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

Becles

I haven't lost any other teeth, so this would be the first one to go.

The molar next to it does have a filling in it. When I had the xray done, the dentist pointed out some decay under the filling, so he was talking about removing the filling and decay, then replacing it.

My teeth are a right mess. I've always cleaned them and looked after them and I was visiting the school dentist as a child. They filled most of my back teeth, then told my Mam I needed fillings in most of my front teeth and those braces where they cement a metal thing on each tooth and wire them up as I've got a tiny gap in my two front teeth. Mam took me to another dentist at this point and he said there was nothing wrong with my front teeth and he didn't think braces were necessary. The same happened with my brother who had loads of fillings too, and was recommended more but the other dentist said his teeth were fine. We've often wondered if the teeth really needed fillings or were they on commission or something :rolleyes:

nicchick

Hi I hope that some people can give me some advice please!

Basically I finally got an NHS dentist (they also do specialist private cosmetic dentistry) after not having one for a number of years and on my first check-up I was told I needed a couple of fillings. I decided to pay the extra money and have them filled privately as I wanted them to be white not black so paid £140 (£80 and £60 for a smaller filling) instead of £43. On having the fillings done (in november) I was warned that one of the fillings was deep so if I had any problems with it then to go back. I get very nervous and she really put me at ease and was gentle.

I have had sensitivity and tooth pain with the iffy one (tooth LR6) so I have been back and she said I need a root canal. Apparently its not infected (how can she tell?) but the nerve is inflamed hence the need for RC - she even showed me an animation on her computer that showed me what the treatment consisted of. She offered me two choices - NHS or private. Cost will be £43 for NHS or around £150 for private (normally £200 but she said as she thinks it will be straight forward as there is no infection it shouldnt take as long so she is happy to pro rata the cost but if it takes the normal time it will be £200) apparently the difference in cost is because with the NHS treatment she will use a hand file rather than super dooper bendy file machine or something. It will be done in one long appointment whatever treatment I decide on. She advised me to go with the private treatment as it is much more successful both imediately and in the longterm (she told me some statistics). The hole in the tooth isnt big I dont think, just deep if that makes sense.

So should I go NHS and get a pair of shoes to make me feel better :rolleyes: or go with the private treatment?? Why is the cost difference so much??

thanks.....

Toothsmith

Depends how much you want to keep the tooth.

If you fancy having the tooth for longer than the pair of shoes will last go for the private option.

Make sure she uses rubber dam whichever option you go for.

TokochickUK

I was advised by my dentist that I have to pay £150 as part of this, My exemption runs till july 2008

I wasnt sure but I though dental treatment was covered?

Thank you.

Mutantk

Hi tokochickUK - you're right - I had three lots of root canal treatment during 2 different pregnancies and I did not have to pay a penny toward it. I even had to get an emergency appt for one I was in so much pain and they weren't even able to charge me the £50 they usually do for taking up one of these appts!! Stick to your guns, you are right.

TokochickUK

Just called them and asked if under maternity exemption I would have to pay and they said no, I then said it was actually at your surgery I was told I had to ,, The receptionist then said It may have been because I had a choice.. Either have the tooth out or root canal.. ? So i either have the tooth out and dont pay or have the treatment and pay.

I dont understand if this is right.

Toothsmith

That is wrong under their NHS contract.

If you are an NHS patient then you are entitled to the full range of treatment they provide at that practice under the NHS. Including root fillings.

If they are prepared to do a root filling for you privately there, then they must also offer you that treatment under the NHS - which means it will be free for you.

If they continue to insist that the root filling option is only available privately then tell them you will be asking the local PCT for their advice on the matter.

If that doesn't change their mind, then ring up the local PCT and ask to speak to the dental person, and see what they say about it.

caleo

I have been given the same choice by my dentist, and am also covered by Maternity Exemption till august.

I am having a think at the moment, as to what to do, but am leaning towards the root canal work as opposed to extraction.

I will call them later and make an appointment, and ask about payment too. Will be back later or tomorrow to let you know.

Toothsmith

Dentist's funding nowadays is based on the treatment they historically did before the new contract of 2006.

So, if they did root fillings under the NHS on the old arrangements, then they are getting the same amount of money under the new arrangements.

Nowadays though, it's not treatments that are counted, but a points value given to a whole course of treatment.

The points value for a simple treatment plan involving one filling, or one extracion is exactly the same as a treatment plan containing multiple fillings and root fillings.

So - an NHS dentist can hit his points target by doing lots of little simple treatments, and is slowed down by doing bigger complex treatments such as root fillings.

This means, that if they just do quick easy things on the NHS, they can hit their points total, and so earn their money (The same money they were getting when they were doing complicated things) much more easily.

So - that's why a lot of 'NHS' dentists nowadays are saying that more complicated things are only available privately.

It is wrong, and really they are working the (very poor) system to their advantage and not the patients.

If anyone is told that certain treatments are only available privately, then it is worth having a word with the local PCT. The PCT holds the purse strings nowadays, and can bring a lot of pressure to bear on dental practices not entering into the spirit of the new NHS contract.

Bobkate

Just want to say Toothsmith is exactly right - not giving you the option of an NHS root canal if one is possible (which it presumably is as you've been offered a private one!) is a breach of their NHS contract.

My only thing would be that you say you've been asked to pay £150 "towards" this so it's not the case that you're getting a free NHS root filling and then paying for a private white crown to finally restore the tooth?

I'd query it again with the practice (maybe book another appt to discuss with the dentist face to face rather than with reception) and then if you don't get anywhere speak to the PALS (patient liason) officer or the Dental advisor at your local PCT.

Good luck!