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

Toothsmith

There is an awful lot of rubbish about fluoride on the internet. Mainly it comes from the people who don't want it put in the water supply - but that's another argument.

If kids eat loads of toothpaste whilst their teeth are forming then fluorosis can be a problem.

If people use it as directed, or even a reasonable to large amount more than directed - it will cause no harm at all.

There is no evidence of bone damage from any dosage of fluoride that can be ingested from even the stupidest of toothpaste eater - but I'm sure if you really tried, you could do yourself serious damage with it!

Your dentist was more likely to be trying to help you than to poison you. Duraphat toothpaste is expensive, but if you have a problem with lots of cavities, it might help turn things round. But you'll have to cut down on sugary stuff as well.

civicwalker

Since my NhS root filling was done in September 2007 it hasn't really settled down. On Monday I visited the dentists as the discomfort was slightly worse. After tapping my molars I was prescribed amoxicillin and sent packing - I asked about having an x-ray to try to determine the cause of the problem but she declined.
I asked about that if root work was fine would it be possible to remove infection from gum on the NhS but she said that root work would have to be re-tried first.
I therefore 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!

As I can't affoard £700 it would appear that I have to hope that the problem goes away or have one or more molars removed.

I would have hoped that a decission to remove would be a clinical one but it appears that it is based upon least cost to the dentist.

Has anyone any suggestion on how I should progress?

alison999

civicwalker wrote: »

Since my NhS root filling was done in September 2007 it hasn't really settled down. On Monday I visited the dentists as the discomfort was slightly worse. After tapping my molars I was prescribed amoxicillin and sent packing - I asked about having an x-ray to try to determine the cause of the problem but she declined.
I asked about that if root work was fine would it be possible to remove infection from gum on the NhS but she said that root work would have to be re-tried first.
I therefore 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!

As I can't affoard £700 it would appear that I have to hope that the problem goes away or have one or more molars removed.

I would have hoped that a decission to remove would be a clinical one but it appears that it is based upon least cost to the dentist.

Has anyone any suggestion on how I should progress?

could you ask to see another dentist at the same practice for a second opinion? or maybe you could have a word with the practice manager or write a letter stating what you know you are entitled to as a nhs patient.

Toothsmith

civicwalker wrote: »

Since my NhS root filling was done in September 2007 it hasn't really settled down. On Monday I visited the dentists as the discomfort was slightly worse. After tapping my molars I was prescribed amoxicillin and sent packing - I asked about having an x-ray to try to determine the cause of the problem but she declined.
I asked about that if root work was fine would it be possible to remove infection from gum on the NhS but she said that root work would have to be re-tried first.
I therefore 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!

As I can't affoard £700 it would appear that I have to hope that the problem goes away or have one or more molars removed.

I would have hoped that a decission to remove would be a clinical one but it appears that it is based upon least cost to the dentist.

Has anyone any suggestion on how I should progress?

Just because she said "Not worth.." (Did you hear the end of the sentence? It's probably important) Doesn't mean she was thinking finances.

There are more than financial considerations that make a re-treatment 'not worth it' (I'm assuming 'it' is the final word).

If she feels she did as good a job as she can do first time round, then re-treatment is a waste of your time, a waste of her time, a waste of NHS surgery time, a waste of materials and a waste of taxpayers money.

The problem won't 'go away'. It might go quite for a while, but one day it will come charging back.

Refering to a specialist is a perfectly acceptable next step for the dentist. Specialist endodontists aren't considered to be 'worth it' by the NHS though, so you would have to fund this option yourself.

Having out a tooth that has got so badly broken down that it's nerve has died is a perfectly valid clinical option.

pinkpig08

I too had pain in the same tooth as yours Tom. The pain was so bad that I wanted it out. Thinking back, I don't recall the dentist offering root canal. She said I had an abscess in the gum. Anyway, I had the tooth out and at first it was a bit weird, but I've got used to it now. Some things are slightly more difficult to eat - the sharper stuff like crisps, crusty bread etc, but it doesn't really give me any problems.

alison999

pinkpig08 wrote: »

I too had pain in the same tooth as yours Tom. The pain was so bad that I wanted it out. Thinking back, I don't recall the dentist offering root canal. She said I had an abscess in the gum. Anyway, I had the tooth out and at first it was a bit weird, but I've got used to it now. Some things are slightly more difficult to eat - the sharper stuff like crisps, crusty bread etc, but it doesn't really give me any problems.

im not a dentist but there are some situations where teeth cant be saved

kaskas

Toothsmith wrote: »

There is an awful lot of rubbish about fluoride on the internet. Mainly it comes from the people who don't want it put in the water supply - but that's another argument.

If kids eat loads of toothpaste whilst their teeth are forming then fluorosis can be a problem.

If people use it as directed, or even a reasonable to large amount more than directed - it will cause no harm at all.

There is no evidence of bone damage from any dosage of fluoride that can be ingested from even the stupidest of toothpaste eater - but I'm sure if you really tried, you could do yourself serious damage with it!

Your dentist was more likely to be trying to help you than to poison you. Duraphat toothpaste is expensive, but if you have a problem with lots of cavities, it might help turn things round. But you'll have to cut down on sugary stuff as well.

Thank you Toothsmith, I feel better knowing that it is safe for me to use this Duraphat toothpaste. In todays world companies will sell people any rubbish if only they can make money from it.
Anyway, why is fluoride helpfull in dental care and why more fluoride in toothpaste is better than less?
I know I should ask my dentist but I trust you more than my dentist, maybe because you 're not making money on me.

Toothsmith

alison999 wrote: »

im not a dentist but there are some situations where teeth cant be saved

Like having an NHS dentist!!

Toothsmith

kaskas wrote: »

Thank you Toothsmith, I feel better knowing that it is safe for me to use this Duraphat toothpaste. In todays world companies will sell people any rubbish if only they can make money from it.
Anyway, why is fluoride helpfull in dental care and why more fluoride in toothpaste is better than less?
I know I should ask my dentist but I trust you more than my dentist, maybe because you 're not making money on me.

This is all a bit off the topic of this thread, and, to be honest, not really that important.

civicwalker

Toothsmith wrote: »

Just because she said "Not worth.." (Did you hear the end of the sentence? It's probably important) Doesn't mean she was thinking finances.

There are more than financial considerations that make a re-treatment 'not worth it' (I'm assuming 'it' is the final word).

If she feels she did as good a job as she can do first time round, then re-treatment is a waste of your time, a waste of her time, a waste of NHS surgery time, a waste of materials and a waste of taxpayers money.

The problem won't 'go away'. It might go quite for a while, but one day it will come charging back.

Refering to a specialist is a perfectly acceptable next step for the dentist. Specialist endodontists aren't considered to be 'worth it' by the NHS though, so you would have to fund this option yourself.

Having out a tooth that has got so badly broken down that it's nerve has died is a perfectly valid clinical option.

The exact words were "not worth". I hear what you say. However to say "not worth" without bothering to take a x-ray surely cannot be a clinical decision. As she brought the endodontist into the equation she must consider that the tooth has a viable chance . . so why can't she perform the same work under the NhS?