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

welshdent

If she is doing it on the NHS then she may be happy to refer out for the root filling as it would save her money

onlays and crowns are available on the NHS. As for what is best ... depends ENTIRELY on your tooth and your oral habits i.e bite, hygiene etc. she should have SOME magnification for a root filling on a molar. This may take the form of loupes which are like little binoculars on your glasses. Its a nightmare to do this treatment without at least that. Root filled teeth ARE however weaker than non root filled teeth. Not least because we massively reduce the amount of tooth you have by doing the treatment

capomeister

welshdent wrote: »

If she is doing it on the NHS then she may be happy to refer out for the root filling as it would save her money

onlays and crowns are available on the NHS. As for what is best ... depends ENTIRELY on your tooth and your oral habits i.e bite, hygiene etc. she should have SOME magnification for a root filling on a molar. This may take the form of loupes which are like little binoculars on your glasses. Its a nightmare to do this treatment without at least that. Root filled teeth ARE however weaker than non root filled teeth. Not least because we massively reduce the amount of tooth you have by doing the treatment

I'll tell her I want it done on the NHS so she refers me out to a specialist then! Discomfort occuring now so I guess I need a quick treatment. She can x-ray and if nerves are inflammed give me antibiotics and book me back in.

I take good care of my teeth now (brush with electric toothbrush, use plax, and an irrigator to get between teeth) but as a teenager I was awful and did all the damage then. I have weak enamel the dentist says. I like the onlays I currently have as they've lasted 20 years and are still working fine.

Haven't used this side of my mouth for biting for a year so I guess bite on that side won't be too vigorous after treatment Already much of this tooth is missing due to a gold onlay being on it. I find full crowning feels rather strange so I hope a gold onlay will be possible and effective, hopefully available on the NHS too!

welshdent

Specialists in general would only be NHS if you were to be referred to a hospital ... and they probably wont do it so you would be looking at a private specialist. What I mean is that if your dentist is planning on seeing you as an NHS patient then they wont mind referring you out as the NHS refuses to pay us for doing root fillings

Onlays are godo restorations but it will depend entirely on your own clinical scenario as to what is suitable. That is something you shouldnt really need to think about until the root filling is done however

capomeister

welshdent wrote: »

Specialists in general would only be NHS if you were to be referred to a hospital ... and they probably wont do it so you would be looking at a private specialist. What I mean is that if your dentist is planning on seeing you as an NHS patient then they wont mind referring you out as the NHS refuses to pay us for doing root fillings

Onlays are godo restorations but it will depend entirely on your own clinical scenario as to what is suitable. That is something you shouldnt really need to think about until the root filling is done however

Thanks again Welshdent. I asked her all the questions you recommended: she uses sodium hydrochlorite and rubber dams which is good. Also they do root fillings with gold onlays on the NHS at this surgery.

However, she was pleased my tooth was sensitive to cold in the tests she performed, and an x-ray showed no inflamation around the nerve inside the tooth so she wanted to leave it well alone. It's a very deep filling and hence sensitive, but she said a RCT should be an absolute last resort. This is strange as she's been so keen to perform the treatment on the tooth till now. Maybe it's because of the profit margins involved being so small on the nhs, as you say

Got some antibiotics as further inside the gum there were some dark spots - maybe infection from sore throat. I guess I should just continue eating with the other side of my mouth and live with the discomfort for now.

pingua

Just been for Root canal but he decided against doing it as I only had a wisdom tooth out last week and its still a bit 'raw' can't quite open my mouth wide enough.
Anyway, I was sweating away at the thought I was going to have it done there and there - which I nearly did. Even the goggle things were perspiring !!

I am not sure if I can go through with it in the next appointment.

Is there some sort of chill pill I can take??

Other things is, it has been said the tooth may only last 5 years after its done? Should I have it out now and be done with?

Should I be going to a specialist who does these day in day out rather than my dentist? It was the man at the hospital looking at my wisdom tooth who spotted this root canal - not my normal dentist -who has taken may x-rays over the past year regarding my wisdom - just a bit of a concern there.
So many questions sorry - still a bit jittery..

bella*donna

I have diazepam (valium) prescribed to me by my doctor for this. I take one 20 mins or so before I see the dentist and it takes the edge off.

Mark2spark

Diazepam is the way to go... even the dentist can prescribe this. Taken about an hour before seems a bit better timing? It's effects last for 18 - 24 hours so you are chilled when the numbness wears off as well.

Keep the tooth as long as possible. Once it's out it's gone forever, and your options are limited.
A root canal is a day in day out procedure to all dentists, although some are certainly more experianced than others. Having a dentist you have faith in is a must.

hethmar

Honestly root canals get very bad publicity, but arent much different to a deep filling. Dont think about it as some awful torture, because it really wont be.

I have teeth that were root cannalled 20 years ago

welshdent

I echo hethmar. I have had numerous patients doze off when I do them. The only difference really as far as you are concerned is they take longer. Outside that there isnt really much else to cause problems.

Bronnie

hethmar wrote: »

I have teeth that were root cannalled 20 years ago

Me too! 27 years ago in my case, and it has been fine ever since! I remember because it was before I had my first child!