Dental treatment query

Pennylane

I have changed dentists recently because the last one worked in silence, wasn't helpful if I asked anything and wasn't very gentle.

A new NHS clinic opened and I got in with them. Sadly they don't seem much better. Just about manage to say "hello" and do nothing to reassure me either. I think I'm just unlucky!:( I've had my check up (no X rays) and he says I need a couple of fillings and a crown on one of my teeth towards the back. That comes in the £198 dental cost bracket.

I'm OK with the fillings but I've never had a crown (or indeed anything other than a filling or extraction). The tooth has been like this for a couple of years and causes me no pain at all and you can't really see it either. Should I go ahead with it but if I don't what would happen to the tooth? Thanks in advance.

Toothsmith

Impossible to advise you whether to have this done or not without seeing the tooth and checking the rest of your mouth.

If you don't trust the opinion of the dentist you've seen, then you're not at the right dental practice for you.

I would say that any tooth that is to be crowned should be checked with an x-ray though.

Rumman

I had something like this few weeks back.

I had a temporary filling done few weeks back and whilst i was eating the filling came off and took a bit of the tooth with it. Upper 5 or 6 the dentist said. I was abroad (India) when the tooth chipped so went to dentist there who was adament i needed root canal + 'royal crown', i went ahead with it as it worked out only 50 for everything knowing what it would cost here. However i've been wondering, if it was needed and also i get this pain sometimes when i eat hot or cold stuff on the same tooth, i thought the idea of root canal was to numb the nerve so i wouldn't feel anything?

welshdent

Better get it checked. If indeed an adequate root filling has been done you nay have a problem with a different tooth. Root fillings don't just numb nerves it removes them! ;-)

Pennylane

Oh Shoot - what's all this talk of root canal treatment? Please tell me I don't have to have that when I get a crown.:eek::eek:

I am going for my appointment but have phoned ahead and told them that I just want the fillings doing first - I don't feel psychologically ready for a crown.

I am getting really stressed about the very thought.

If I don't feel comfortable with having these fillings done, I will not be able to go ahead with the crown, I just know that.

All I want is to be reassured, treated gently etc. I don't think that's too much to ask really. Thanks for replies BTW:)

brook2jack

From what you've said it doesn't sound as if you need a root filling.

But the big problem is you haven't developed a rapport with your dentist and the lack of a good relationship may stop you having treatment that may be necessary for your dental health.

Look at toothsmiths signature and ask around etc for a dentist who will be sympathetic to you. Different dentists have different styles. You need to find a dentist you feel comfortable with and stick with them for routine treatment.

If the tooth needs crowning and you leave it the next stage will be root treatment or taking it out.

The only other thing to bear in mind is there is very little time spare in NHS practice and often larger corporate run surgeries will have a rapid turnover of dentists , so if you are particularly nervous a "family" friendly private practice with longserving staff may be more suitable and not incredibly more expensive.

Pennylane

Well I've had 2 of the 3 fillings I need and we discussed the crown and he's also done the preparation for that today. He said while that side was numb would be a good time. He also did an X-ray today. I go again in a couple of weeks to get the filling on the other side done and the permanent crown fitted.

I was very nervous and told him so and the nurse kept asking if I was OK. I will say he was not too rough though:)

I have a very small (and old) bit of white filling at the top of a front tooth which has discoloured over the years. I asked about getting that done but he reckons that will be about £60 and would be classed as private. I would have thought they could have included that for my £198 but there!

brook2jack

A discoloured filling is a cosmetic problem therefore not covered on the NHS.

You've had check up several fillings xray and a crown so you've had your moneys worth from the dentist. They have a business to run , a business which is very expensive to provide!

Pennylane

Well, it was the NHS who did it in the first place many years ago.

welshdent

the original filling was probably to deal with decay or a chip therefore "clinically necessary". Staining is not detrimental to your health so the point that brook is making is that if your only complaint in this case is that it is stained then you would need to pay to have this replaced privately as it is not justifiable on the NHS.

Pennylane

Update - the crown took a fair while to settle down but is fine now. One thing I have noticed is that it is much more sensitive to cold drinks/food than the tooth underneath ever was.

This also links in a bit with the other thread about being chagred extra for a scale & Polish. They could have at least tried to clean my discoloured filling within the £198 I think.