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root canal treatment - NHS and private costs & pros and cons
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I understand that this must be a technically challenging operation, BUT if my car wasn't fixed first or second time, I wouldn't expect to pay for the third attempt. (I also operate a 'no fix, no fee' policy when I do private IT work)
This is the big difference between people and cars though, and one that often causes problems.
A Car (Or a washing machine or a telly) is a box of parts. Each part does a job, and interacts in a known way with a different part.
It's not like that with people. There is a much bigger variation in how each part does it's job, and there are an almost infinite number of different possible interactions. (I appreciate that with all the possible software issues, IT can probably be a bit like this sometimes!)
With people, all you can say is that if I do this - then in x% of people it will have this response, in y% it will have this response and in z% it will do absolutely nothing.
There are no absolutes when dealing with people.
This causes problems when it comes to charging people to fix them. You can either charge a bit more than you need to, and then not charge the (hopefully) small percentage of people you have to do something extra for because the first thing hasn't worked, and hope the costs balance out over time. Or you can charge a bit less to do the initial thing, but then charge again should you have to go on and do something else.
(Does that all make sense??)
Occasionally, the thing that's going wrong will need the further attentions of a specialist. That's not because anyone's done something wrong - it's just because it's particularly tricky. You don't always know before you start which the tricky ones will be.
I feel your dentist has given this a fair crack, and now the choice for you is whether to spend the money on a specialist (which may well not work either) or have the tooth out.How to find a dentist.
1. Get recommendations from friends/family/neighbours/etc.
2. Once you have a short-list, VISIT the practices - dont just phone. Go on the pretext of getting a Practice Leaflet.
3. Assess the helpfulness of the staff and the level of the facilities.
4. Only book initial appointment when you find a place you are happy with.0 -
Thanks, Toothsmith, all understood! I just need to determine whether it it one or both of the teeth (that are next to each other) and which had root canals and then go for the extraction(s)!
The whole area hurts including the cheekbone above now so it is hard to isolate the culprit!
VigmanAny information given in my posts or replies is intended to be of interest and/or help to members of the forum. I cannot guarantee that this is accurate or up to date.0 -
This might not be the place to ask.... but I've had bouts of dental pain, mostly sorted fairly cheaply by my NHS dentist but she has said that I do need a root canal but as my tooth is cracked it may just shatter and need extracting.
I really don't like the sound of that but are there alternatives that she's not suggesting?0 -
Diplomacy in dentistry advice please.
I had a composite filling on a lower tooth (the one next to the first molar). The dentist warned me that there was a reasonable chance that I would actually need a root filling, but that it was worth trying not to do a RCT first as there was no abcess at that time, but the filling was quite deep.
Within a few days I was in Pain, so I went back and the dentist said there was now an abcess and it needed a root treatment. So I asked him (diplomatically I hope) if that was something he could do or whether I should be referred to an endodontist. He said it was straightforward as there should be only one canal and he did the RCT. Unfortunately I then experienced pain afterwards and he re cleaned the canal a few days later, together with antibiotics it is now settling but still not perfect (though only 3 days since the last visit).
Is it insulting to suggest to a dentist that you would prefer to be referred?
Cost wise it seems that having your dentist doing a RCT (privately) and risking it fail and then needing a referral is more expensive than going specialist straight away. Pain wise it also seems more logical to take the specialist root. But I know my dentist is happy to do RCTs privately, so I'm a bit stuck. I really don't want to cause offence.I'm a Forum Ambassador on the housing, mortgages & student money saving boards. I volunteer to help get your forum questions answered and keep the forum running smoothly. Forum Ambassadors are not moderators and don't read every post. If you spot an illegal or inappropriate post then please report it to forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com (it's not part of my role to deal with this). Any views are mine and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.com.0 -
Diplomacy in dentistry advice please.
I had a composite filling on a lower tooth (the one next to the first molar). The dentist warned me that there was a reasonable chance that I would actually need a root filling, but that it was worth trying not to do a RCT first as there was no abcess at that time, but the filling was quite deep.
Within a few days I was in Pain, so I went back and the dentist said there was now an abcess and it needed a root treatment. So I asked him (diplomatically I hope) if that was something he could do or whether I should be referred to an endodontist. He said it was straightforward as there should be only one canal and he did the RCT. Unfortunately I then experienced pain afterwards and he re cleaned the canal a few days later, together with antibiotics it is now settling but still not perfect (though only 3 days since the last visit).
Is it insulting to suggest to a dentist that you would prefer to be referred?
Cost wise it seems that having your dentist doing a RCT (privately) and risking it fail and then needing a referral is more expensive than going specialist straight away. Pain wise it also seems more logical to take the specialist root. But I know my dentist is happy to do RCTs privately, so I'm a bit stuck. I really don't want to cause offence.
Bit of a tricky one!
No - It is your mouth, and you have the right to ask for a specialist referral if you want one.
I would explain to your dentist that your really really REALLY want to give that tooth it's best chance, and you feel you would prefer to pay a specialist to do the job.
It could be that this dentist is quite well experienced at root fillings, but it's still up to him to send you where the chances are highest of success, if you've indicated that that's what you want.
It would be quite reasonable for you to ask him what he feels his chances of success are and how that would compare with a specialist. That should give you some idea how well he tinks he can do it.
Incidentally - did he use a rubber dam over the tooth when he firdt went in? If he's not using rubber dam, the definitely get referred.
