root canal treatment - NHS and private costs & pros and cons

Olympika

If it helps at all, I didn't feel a THING once the injection went in when I had RCT. Only little issue (and was minor) was that my jaw started to ache and shake a bit, but other than that it was just boring to be sat there so long.

headcrash27

I have an infection in my root canal filled tooth which has been there for a couple of years now. Every so often i get a bit of pain and the dentist gives me a course of antibiotics which sorts it out. The dentist seemed to think i should have the infection removed at the hospital and sent me along to see the dentist there. The hospital however said it wasn't necessary to have the infection removed unless i was having the tooth crowned. Removing the infection would involve going to hospital to have the gum cut so they can drain the pus out.

Do you think it is okay to just leave it there as i was googling it (which i know is never a good idea!) and it came up with all sorts of stuff saying that the infection can spread throughout the bloodstream and into the whole body. Do you think this is true?! Surely the hospital wouldn't just leave it there if this was likely would they? I am a bit worried now... Does anyone know if it is likely to do me any permanent damage by leaving the infection there?

hethmar

That is true headcrash - probably in extreme cases, but yes, I remember years ago when I worked in a huge factory one of the employees ended up having a brain operation due to a number of infected/neglected teeth.

But if the hospital said yours was ok ............ My OH has had a root filled tooth which now and then has a bubble of infection on the gum. Apart from the worry of it, it doesnt seem to have affected him in 10 years Personally, Id rather have it sorted.

ekky, Ive probably had more root fillings than anyone on here - I can really assure you that its not agony. Im a woose where dentists are concerned but oh dear, Ive had much worse pain with wind

Toothsmith

headcrash27 wrote: »

I have an infection in my root canal filled tooth which has been there for a couple of years now. Every so often i get a bit of pain and the dentist gives me a course of antibiotics which sorts it out. The dentist seemed to think i should have the infection removed at the hospital and sent me along to see the dentist there. The hospital however said it wasn't necessary to have the infection removed unless i was having the tooth crowned. Removing the infection would involve going to hospital to have the gum cut so they can drain the pus out.

Do you think it is okay to just leave it there as i was googling it (which i know is never a good idea!) and it came up with all sorts of stuff saying that the infection can spread throughout the bloodstream and into the whole body. Do you think this is true?! Surely the hospital wouldn't just leave it there if this was likely would they? I am a bit worried now... Does anyone know if it is likely to do me any permanent damage by leaving the infection there?

I can't understand why you were given this advice.

The infection needs to be sorted out somehow.

DANNYBOY1_3

Hi I was getting a bit of pain in an upper right molar recently,nothing specially seemed to set it off,some days it was sore,some days it wasn't.
Dentist found a small crack on the inside edge of the tooth running up from the biting surface,he removed an (amalgam) filling and found another underneath (same tooth). He used a different type of filling to fix it which he said bonds with the tooth better (white coloured,but not a "white" filling if that makes sense) and gave me 5 days of amoxycillin "just in case" which I completed- said it could go either way and may settle or may need root treatment. That was two weeks ago,it is still a bit sore (although less so most of the time) and if I push on the area he has fixed with my tongue it does feel a bit sore. My question is,how long should I wait to see if it will settle,or should I go back and get it RCT'd - I'm conscious of Xmas approaching and I'm going away so don't want to risk it going nuclear.I am a "grinder" and he reckons this caused the damage - I wear a nightguard now! Dentist (Private) is a good chap and I trust him.

Savvy_Sue

Dannyboy, why not phone your dentist and ask whether he thinks that sounds as if it has 'settled'? He may want to have another look or he may say "that's normal".

mrs_angry

well ive had my appointment with the specialist at my hospital(wow it came through really quick) and i am scheduled for an apicectomy in january, he said the success rate is 55 to 60% but its worth a try to save the tooth, and the receptionist said she had this done for same problem as me (fistula on gum) 6 years ago and hers was a success!

why couldnt the nhs dentist refer me to the hospital? for this last attempt to save the tooth?:mad: :mad: the private dentist reffered me straight away, very odd me thinks!(lesson to all on this forum GO PRIVATE IF YOU WANT NICE TEETH)nhs have also ignored obvious hole in tooth next to crown, which shows on xrays but they cant be bothered to treat!

anyway am scared stiff but will keep you all posted esp hethmar;)(please let me know what apicectomy is like and if yours worked) as to whether it works and my tooth is saved,so looking forward to not having a spot on my gum that oozes liquid, even if i do end up having this tooth pulled at least i know i have done all i can alongside my fab new private dentist

Mumto2

I had my crown fitted last Thursday (NHS one). It is still really sensitive - to the point if I have my mouth open while I'm walking the cold air sets it off. I mentioned to the dentist at fitting appt that my tooth was really sensitive and she said the crown would solve it, would settle down after a few days.

Anyone know from experience whether a crown would be sensitive? I'm inclined to think that metal would react to different temperatures, but surely it shouldn't be this bad?

hethmar

mrs a, glad things are looking up. As you say, you will have given it your best shot and thats all anyone can do. OH has apicectomy about 25 years ago and still has that tooth

Speak to your dentist Mumto2, may be the crown needs adjusting?

DANNYBOY1_3

Went back to Dentist today with my cracked tooth as per savvysue's suggestion!,he had a look and gave 2 scenarios 1) too badly cracked to save 2) can be saved with RCT. He took x-rays,and drilled a bit,to find 3 calcified canals and possibly another,he squirted in some antibios,put in a (permanent) filling and is going to drop me a line with his treatment suggestions once he has examined all the X-rays further -wants to wait for it to settle before attempting to finish the RCT,has given me some amoxycillin in case it flares up in the meantime,but reckons he will finish it off in the New Year.....sound fair enough?

Took up his entire lunch break,hope he doesn't hold that against me,but I don't think so,I reckon that's good service!