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

Toothsmith

They're often a bit tender for a few days afterwards.

If a small/resonable amount of painkillers will keep it away, and it doesn't seem to be getting worse, I wouldn't worry too much.

WolfSong2000

Toothsmith wrote: »

They're often a bit tender for a few days afterwards.

If a small/resonable amount of painkillers will keep it away, and it doesn't seem to be getting worse, I wouldn't worry too much.

Thank you . I think I'm just getting a bit paranoid. lol.

SRH_2

You poor thing! I had one a couple of months ago and it did take a few days to settle down - so I wouldn't be too worried. I just took ibuprofen to get the inflammation down and used a sensitive toothpaste for a few days, which helped.

WolfSong2000

Thank you...it does seem (touch wood) to be settling down...the annoying thing is my jaw occasionally spasms (best way to describe it), which knocks my teeth together and is rrreeeaaallllyyy painful. lol. I have also somehow managed to crack the top of the temp filling put in (just below the gum line) and so the filling is starting to come away at the top...next appointment is early july, so hoping I can hold out until then!

SRH_2

WolfSong2000 wrote: »

Thank you...it does seem (touch wood) to be settling down...the annoying thing is my jaw occasionally spasms (best way to describe it), which knocks my teeth together and is rrreeeaaallllyyy painful. lol. I have also somehow managed to crack the top of the temp filling put in (just below the gum line) and so the filling is starting to come away at the top...next appointment is early july, so hoping I can hold out until then!

The exact same thing happened to me. I got some temporary filling from Sainsburys (in the section next to denture cream, tooth floss etc) to build up the top bit. It only lasted for a day or two at a time but I just kept topping it up. Great stuff!

Looks like they do it at other places and online too:

http://www.lloydspharmacy.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=1008&storeId=90&productId=334174&langId=-1

palegirl1

Any dentists please advise - following the extraction of my upper back molar the adjacent molar cracked and my private dentist ( old cover from last financial year no longer in place) filled cracks and put on temp crown but the tooth didn't settle and he referred me to an endodontist for root filling which we cannot afford (£800).

So I went to a local NHS dentist who attempted to do root filling but couldn't get the rubber dam on due to pain( I could still feel after 3 injections)- she went ahead without and got the temp crown off and drilled exposing the nerve but I couldn't bear the pain when she went in. She put medication in & some filling, put the temp crown back on & has now urgently referred me to the dental hospital which I'm told could be weeks. I've had 2 lots of antibiotics (because my lower back molar is also hospital referred for possible root canal or extraction) but when she exposed the nerve I tasted/smelt a puff of very bad air - so I suppose this means the root is infected?

What I want to know is should I ask for another course of antibiotics, am I risking further infection? How long can I manage with the temp crown & how much/what kind of pain constitutes an emergency? Rest of teeth fine but insulin resistance and severe iron deficiency a factor I'm told. Any advice gratefully recieved...

brook2jack

Unfortunately pain no matter how severe is not classed as an emergency . Only trauma bleeding or swelling involving an airway.

I would be surprised if your hospital referral only took a few weeks most places is normally months.

Talk to your dentist about antibiotics but they are not normally prescribed unless you have symptoms (and they cannot be relieved be treatment). You should also ask about using a high fluoride toothpaste and other measures to combat the problems like dry mouth associated with diabetes.

Mark2spark

"Unfortunately pain no matter how severe is not classed as an emergency"

Welcome to the British version of 21st Century Dentistry. :mad:

brook2jack

And who's fault is that? When NHS dentists were responsible for emergencies ourselves we had to come out to everything or give advice around the clock.
When local health authorities took responsibility they changed to goal posts to an emergency only being bleeding etc. Most dentists think it is wrong and pain should be included but nothing will be done unless the public complain to pcts or lhbs depending were you live.

Locally the only emergency service all week is a clinic for 3 hours on a Sunday morning which will see the first 20 people only.

The alternative is most dental plans include an insurance element which will pay private call out fees.

Gloomendoom

Mark2spark wrote: »

"Unfortunately pain no matter how severe is not classed as an emergency"

Welcome to the British version of 21st Century Dentistry. :mad:

Last time I had mind numbing, floor punching, toothache, I got to see an emergency dentist at the local hospital within three hours.

She did a good job too. Killed the pain and saved the tooth.