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

Louisepp

I've had it done 3 times, the last one being last week.

This last time I didn't even know he was doing it. Just popped in (again) for him to have a look at troublesome tooth that just wouldn't settle. He drills, puts things in my mouth, takes them out.

Thought he was being a long time. One hour later he announces that he has given me a root filling :T

Only charged me £50 as well (he's private) as he hadn't given me any notice. Oh, injection never hurts when he does it. Hurts like crazy when the other dentist does.

The only thing I would say is that though it's painfree, it is uncomfortable holding the mouth open for this long. You really need something to keep your mind off it. Mp3 player or something similar?

I only wish I had a dislocatable jaw it would make the whole process much easier for dentist and I.

15lsp

It hurt when i had mine done! My nerve wasnt dead or dying though. I broke my (very healthy) front tooth in a car accident. When the dentist was digging around to get the nerve out I wanted to cry...mind you the dentist was leaning on my fractured cheek bone as he worked so that added to my misery.

The actual root filling didnt hurt but it took about 4 hours in total. Maybe my dentist was a sadist!

tonytooth

I looked like I'd had a fight the next day - face was swollen and there was bruising too and the stitches in the gum were sore for several days

This wouldnt have been a normal root canal, sounds like an apicectomy if you had stitches placed........ This is less pleasant than root canal treatment, and as you say results in bruising etc often...... But just to clarify routine RCT doesnt result in this

fran_from_willesden

Thanks guys for your posts!!

My nerve isn't dead or dying (not yet anyway). I had a filling in it and it was fine for about a week then I started having the most excrutiating pains in my jaw. I don't cope with certain types of pain very well (any pain to do with bones in fact!). I hate needles but actually don't mind the injections in my gums.

My dentist is like a well oiled machine......you're in and out in record time. He said to me that if the infection didn't go away with the antibiotics (it's a bit better but still there) I should ring back for a 30 minute appointment. Is half an hour long enough to remove a filling and do root canal work??

tonytooth

hi fran, if your having those severe pains its because the nerve under the filling is dying off...The inflammation in the tooth's pulp causes the pain...
And time taken to do rct depends on where the tooth is in your mouth, the further back the harder as a rough guide..
half an hour is probably long enough to do the first stage but you'll need to go back at least once more..... unless your dentist is oober-fast and the tooth is suitable to be finished in one visit

fran_from_willesden

tonytooth wrote:

hi fran, if your having those severe pains its because the nerve under the filling is dying off...The inflammation in the tooth's pulp causes the pain...
And time taken to do rct depends on where the tooth is in your mouth, the further back the harder as a rough guide..
half an hour is probably long enough to do the first stage but you'll need to go back at least once more..... unless your dentist is oober-fast and the tooth is suitable to be finished in one visit

It all becomes clear now...ta tonytooth! At the moment, anadin ultra is my best friend.

Didn't realise there was more then one stage :eek: ...lucky it's one of the teeth near the front of my mouth at the bottom. I'll have to get it done before my exams in a month!

tonytooth

No problemo...
Hope it clears up b4 your exams anyway!!
As i said earlier no RCT can be guaranteed to be successful, but it should be fine. I'm probably just a negative sort, but i always warn my patients that they could have problems with them...

fran_from_willesden

I'll probably have a look on t'internet befoer hand anyway to givemyself an idea of what will happen..... :eek:

rubytuesday

tonytooth wrote:

This wouldnt have been a normal root canal, sounds like an apicectomy if you had stitches placed........ This is less pleasant than root canal treatment, and as you say results in bruising etc often......

I had this done under general anesthetic a few weeks ago. I looked like the elephant man with a nasty black eye for a week or more!! :eek:

fran_from_willesden

It's booked, I'm back off to the Dentist....roll on the 11th April! AAAARGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!