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root canal treatment - NHS and private costs & pros and cons
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I am not a dentist so I can't advise you on the treatment, but I have been in a similar situation.
I chose an implant, which cost £1500 in total.
My dentist told me my tooth was compromised by repeated infection and two lengthy root canals (it was a molar, so 4 canals to treat) and that extraction really was the best option rather than a third attempt to save the tooth. I seemed to be a good candidate - no bone graft needed - and I have to say I am entirely satisfied, and the whole procedure went well, apart from the fact I got dry socket after the extraction, which was entirely my own fault.
I have completely forgotten I have an implant, it is so natural, and I would do it again without a moments hesitation. In fact, I would go so far as to say I would actually choose an implant over a root canal.
Be careful going without antibiotics. Never mind the agony, you don't want associated problems...again, I am not a dentist or a doctor, but infections can move around and get quite nasty.
Hope you get it sorted.
Toothache..the 'Hell of all Diseases'..Rabbie BurnsLife.
'A journey to be enjoyed...not a struggle to be endured.'
Bring it on! :j0 -
The other consideration with root canal treatment costs is that of the restoration that will be required once the root treatment is done. In many cases this often means a crown, which needs to be done to a high standard in order to prevent leakage of bugs back into the root canals which can cause the root treatment to fail. When all these costs are taken into account an implant can be a good alternative as costs can be comparable with that of a specialist root treatment and crown, but also the predicibility and longevity can be better with an implant.
However - the ability to place the implant is dependant on good bone, and that can be a problem where there has been long standing infection, so additional procedures can sometimes be required.Whether you think you can, or think you can't, you are usually right.0 -
I've been getting toothache constantly for two weeks now and in two weeks I have had 3 nights sleep. I was also throwing up everyday but I went the doctors again on friday and have been fine since touch wood. Anyway I am going the dentist on tuesday as my apppointment for root canal is 28th april. But I am in so much agony I cant bare it no longer. I'm not sure whether I am having root canal done this week. But my question is, is it painful? What should I expect? I am absolutely petrified of going. I have tried reading it up on the internet but not much luck to be honest. What I want to know is if possible please:
1, Is it painful?
2, What should I expect?
3, Does it take long?
4, Will I be in pain afterwards? If so how long for about?
I am absolutely petrified. I dont want to go but it has got be done. And does anybody know if it is done over a few visits to the dentists because as far as I can see it is but I am not sure. Thanks ! xProud mummy to 3 beautiful children who I love so so much :oxxxx
Baby girl due april 2016! cant wait to meet her. xxx0 -
There is already a thread on this somewhere, hold on I'll have a look
Here we go. Lots of info and experiences here.0 -
Hi,
I had a root canal a few years back.
It's not painful. It can be time consuming - at least mine was.
I had the usual local anasthetic at the dentist, and although I could feel what they were doing it didn't hurt.
I honestly don't remember it hurting afterwards. I always get an achy jaw from injections anyway, but that was it. I tried to avoid eating on that tooth for the day, but you should be ok in no time.
Don't worry about it. At least you wont be in pain anymore as they remove the nerve.
I had mine done over a few visits - but that was because I had to go to another dentist. (Mine had broken his arm skiiing!) The other dentist just removed the nerve (which thankfully got rid of the pain). I had a temporary filling for a few weeks until my dentist did the root filling properly.
HTH and try not to worry.Looking forward to the future.0 -
There is already a thread on this somewhere, hold on I'll have a look
Here we go. Lots of info and experiences here.
Thank you very much ! I will read it now. I've got knots in my stomach thinking about it :eek:Proud mummy to 3 beautiful children who I love so so much :oxxxx
Baby girl due april 2016! cant wait to meet her. xxx0 -
Hi,
I had a root canal a few years back.
It's not painful. It can be time consuming - at least mine was.
I had the usual local anasthetic at the dentist, and although I could feel what they were doing it didn't hurt.
I honestly don't remember it hurting afterwards. I always get an achy jaw from injections anyway, but that was it. I tried to avoid eating on that tooth for the day, but you should be ok in no time.
Don't worry about it. At least you wont be in pain anymore as they remove the nerve.
I had mine done over a few visits - but that was because I had to go to another dentist. (Mine had broken his arm skiiing!) The other dentist just removed the nerve (which thankfully got rid of the pain). I had a temporary filling for a few weeks until my dentist did the root filling properly.
HTH and try not to worry.
