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

bank_of_slate

mda99das wrote: »

Toothsmith endo is such a tricky area.

How do you define sucess?

No pain?
Or pain but radiographically the endo is technically correct?

I have seen some NHS endos that were done in the late 80s, no obturation, (me thinks endomethosone) and crowned, and 15 yrs later the tooth causes problems. There are some people that would have said that it would have been a success.... or very very lucky. The pt was happy as he was warned the endo would fail after a year.

Ah, Endomethosone, I remember it well, still see it stuffed at the back of many a cupboard in practices.
We switched over to Tubliseal after.
I used to love going home on the bus smelling of zinc oxide & eugenol, it guaranteed me a seat all to myself even if the bus was full.
...Linda xx

HC_2

I'm a self-confessed dental phobic.

Until recently I'd not been to the dentist for more than 10 years, and not been regularly for about 20.

I had to find a dentist about a month ago, owing to unbearable pain. I'm quite proud of myself because, although I now have no pain, I have been a further three times - in the past I've cancelled and never gone again. My new dentist is a veritable angel, yet I still find it a hellish experience.

It appears that I am very lucky: despite the fact that I've not gone for so many years, I have to have just three small fillings...

...plus the tooth that has caused me severe pain.

I lost a filling from this tooth about 10 years ago and have not eaten on that side of my mouth since. It's one of those flat back teeth.

In the last decade I've felt some occasional cracking. About 2 months ago it started to ache. Six weeks ago the pain started. It grew until I couldn't sleep.

I had to go to an emergency dentist (who turned out to be my angel and I subsequently registered with her - although it had to be as an Independent patient, since NHS was not available. Independent seems to be in between NHS and private, in terms of costs).

She did a 'temporary root canal' with a 'temporary dressing', said that she had removed the nerve and told me that my tooth was 'badly broken'.

I was told I have a choice: either to have my tooth 'rebuilt' or to have it out. I didn't ask her what was involved in having it 'rebuilt', though she recommended this over an extraction.

I didn't like the thought of having my tooth 'rebuilt'. As well as costing £500 it would presumably involve something quite horrific, like power tools in my mouth.

I had a call from another local surgery, to whom I had presumably been referred, to book an appointment for my 'root canal'. I refused, saying I was still thinking about it.

Is it a root canal? My lovely dentist is Polish, I think, and it makes it hard to ask her.

I don't know what to do.

To save the tooth:

1. My husband says I'm mad to lose a tooth when it could be saved.

2. We can afford £500, though we'd rather not.

3. My dentist recommends that I do not have an extraction.

4. My mother-in-law says she will never have an extraction again if the tooth can be saved. She has a great big gap and it's uncomfortable to eat.

5. I have a gap next to the tooth. If I have it out, this will be a two-tooth gap.

For the extraction:

1. I can't bear the thought of a major dental procedure by a stranger. The thought gives me nightmares.

2. I don't want to pay £500. An extraction would be £140.

3. No problem with a gap. I have plenty more teeth!


I know Toothsmith is an expert in this area, but advice from anyone would be appreciated.

Those who say that I should have gone regularly to the dentist and so would not be in this position - I quite agree, but please desist.

civicwalker

civicwalker wrote: »

I had my upper right first molar NHS root filled at the back end of 2007. However it's displaying signs of failing already. If Linda is correct, will my dentist be obliged to redo free of charge? - she normally just says "we could remove it" or "I could do a better job if you go private"!

Attended dentists this morning and after tapping molars in the general area prescribed amoxicillin.
I asked about having the root work redone on the NhS but she merely said "not worth" . . . . however she could refer me to a endontist for £700!
I also asked about that if root work was fine would it be possible to remove infection from gum but she said that root work would have to be re-tried first.
As both had been root filled she said that xraying would only identify which one was causing problem.
So basically I have to hope that the problem goes away or have one or more molars removed (can't afford £700).

I'm so unhappy that I am considering switching to another NhS practice but not sure that this would change my options?

bagpuss_fan

OK, so I'm 38 and have had to have soooo many teeth out I am now feeling more like a rabbit!

I have lots of teeth that were "root filled" when I was sixteen, most of them have now crumbled away to nothing (just the filling remains)! However, once done, they don't hurt anymore ever! I even have 2 that are just "roots" (filled flat level with my gum), no tooth remains at all, but I can still bite on the roots, you can't bite on bagettes (or chocolate crispie cakes)with gum, it hurts, and cuts you to pieces!

I have been desparately trying to "save" a tooth by insisting my dentist root fill it, but her "emergency" appointment to do this isn't until June, i've been waiting since December (I hope it lasts till then).:mad:

My advice would be to definately have it root filled, it will last you a good while longer, and not cause you any more pain. If you just have it extracted, it's gone forever, and you never know what's going to happen to the others around it.

Please don't end up like me, it's not nice!

HC_2

bagpuss_fan wrote: »

OK, so I'm 38 and have had to have soooo many teeth out I am now feeling more like a rabbit!

I have lots of teeth that were "root filled" when I was sixteen, most of them have now crumbled away to nothing (just the filling remains)! However, once done, they don't hurt anymore ever! I even have 2 that are just "roots" (filled flat level with my gum), no tooth remains at all, but I can still bite on the roots, you can't bite on bagettes (or chocolate crispie cakes)with gum, it hurts, and cuts you to pieces!

