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

rhodod

thanks for the reply.

I don't understand how i can need root treatment 3 weeks after filling the tooth. Unless he done something wrong?

Also should my gum and tooth feel tender and sore after the anaethetic wears off?

welshdent

rhodod wrote: »

thanks for the reply.

I don't understand how i can need root treatment 3 weeks after filling the tooth. Unless he done something wrong?

Highly unlikely he did anything wrong. It happens a lot. Sometimes the nerve of the tooth just doesnt recover from the trauma involved in doing the filling. Usually its fine (hence the dentist cautiously placing the gel) but from time to time the irritation is excessive and the nerve begins to die off (pain). From there you are faced with 2 options. Take the tooth out or do a root filling. If the root filling is successful I normally recommend a crown because as already stated above, the tooth is much weaker due to initially the removal of tooth structure from the previous filling and then the extra loss during the root filling. Also it helps to seal the inside of the tooth off more from the mouth so helping to prevent an infection of the now clean root canal system.

rhodod

Thats fine, it only took him 45 minutes to do the root treatment, he got it all done in 1 go and was very happy with the result.

That was almost 2 hours ago, im feeling a bit lightheaded and the area of the root treatment is quite sore?

welshdent

Its likely to be a bit tender for a few days but they normally settle soon enough. Which tooth was it? Molar tooth or one at the front?

rhodod

Erm its one of the big grinders on my bottom left.

The middle 1 on the left hand side, i don't have wisdom teeth and will never have according to my dentist.

Thanks

brook2jack

If the tooth was still "alive" and has just started to die off then many dentists would be happier rootfilling all in one go as the tooth hasn't had a chance to get infected yet.

Rootfilling in itself wont make you feel off but the adrenaline and anxiety that any long dental treatment may well especially if you havent been eating or drinking well because of pain.

Alot of dental work may feel a bit sore afterwards and time and simple painkilling measures normally do the trick.

As to the time taken, well with rotary instruments and an easy tooth it can be relatively quick. for me the biggest factor for success is use of rubber dam ( a rubber sheet over the tooth) .

rhodod

Tooth was still alive. He used that endo cold spray and i jumped off the chair.

It was done at lunch time and i had nothing before that to eat, its like a dull throbbing pain, but im assuming its just the fact he was filing, grinding and the injection causing the throbbing.

brook2jack

Tip for the top. Unless you are having general anaesthetic always eat before dental treatment

1 low blood sugar means you are more likely to faint ,feel ill after.

2 most dental treatment will require you don't eat for some time after and if you are numb its best to wait until back to normal anyway.

EmDubs

Hi there,

I have never paid for dental treatments under my NHS Exemption however I am due for a root canal this Friday (and CRIKEY am I panicking!) I have had ongoing problems with the tooth in question for a while now and I requested sedation for this procedure as I am a really nervous patient. I had to wait for my dentist to refer me to the local dental hospital 3 times only to find out they do not offer sedation for root canal. The referrals took several weeks and now my only options are to have root canal under local or extraction (which is the utter final resort!) While I was waiting for the referrals my NHS Exemption Certificate expired and due to my circumstances am not entitled to a new one, however as I am not working I cannot afford to pay... What can I do?

xXx

brook2jack

If you have the treatment you will have to pay £39 to £44 ish.
If you are on a low income then fill out a ag1 form(ask at surgery) and you may get help with costs and if so you can reclaim the amount paid.

Bottom line is if you are not exempt from paying you will have to pay for treatment, you are very very unlikely to get thus done for free at hospital.