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

qaklush

Glad we are not the only ones completely baffled! After all his regular practice can do the root canal and have told him there is no problem with doing it (but only private) and the second practice says they can do it on the NHS but can't do it because of the length. Can the roots of a tooth decay and get shorter or has the tooth worn away...I agree that we need a professional in the business to answer this so if 'toothsmith' is around we need your help...much appreciated )

Teerah

The roots of teeth can resorb away and become shorter and thus have a poor longterm prognosis but I couldnt confirm one way or another if this was the case for your husbands tooth. The only people who can decide whether or not the treatment is viable are those who can see and assess the tooth in question and the xrays so you need to get your husband to discuss it with his dentist. Nobody on a internet forum is going to be able to help I'm afraid.

Froglet

flightinfo wrote: »

Just wondered if anyone can help me with some of my queries in the post above before I speak to the dentist.

Thanks for your help.

Going by what my dentist charged me last year for various treatments,if they are private charges they are VERY reasonable and i would snatch their hand off if it were me!!

foxybabe

I wonder whether anyone could advise me on the best treatment for root canal treatment please. I am taking a coarse of antibiotics at the moment and need rct afterwards. I have been advised by the dentist to have it done privately as it will be better. The thing I don't understand is that it will be the same dentist who does it but the difference in price is £44.60-£180!!! I want the treatment to be succesful and ideally don't want to keep going back (although I will need a crown afterwards) but does anyone know what the difference is between nhs and private bearing in mind that it will be the same dentist.

Hope that made sense, many thanks in advance

sodamnfunky

I had mine done privately and it cost me £350, BUT it was well worth it, as I was free of pain, and he saved the tooth. I dont think there is any difference between NHS and Private, just that he can charge more

foxybabe

So there is no reason then not to have it done on the nhs. The dentist told me it would be better done privately.

Truepat

For £44 they use rusty old drill bits
For £180 they use new drill bits

Toothsmith

If you're going to have it done privately, have it done by a dentist who works this way all the time.

If you're seeing a dentist who's prepared to do something in a cr£p way if they're being paid one way, but in a good way if you pay them in a different way - then , to be honest, you should find a better dentist.

If a dentist has rejected completely one way of doing things in order to concentrate on a better way of doing things, then I would suggest you'd be much more likely to get a better job done.

With root fillings, it's pretty critical, as the most successful root fillings are the ones done well at the first attempt. So don't be tempted to 'give it a go' with the thought that if it fails, you'll pay more to get it fixed. Re-doing root fillings is never as successful as doing it well in the first place.

As a minimum requirement, the dentist you choose should do root fillings by isolating the tooth with a rubber dam.

foxybabe

Truepat wrote: »

For £44 they use rusty old drill bits
For £180 they use new drill bits

This made me laugh. That is exactly how it feels. Its like a hairdresser saying 'well if you pay me more I will use sharp scissors!!!:eek:

bellmj9

Going to see an Endodontics to get a RCT, are these people best placed to do the treatment?
And can you eat and drink before having the treatment and drive afterwards?

Many Thanks