the dentist plugged the hole with is still in place - how long does it go on working for? Presumably it gets pushed out as it heals from underneath? Anyway at least I've got another appt if it still feels uncomfortable.

Yes it just dissolves/grows out as things heal

[bank_of_slate]

Alvogyl
is a dry socket treatment and post-extraction dressing which many dental surgeries have on hand! Alvogyl is a one-step, self-eliminating treatment which rapidly alleviates pain and provides a soothing effect throughout the healing process. Its fibrous consistency allow for easy filling of the socket and good adherence during the entire healing process.
http://www.dilekdismedikal.com.tr/magaza/img/urun/alvogyl.jpg

See above info for 'the gunk'

...Linda xx