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

ailuro2

post this on the Health and Beuty Board, where Toothsmith can see it.;)

sickasachip

Hiya,

The same thing happend to me years ago with my old dentist. The only problem I have is occassional toothache right above the tooth where the rod is. My current dentist said he could take it out if it got too painful but that would involve going in through the front of the gum itself, so I've decided to put up with the pain, which is only now and again anyway. It only last's for 10 minutes or so, so is quite bearable as opposed to the alternative.

laurajayne

Snap - I had one of the reamers (files) snap in one of my root canal fillings. It's now stuck there lol.

I have no problems with it whatsoever (the tooth is to all intents and purposes dead anyway, it's got no nerves etc - that's what a RCT is for). The canal would be filled anyway, usually with Gutta Purcha (sorry, spelling is probably wrong) which is like a plasticy type thing.

To be honest - I wouldn't worry

Toothsmith

A file breaking is a recognised risk of having a root canal filling done.

It shouldn't happen too often, but it does happen.

Often, if you see press reports of 'demon' dentists you will see some mention of 'a drill broken off in a tooth'. It can be made to sound really dramatic and cack handed!

It's not a good thing to happen, and it can mean the tooth will not last as long as it would have done had the file not broken. But the alternative to root filling a tooth is taking it out - and so you've not really lost anything by the dentist trying to root fill it.

I suppose that a specialist endodontist (root-filling dentist) would have a much lower incidence of breaking files, and they also have the expertise to deal with a broken file should one snap. So referal to one of these chaps is the way to go if you really really want to keep the tooth if problems arise. For a specialist however, you could easily be talking of £5-800 for the treatment.

LuciferTDark

Had a routine checkup yesterday, before this was posted thankfully or I'd never have left the house. I've had 4 RCT in the past & never had a file break off, looks like I'm one of the lucky ones eh?

Toothsmith

LuciferTDark wrote: »

Had a routine checkup yesterday, before this was posted thankfully or I'd never have left the house. I've had 4 RCT in the past & never had a file break off, looks like I'm one of the lucky ones eh?

No - I would say that was right.

If a broken file is happening to a dentist on more than - say - 1 in 40-50 root fillings, he really should be brushing up on his techniques. Nowadays, all root filling files have to be single use only (Due to vCJD theoretical risks), and that should have cut down on the number of breakages as well.

I forgot to mention in my previous post, that the important thing is that the dentist tells you there is a broken file in the canal, and explains the implications of it.

If the dentist breaks a file and doesn't tell you, then that is actionable when/if you find out.

angchris

last time i went to the dentist i had an xray and he found a broken file in my tooth, it must of been in there 20 odd years and i never knew it as i havent had any dental work done bar the odd polish at the hygenist. school dentists....weren`t they just great!!!!!:rolleyes:

Stephb1986_2

to be honest im terrified of the dentist especially the drill i didnt use to be like it until he put me to sleep once and bust my lip and puked up after the anestic

but i want 2 veneers and some whitening done where would be the best place for me to have it done it doesnt matter if its outside of the uk, aslong as they are good and dont scare me

Stephb xx

Toothsmith

Stephb1986 wrote: »

to be honest im terrified of the dentist especially the drill i didnt use to be like it until he put me to sleep once and bust my lip and puked up after the anestic

but i want 2 veneers and some whitening done where would be the best place for me to have it done it doesnt matter if its outside of the uk, aslong as they are good and dont scare me

Stephb xx

I wouldn't get anything cosmetic done at all until you've found a dentist you're happy with and have been regularly for a good couple of years.

Veneers are all fine and dandy, but once you've had them put on a tooth, that tooth will need a whole lot more maintenance than a tooth without veneers.

Unless you are a happy dental bunny, you will not get that maintenance done regularly enough, and however bad you think your mouth looks now, it will look 10 times worse with tatty veneers.

Stephb1986_2

i dont think i'll ever find a dentist im happy with lol! it makes me sick the thought of going

i did think about getting one of them invisible braces but i think im too old now (21)

Stephb xx