Bear in mind though that specialists don't run at 100% success rates either.
Hope that helps?How to find a dentist.
1. Get recommendations from friends/family/neighbours/etc.
2. Once you have a short-list, VISIT the practices - dont just phone. Go on the pretext of getting a Practice Leaflet.
3. Assess the helpfulness of the staff and the level of the facilities.
4. Only book initial appointment when you find a place you are happy with.0 -
He didn't use a rubber dam AFAIK, but then there was something over the tooth but I thought it was one of those metal clamps.:(
When I asked if he could do it, he said that if it had been a back tooth he may have decided to refer me (particularly as I've had probs in the past with a RCT on a molar), but this should be straightforward.
When I went back, he was surprised that I was having problems as the canal looked clean when he recleaned it. So maybe he did a good job, but I'm just sensitive.
Now I'm mid treatment and unsure what to do next, I suppose having had my dentist clean the canal twice, I should let him continue and only refer if it doesn't settle?I'm a Forum Ambassador on the housing, mortgages & student money saving boards. I volunteer to help get your forum questions answered and keep the forum running smoothly. Forum Ambassadors are not moderators and don't read every post. If you spot an illegal or inappropriate post then please report it to forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com (it's not part of my role to deal with this). Any views are mine and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.com.0 -
Doing root canals can often cause a tooth to be tender for a while. It will probably settle, but it is your tooth, and you do have the right to choose who treats it.
If it doesn't settle, it would be better to get him to send you to the specialist anyway. It doesn't really make much difference to the outcome if it was started by someone else.How to find a dentist.
1. Get recommendations from friends/family/neighbours/etc.
2. Once you have a short-list, VISIT the practices - dont just phone. Go on the pretext of getting a Practice Leaflet.
3. Assess the helpfulness of the staff and the level of the facilities.
4. Only book initial appointment when you find a place you are happy with.0 -
Not sure if anyone can help me. I had a root canal done about 2 years ago by an endodontist. He tried to preserve the crown on that tooth so drilled through it and removed the root.
Have had no trouble since then but also did not go back to the dentist to get the crown filled. Went to the dentist today and have had a filling in the tooth next to the RCT tooth and it is throbbing like mad - never had this after a filling.
Anyway I digress - the dentist said I needed to replace the crown on the first tooth that had the root canal at a cost of £450. Now I have spent about £1000 so far on this one tooth and really do not want to spend too much more. I know I should have returned to the dentist after the root canal to have it filled but didn't. Can she not just 'fill' the crown that is already in place as I have no nerve there anyway???
Would love if anyone can tell me of a way to avoid spending £450. And also why the tooth next too it is throbbing like mad after a simple filling.
thanks0 -
smileykylie wrote: »Not sure if anyone can help me. I had a root canal done about 2 years ago by an endodontist. He tried to preserve the crown on that tooth so drilled through it and removed the root.
Have had no trouble since then but also did not go back to the dentist to get the crown filled. Went to the dentist today and have had a filling in the tooth next to the RCT tooth and it is throbbing like mad - never had this after a filling.
Anyway I digress - the dentist said I needed to replace the crown on the first tooth that had the root canal at a cost of £450. Now I have spent about £1000 so far on this one tooth and really do not want to spend too much more. I know I should have returned to the dentist after the root canal to have it filled but didn't. Can she not just 'fill' the crown that is already in place as I have no nerve there anyway???
Would love if anyone can tell me of a way to avoid spending £450. And also why the tooth next too it is throbbing like mad after a simple filling.
thanks
I would separate the two teeth in your mind. The one with a two year old RCT, has what on the top? A temporary filling possibly, not surprising that the dentist is saying that it can't remain for ever. On the other hand, it has lasted for two years so you may think it can last a bit longer.
Toothsmith will advise more on the throbbing tooth. All I can say is that whenever I have had pain/ throbbing in a tooth after a filling it is because the filling has been quite deep and near to the nerve canal/ pulp. Either it will settle down or it will need a root treatment.:(. My dentist tells me that if you had a damaged foot, you would try chopping a toe off before you cut the whole foot off! Not sure if the analogy is totally true, but I get the point.
Personally, and this may not be dentally approved, I would rub the tooth with one of the sensitive toothpastes periodically and see if this calms it down. If it doesn't then I would go back to the dentist (and tell him you will worry about the crown on the RCT when you are not in pain).I'm a Forum Ambassador on the housing, mortgages & student money saving boards. I volunteer to help get your forum questions answered and keep the forum running smoothly. Forum Ambassadors are not moderators and don't read every post. If you spot an illegal or inappropriate post then please report it to forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com (it's not part of my role to deal with this). Any views are mine and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.com.0 -
smileykylie wrote: »Would love if anyone can tell me of a way to avoid spending £450. And also why the tooth next too it is throbbing like mad after a simple filling.
thanks
Have the tooth out? That's the only way to guarentee no further expense.
If you avoid getting it sorted properly, and it breaks up, this will be the only option anyway, so the original £1000 will be money down the drain. Would that be better?
There are many reasons why the freshly filled tooth could be hurting, but your dentist is the only person who can look at it and tell you exactly why.How to find a dentist.
1. Get recommendations from friends/family/neighbours/etc.
2. Once you have a short-list, VISIT the practices - dont just phone. Go on the pretext of getting a Practice Leaflet.
3. Assess the helpfulness of the staff and the level of the facilities.
4. Only book initial appointment when you find a place you are happy with.0
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