Thanks very much. You have put me at rest a little! I'm so nervousProud mummy to 3 beautiful children who I love so so much :oxxxx
Baby girl due april 2016! cant wait to meet her. xxx0 -
my root canal was done in Germany (I was there on work placement) and I had a non-english speaking dentist who wouldn't give me an injection! Although it didn't hurt (as the nerve is dead) and it took 3 trips back (with German translators on the last two trips).
hope this helps you feel a bit better about going
xhIf you aim for the moon if you miss at least you will land among the stars!0 -
had mine 5 years ago- didn't feel a thing although took about 1 hour. take your ipod !0
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Hi Toothsmith can you advise me please?
I lost a back tooth some years ago when a previous dentist was redoing a root filling and the tooth broke. I lived with the gap for some time but still being in my 20's at the time it was aesthetically unappealing. Then about 5 years ago at a new NHS practice the dentist there told me that as I was out of work at the time I could get a bridge fitted for free to cover the gap. First a one tooth support bridge was tried relying on my last back tooth for support, but this kept coming loose so the dentist went for a 2 tooth support bridge meaning he had to use a root filled tooth infront - which he said wasn't ideal but possible nonetheless. What the dentist did not explain to me and I was actually shocked to find out - through the bridge coming loose - was that he'd had to file down both the supporting teeth to attach the bridge effectively - had I known this I think I would of lived with my gap than have to ruin 2 more teeth irreversibly.
Now about 18 months- 2 years ago I started getting sensitivity around the front of the bridge where the root filled tooth was. The original dentist had left the practice and I had a replacement NHS dentist who advised that I would have to have the bridge removed and the tooth refilled with a root canal specialist as they did not offer NHS root fillings at the practice, see if the tooth settled then have a new bridge put on - all for a total approximate cost of around £6/700 mark - BUT they couldnt guarantee this would resolve the problem. Alternatively I could look at implants but then we were talking several grand per tooth. I couldn't afford either option so I left it for the time being and tried to seek some legal dental advice online as to whether the practise should be responsible for the costs of having to re-do the bridge as it had only been in place around 3 years - I was advised it had fallen short of the average life expectancy of 5 years and the original dentist could be held responsible - though he had now left the practice. So I arranged an appointment with the practice manager but they wouldn't take any responsibility for the problem as they said the life dependency of a bridge wasn't set in stone and the root filled tooth hadn't been done at their practice. So not knowing what to do I tried joining another NHS dentist that did have band 3 pricing in their contract and to get a second opinion. When the appointment came round I had no pain and the dentist there seemed very elderly and incompetant and just advised I leave it 'well alone' if there was no pain currently. Obviously the problem was never going to go away completely and I have had to go backwards and forwards to my original practice where I now had a another - now 3rd - NHS dentist, with sensitivity issues and not being able to do anything about it. Then about a month ago I started getting tooth pain from the area and had to be slotted in as an emergency with the private dental practice owner as my usual NHS dentist was away. He xrayed it again and said it looked like some infection around the root and gave me antibiotics - but just as I was leaving he said this won't resolve the problem you understand - you will need to have the canal refilled. I said I knew but of the problems with it being under a bridge and he said well you can go through the bridge? I was surprised as no one had suggested this so far and I didn't know it was possible, and he again said yes you can go through the bridge and when I said well how much would that cost, he said whatever the price of an NHS root filling is- around £40 mark? I couldn't believe the practice owner was saying this now so I angrily booked back in to see my NHS dentist when he was back and saw him a couple of weeks ago and he agreed that yes it could be done through the bridge but insisted it couldnt be done at the practice as it was a root refilling I would have to go to a specialist who would charge around £80 just to see me and if he felt the tooth could be refilled it would cost several hundred but there was no guarantee he could do it or it would work. I was just about to leave again with no resolve when looking at my last xray he said what was this darker line showing up in the root canal that I know has always been there but thought was normal. He said it looked like something had been left in the canal when the canal was originally cleaned out - checked it hadn't been done at their practice -which it wasnt - and said well that needs to come out whatever it is and that could be the problem. I couldn't quite believe the amount of times this tooth xray has been looked at and 4 different dentists have not mentioned this - this one included. So completely confused I left and now couple weeks later I have tooth pain again and I'm due to go back this afternoon to hopefully get some antibiotics and I really don't know what to do to resolve the issue. I cant afford any expensive treatment even more so now as I have gone into debt over a car accident I went through recently - and I don't want to open up any kind of payment plan situation if its debatable if the treatment will even work? And I don't know who to believe anymore as opinions keep changing! I'm tempted to just have the tooth out but with it being the supporting tooth of the bridge and there already being a large gap next to it I would be left with a very large gap on my bottom back teeth and I am only 34.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.0
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