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

Toothsmith

The oldest patient I sent for braces was in her late 40s.

There are plenty of dentists out there who would be easily able to treat you. You just need to get off your bottom and actively look for them.

If the only time you look for a dentist is when something is hurting, then it's never going to be the greatest experience.

If you're in pain, your priority is getting seen quickly, and the dentist with the first space in his/her appointment book is probably not going to be the most popular dentist.

Secondly, if you've been up all night for a couple of nights, even if you did get a nice caring compassionate one, your not going to be in a position to appreciate it.

Get looking - now - whilst nothing is hurting. And forget all thoughts of cosmetic stuff until you have found one!!!!

Stephb1986_2

to be really honest i cant eat a full mars bar because i get toothache i know i need about 2-3 fillings but the dentist would have to strap me to the chair and sedate me lol. I was even nervous taking my fella to have 2 of his wisdom teeth out at the local hospital! he was dead brave and he lost quite a bit of blood my poor sausage

Stephb x

I think i'll start looking for a decent dentist but most of them are private round here now and one of them charged me £80 for a 30 minute scale!

Toothsmith

Stephb1986 wrote: »

I think i'll start looking for a decent dentist but most of them are private round here now and one of them charged me £80 for a 30 minute scale!

A 30 min scale is a good length of time to be cleaning the teeth, and although it's a bit more than I charge, I would suggest it probably represents good value for money.

(Better to spend £80 for a really good clean by someone who knows what he/she's doing than £20 for a 5 min tickle that hardly does anything)

For your needs, I really wouldn't even consider NHS. But if it's not an emergency 'cos your in pain, you can spend a bit of time looking round different practices, getting information leaflets and comparing prices.

To get a dentist, I would ask for recommendations from friends/relations/workmates/neighbours.

When you get a shortlist, actually visit the practices to get information. That way, you will get an idea of how good the customer care is. If they offer to show you round, take them up on it and have a tour. The more familiar you get with the place, the less alien it will feel when you actually go for your appointment.

When you get home, you can compare costs against the service you feel you will receive, and make your decision from that.

Good luck!! BUT DO IT!!!

Js_Other_Half

StephB

Once you find a dentist you are happy with, it makes everything easier - honest. I went to a dentist who specialised in nervous patients whilst at university. Once I graduated I was able to manage going to a new dentist with very few problems. I now have various crowns and bridges, and my smile is great
(Mind you, shame the childhood dentist caused so much fear in the first place! )

Sola

The same thing happened to me but the dentist didn't tell me (and I can't remember who he was now). I had no problems for 10 years but suddenly got a repeated boil on my gum which would fill with pus, pop, fill with pus ... I ended up at the Eastman Dental Hospital where they removed the tooth and the bits (there were two of them), and washed the cavity out before I had a crown fitted. All sorted now.

Toothsmith

Even proper ones can flare up after 10 yrs though!

Root fillings reduce the life span of a tooth. I would be surprised if your Eastman-done root filling and crown will last you the rest of your life, unless, of course you have one foot in the grave already

geekgirl

Sorry to crash the thread but just wanted to say that I used to be absolutely terrified even talking about the dentist but of course pain forced me to go. I got a recommendation from a friend. He was fantastic! I am now no longer scared of the dentist, injection, drill and if it is only a check up I will actually go on my own without my partner with me for moral support. I am no longer with that dentist as he has retired.
The only thing I still fear is the numb feeling as I am worried it isn't going to wear off. How silly is that but it is still a fear I have. Big thanks to lovely dentists I say.

Stephb1986_2

Ive had 3 different dentists so far the one where he bust my lip then i had another it was a filthy hovel and retired after a few months even though he said he'd refer me to a orthadontist and didnt then i tried the expensive one he was a right pig and i didnt think he was worth the money for the way he treated me so then ive had to go back to my first one because i needed a emergency filling

Stephb xx

Lorian

i have a broken reamer in a root too. AFAIK it causes no problems. The tooth is not a very god job though because the dentist who did the original root filling punctured the bottom of the tooth and left it leaking (hence the re-work)

Toothsmith

Stephb1986 wrote: »

Ive had 3 different dentists so far the one where he bust my lip then i had another it was a filthy hovel and retired after a few months even though he said he'd refer me to a orthadontist and didnt then i tried the expensive one he was a right pig and i didnt think he was worth the money for the way he treated me so then ive had to go back to my first one because i needed a emergency filling

Stephb xx

Did you visit any of them prior to your first appointment?