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

jem16

Toothsmith wrote: »

But all that can be done there is to take it out if that is the case - and I fully understand your dentist's reluctance to do that if she's not 100% sure that's what it is yet.

Thanks.

I'm also reluctant as I'm not entirely sure the tooth which was root filled is the problem. The area that now seems to be bothering me is further back.

jem16

elfen wrote: »

Does sound like there might be an underlying infection though as well. Had one in a tooth I had taken out and the relief is indescribable afterwards. THey could tell there was still infection as pus came out with it...

It's possible. However X-rays show no infection, blood tests show no infection and 2 courses of antibiotics have made no difference at all.

winnie81

Hi I am sorry I haven't posted on this thread before but I am after a bit of advice please if I may

I have just had a temp filling/dressing of cloves? put in an upper premolar and my dentist has advised that I will need a root filling or an extraction :eek: I have an appointment to return in a week where he will relook at the tooth and will go over the options and carry-out whichever option I have decided on but I have no idea whats best or costs involved as we have no NHS dentists here :eek:

The dentist has said the filling that he removed was large and nerve is visible if that makes a difference I am not sure. Having a filling makes me almost cry and I shake unbelievably with fear so I am sick at the thought of either. If anyone can help or has any advice can anyone say if one option better than the other possibly? Does anyone roughly know costs for each of these - I attend a practice in the Cotswolds?

I am going to have a very sleepless week worrying over this the thought of the possible pain is making me feel sick

Claire

Toothsmith

You need more information.

It's silly us trying to guess a price, when you can just ring up the practice and get that information precisely. In all honesty, telling you the price should be part of the 'informed consent' process. The dentist shouldn't do anything to you until you have given your 'informed consent'.

For that you need to know

The price of your options.
How long the root filled tooth is likely to last
What further treatment would be required after the root filling.
What further treatment would be likely after the extraction.
How much would the further treatment cost.
How much each option would hurt during and after the treatment!

I think you need to go back to the dentist and have another chat. WRITE DOWN the questions, especially if you're a bit nervous - as a lot of people completely forget what they were going to ask as soon as they see the white coat!

If you don't understand an explaination, then tell the dentist that. We all try to explain things in terms that a patient will understand, but some dentists are better at this than others - and even the good ones can slip into a bit of jargon sometimes.

Good luck.

winnie81

Thank you for that and your right he really didn't explain anything or give any options which is no good now I am home :mad:

I think I will write the questions down like you say as I will only forget them.

Thank you for your help

Ianthi

The root canal shouldn't still be hurting. I had one like this and eight years later it erupted again into a full blown infection so I regret not going back straight away- it was only a slight tenderness and thought it would go away of it's own accord at the time! Neither should the widsom tooth hurt when pressed so the answer maybe here particularly when the first symptoms you had involved the salivory gland.

I'ts difficult to pinpoint where exactly the problem exists because it sounds as if you are experiencing referred pain as well. Again I experienced this when another tooth was the culprit, the corresponding one on top was also if not equally painful-had this on the only two occasions when I experienced toothache due to an absesss.

I would certainly get another dentist to have a look, particularly when you're existing one isn't providing you with any answers! There's definiely something she's missing a new set of eyes could more easily pick up!

Hope it all gets sorted for you!

Ianthi

Hope someone can help me here!

Eight years ago i had a root canal filling which was slightly tender/sore for quite a while following the treatment but eventually stopped hurting.

Two months ago it 'erupted' again into a full-blown abscess under the tooth. Went to dentist ( differerent one but same practice) who following x-ray, prescribed antibiotics for infection which showed up. She expressed surprise at tooth giving problems 'so soon' after root treatment and mentioned further work would probably be best carried out by a specialist. Abscess went but am now left with a hard 'lump' in gum at base of tooth!

Recently corresponding tooth on other side developed an absess and returned to the first ( who had filled tooth few years ago ) dentist again who advised root canal treatment for both teeth-the 'new' one NHS (£44) and the former tooth would be done privately-total cost for both being £200! I did query why first tooth couldn't be done on NHS but can't remember what he said! I know the work involves putting in a dressing...

Have all my teeth and until recently have had few problems! So am a bit reluctant to let him go ahead with the work, particularly when he performed the first root treatment which has given me problems again.

Obviously, will have to get the treatment done but not sure how advisable it is to get the re-treatment done by a specialist-also not too confident in letting this dentist do any more work, considering the recent events. On top of that have heard complaints about him-people who stopped going on account of number of abscess they experienced following fillings etc.

Also have got the added problem of finding a new dentist to do the work. Not an easy task I've found.

Would a specialist be best to treat the first tooth?

Many thanks in advance.

jem16

Ianthi wrote: »

Neither should the widsom tooth hurt when pressed so the answer maybe here particularly when the first symptoms you had involved the salivory gland.

I have been wondering if the two have been connected all along but the dentist keeps saying it is unlikely. However the two areas seem very close to me.

I went back to the dentist yesterday to discuss my bruise and wisdom teeth.

She had never seen a bruise appear in the lower jaw area when the injection had been in the upper teeth but did think it was more than a coincidence that the bruise appeared the day after.

Can a bruise appear in lower jaw after upper teeth injection? I'm now worried it's something more sinister.

I also got her to look at wisdom tooth. This was apparently the tooth that had been filled and not as I thought the tooth next to it. She said it was quite a deep filling but that it may settle. She could remove this tooth if it was still giving problems and I felt it was definitely this tooth.

I also asked her to look at my bite as I felt my teeth were coming together more at this wisdom tooth than I'm sure I felt before. If I try to eat on that side it's very sensitive and sore. She used some red paper and asked me to close my teeth and grind them from side to side. She then filed off a small bit from the molar next to the wisdom tooth but it really hasn't helped.

When she was doing this she also blew some cold air/liquid(?) on those back teeth and it was quite painful - not an excruciating pain but quite sore nonetheless.

I would certainly get another dentist to have a look, particularly when you're existing one isn't providing you with any answers! There's definiely something she's missing a new set of eyes could more easily pick up!

So how do I get another dentist to have a look? As far as I know she is the only dentist at this practice. Do I insist on a dental hospital referral even though it could take a couple of months?

Hope it all gets sorted for you!

So do I. It's really getting me down and I'm imagining all sorts of more serious problems like cancer. I also feel I'm having to rely too much on painkillers.

ash4becks

i think wisdom tooth here i had a infection was horrible but i had swollen glands and alot more saliva , as for eating forget it tip and the best thing ever i could eat after 5 days of pain is oragel asda sell it quite cheap numbs the nerve , as for the dentist see a differnt one or dont no if you can go to the dental hospitail and ask to be seen without dentist sending you there x

KittyPryde

A question about x-rays here. I just had the last part of my re-root treatment today. Over the last two weeks I've had five dental x-rays (the one where you bite down on a plastic thing). In the past i've had about 10 more maybe and a panoramic head x-ray for wisdom teeth a few years ago. I was googling about something else and saw someone mention lead shields/aprons and thyroid collars and that they should always be worn. I havn't even heard of these before and now I'm scared as I didn't/never have worn anything and the dentist never mentioned anything like that? Is it because the type of x-ray I had (the bite on the platic thing) is only aimed at the right area or will that radiation be going in to my neck now :eek:


I am also moving in a few months and now don't want a new dentist to re-take all these x-rays, is it possible for dentists to forward them?