I have been desparately trying to "save" a tooth by insisting my dentist root fill it, but her "emergency" appointment to do this isn't until June, i've been waiting since December (I hope it lasts till then).:mad:

My advice would be to definately have it root filled, it will last you a good while longer, and not cause you any more pain. If you just have it extracted, it's gone forever, and you never know what's going to happen to the others around it.

Please don't end up like me, it's not nice!

Thank you for reading my long drivelly post.

However, I was hoping for answers that said, 'Your temporary dressing is fine - no need to have anything else done - ever. In fact, give the dentist a miss from now on.' :rolleyes:

How come your dentist won't see you for so long? That sounds terrible!

I shall take your sensible advice on board. In fact, I know you are right, but I am so terrified. Terrified, in fact, of both a root canal (if that's what the procedure is) and of the extraction.

We can send man to the moon, yet we still have horrifying dentistry and horrible horrible gynaecology.

bagpuss_fan

OK, so harsh words are needed here.

Remember the pain? was it not the WORST pain you've ever had? If you don't do anything further, then it WILL get infected again, and that pain will return. Sorry, but temporary fillings are exactly that and do not last!

Much better to get it fixed whilst it's not hurting. I know what I would do. Good Luck, and be brave (I usually end up digging my nails into the palm of my hand to give my brain something else to think about when I'm laid in that awful chair).

Smickan

I cannot agree more.

I've been putting it off and cancelling emergency dental appointments (no NHS dentist until this month) for two years to h ave my impacted wisdom tooth removed. I've gone through a good 6-8 pots of temporary filling (each giving approx 5-6 fillings) and wheelbarrows full of antibiotics to get rid of the pain/infection from the exposed nerve and I'm now waiting until 4th June for a checkup with new NHS dentist and then however long until it can be taken out then.

It absolutely kills, I cannot eat on that side of the mouth and I have a college course hopefully coming up from September onwards - knowing how much it hurts and disrupts sleep and general life I can't study and have toothache so that's what pushed me to finally give in and make a proper appointment and now I know I can't go back on it anymore

This is from the girl who didn't go to the doctor for 4 years until she was admitted into hospital It's much better than the result, trust me

HC_2

bagpuss_fan wrote: »

OK, so harsh words are needed here.

Remember the pain? was it not the WORST pain you've ever had? If you don't do anything further, then it WILL get infected again, and that pain will return. Sorry, but temporary fillings are exactly that and do not last!

Much better to get it fixed whilst it's not hurting. I know what I would do. Good Luck, and be brave (I usually end up digging my nails into the palm of my hand to give my brain something else to think about when I'm laid in that awful chair).

Are you sure you're not my husband?

That's almost word for word what he says to me. (Apart from the digging-nails-in thing - he trots off to the dentist, smiling.)

I don't want anything done to my poorly tooth. I know I have to, but it's like - well, would you like torture A or torture B?

I try to avoid toothpaste ads. I don't floss, because that would involve looking at my teeth in the mirror. I thought when I went for the first time recently that my dentist would say I had to have them all out. I can hardly believe that they are, in the main, OK.

I don't even know if a root canal is what is intended. Perhaps I should talk to the surgery to which I was referred - find out what's involved.

In going to the dentist it's not even pain, per se, that I'm afraid of. (Jeez, I'm pouring my heart out here, to total strangers!) It's the definite, imminent promise of pain that terrifies me, I think. The drill will touch a nerve and I will hit the ceiling in indescribable agony.

It's not happened yet, of course. But I'm convinced it will.

The drilling is horrific. It feels like a power drill in my mouth. The vibration resonates through my skull. The horrific 'scale' of a 'scale and polish' is hell. I cried when the dentist did it last time, and had to stop her. I know it's stupid. It doesn't hurt. I've never been hurt by a dentist, yet I feel as though I am entering the Satan's lair when I walk through the door.

HC_2

Smickan wrote: »

It absolutely kills, I cannot eat on that side of the mouth and I have a college course hopefully coming up from September onwards - knowing how much it hurts and disrupts sleep and general life I can't study and have toothache so that's what pushed me to finally give in and make a proper appointment and now I know I can't go back on it anymore

I feel for you, as dental pain is horrific. Even co-codamol barely touches it.

You're very brave to make a dentist appointment and resolve to keep it.

When the dentist relieved my pain I could hear the birds sing in the trees and felt like life was worth living again.

Perhaps we should start a thread for dental phobics!

kaskas

Hi everyone,

I’m really curious to find out whether or not we we actually need fluoride in toothpaste to adequately protect our teeth.

My dentist just ask me to buy 5000 ppm Fluoride toothpaste (Duraphat Colgate), I've used it once and I’ve done a bit of Internet research and I've found that fluoride in larger doses can actually produce tooth and bone decay, as it is non-biodegradable, and in excess can produce a condition called fluorosis, which is basically the reaction of the body to the toxin.

Do you know what is "recommended" daily fluoride dose?
Is fluoride harmful when applied topically (small dose but consistently)?
Have you heard any feedback about using non-fluoride toothpaste at all?


There is no doubt that fluoride in high doses is toxic. There is also no doubt that fluoride is a chemical and putting any chemical into your body is bad for you.
I don't understand why my dentist advised me to buy it. Will it really protect my teeth better or will it cause me more problems?

What do you think?
:cool: