Root Canal Filling or Tooth Extraction?

Toothsmith

Surfbabe wrote: »

I've just had my second appointment for root canal treatment - fourth tooth along on bottom front. I've two more appointments to go for crown prep and fitting. Total cost on NHS £198.00. Each apointment for 45 mins although it hasn;t always taken that long. My dentist is brilliant and I've had not discomfort - it was far more painful before I had it done. So I would opt for the RCT.

Sounds very good. Good to here there are some still trying on the NHS.

suki1964

I too had a RCT on the NHS earlier this year with a gold alloy crown and id say I had 2x40 mins and 1x20 (and he would be seeing other patients whilst my jaw was numbing) and touch wood - its fine - no worries at all.

All my other RCTS were done private (most of my teeth have been filled now) and I really couldnt say my NHS treatment has been of a lower standard or rushed. in comparrison.

Which coud either mean I have a great NHS dentist or my private one was rubbish

System

I got a tempory dressing last month, I am due back tomorrow to get it filled providing that the tempory filling took the pain away, if it didn't I would need root canal work done. Well it didn't, I've been living on Ibuprofen this past month. Is getting it taken out cheaper than root canal work? Its a big molar at the back and a private dentist, also what is easiest pain wise?

xxlaurissaxx

i got mine pulled out and although my mouuth was swollen on that side, it wasnt sore except a little bit when the anestheptic (sp)? wears offs but i just took anadin and was fine. mines was at the back too so no-one sees it and its alot easier on the purse too. xx

Toothsmith

This is a much much much more complicated question than 'what's cheapest'?

On the day, sat in the dental chair - having it out will be far cheaper than having it fixed.

BUT - what will the effect of loosing that tooth be on the rest of your mouth over the long term?

The options here are far too many and varied to go into without seeing your mouth. Even if I was your dentist, and could see your mouth, it would still be a long conversation.

You need to weigh up how broken the tooth is, the likelyhood of a successful root treatment and any necessary after-treatment such as a crown, against the need to replace that tooth should it come out and need replacing with a denture/bridge/implant against taking it out and leaving a gap and the possible adverse consequences of that.

It may well be that having the tooth out would cause no problems whatsoever, and so there's little point spending time and money having it fixed, or it could be that having it out would set off a spiral of events that resulted in more and more and dearer and dearer dental treatments.

You need to talk to your dentist - not us!!

jmjspurs1

Any help and advice would be appreciated. I had a root canal done august 08 and my dentist had a hard job and said she couldnt guarantee how effective it would be. She said it had a double canal (or something) and was hard to do. 2 months later i went back with a little pain and was told to wait a further 3 months. Just gone back as still got pain and very sensitive with hot drinks, although can chew it hurts after eating. She said she could refer me at cost of around £700, she could re do it for £200 or extract it. It is upper 3rd from back. Cannot afford to be referred. Should i let her try again altho she said it was hard first time or just get extracted to save more trouble?

sparklymessygirl

Hi,

I would move heaven and earth to get it done by an endodontist.(specialist).
I had mine redone by one - I think it cost about £400-500 (was a few years ago now) - he put in a post and then I went back to my own dentist to have a proper crown. Sorry, this is not much help if you really cannot find the money
My second option would be to let her try - I think it is always worth trying to conserve your teeth. (However, I have always had a thing about teeth - I used to have dreadful dreams about them falling out!)
Good luck
Sparkly

Pyewacket338

I had this choice to make a few years ago, mine was second from the back, the cost was a big decider and I had an extraction..... and I've regreted it ever since!
Although if I'd had the work done, and it'd only lasted a few years... I'd have regreted that too! I now have a broken tooth on the other side..... so I'm back with the same dilema.

jmjspurs1

Ive been good and always had checks and no real problems before this but really cant afford to be referred. Will she have any more luck 2nd time? She also mentioned a crown i think so presume this would be extra on top of her charge? I will admit the only reason im unsure of extraction is in case it shows or i would go ahead i think. This is also a new dentist and still a little unsure of her as dont like going to the dentist and still getting used to her. Can i postpone deciding until pain gets really bad?

Teerah

I have to say that I would advise treatment by a specialist at this point also if you are keen to save the tooth. I wouldnt be inclined to have it retreated by the original dentist if they had problems with it the first time round as its only going to be more difficult the second time. However, if you do want to let them try, I would query having to pay a second time as it has never really settled. I would certainly not charge a patient again for having to redo something which has failed in such a short space of time.

ETA I wouldnt postpone the decison until you have a lot of pain, thats one sure way of making a decision you may later regret!