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

Toothsmith

Froglet wrote: »

Why do they vary so much!!

It's marketing!

The thing is, it costs about the same to run a dental practice well, be it NHS, or private.

The dentist still needs to abide by the same rules and regulations (which costs money), nurses cost a similar amount to employ, utility bills are similar.

So - to get 'cheap' prices, something else has to be altered.

The amount of patients seen per hour is one thing that can be varied, as is the amount of 'free' time in the appointment book for emergencies (so it might be harder to get an emergency appointment in a 'cheaper' place. Of course, if a dentist has less time to do a particular job, it will probably impact on how well that job is done - but all dental work generally feels pretty similar once it's done - it's how it's doing 10 years later that is the real test of it's quality.

Also, if you're charging more, it's easier to throw in a few 'freebies' as a goodwill gesture. If you're price list has low prices to attract people, but you still want to offer decent appointment times and emergency facilities, then you have to add little 'extras' to pop onto the bill to bring the charge up to the amount you need.

It's very similar with resturants. Service included/not included, paying extra for the vegetables. all the same little dodges to make the prices look small to get the customers through the door.

The thing to be really carefull of are the bad corner-cutters who skimp on the really important things.

As with any service or product, if something SEEMS far too cheap, then it probably isn't built to last.

Olympika

Am now 24 hrs since the RC (with temp filling) and it is starting to get pretty painful - any pressure on the tooth at all is very sore, but I guess that is normal?? Was absolutely fine yesterday once the numbness had worn off, until late evening when it started to hurt a bit. Thing that worries me is that she said I would probably feel some pressure afterwards, but if I had any pain at all to go back. But having looked at others experiences, pain afterwards is expected? Have to travel tomorrow, away for a few days, what would you recommend I do? Don't want to waste anyone's time if this is just the tooth settling down, certainly it's not unbearable (as yet!). Am also terrified the temp filling will come out, no idea why, if it does do I have to have the whole of the 1st RC process repeated?

Toothsmith

It's not unusual for them to be a bit sore for a day or two afterwards, but I really can't give specific advice without seeing it.

If you're concerned, ring up or call in at your dentist.

As to the bit about loosing the temporary dressing, it wouldn't have to be re-done in exactly the same way as the first visit, but it would have to be cleaned out and disinfected again.

suki1964

Olympika wrote: »

Am now 24 hrs since the RC (with temp filling) and it is starting to get pretty painful - any pressure on the tooth at all is very sore, but I guess that is normal?? Was absolutely fine yesterday once the numbness had worn off, until late evening when it started to hurt a bit. Thing that worries me is that she said I would probably feel some pressure afterwards, but if I had any pain at all to go back. But having looked at others experiences, pain afterwards is expected? Have to travel tomorrow, away for a few days, what would you recommend I do? Don't want to waste anyone's time if this is just the tooth settling down, certainly it's not unbearable (as yet!). Am also terrified the temp filling will come out, no idea why, if it does do I have to have the whole of the 1st RC process repeated?

The RC I recently had done to hold a crown hurt for about a week after. For two days I didnt want to eat at all because of the pain - which was more a feeling of pressure then real toothache pain. The temporary dressing was a bit high which didn't help matters but the pain was nothing that I couldn't handle with the aid of pain killers for a few days. It was all settled down by time I went back for the impressions and was completely gone time I had the crown fitted

Olympika

thanks suki1964. If I wasn't meant to be going to a conference I wouldn't be so worried, just don't want to be stuck somewhere with raging toothache and having to try to find someone to look at it _pale_ My temporary filling is high too, which probably doesn't help :rolleyes:

marybishop

mandy_44 wrote: »

You know I find it interesting that the majority of people who have RCT seem to have a success story. I have had three RCT's on three Different teeth and I have lost all three of them. How unlucky is that?

Mandy - you're not alone! I've had 2 RCT's and they both had to be extracted as they never settled, the second one being yesterday! My dentist was brilliant - he hates taking teeth out and I had to beg him to take the first one out years ago because it just kept niggling and it got me down as it affected my sinuses so got really uncomfortable. The second one had the RCT last April and I've been back so many times since because it just wouldn't settle. It finally abscessed and when he showed me the x-ray the abscess wasn't in any of the root canals, it was in the space in between so he couldn't get to it. So we finally had to accept defeat and take it out. But I'm so fed up as I have a gap both sides now. Asked about the cost of implants and nearly fell over - he says the cheapest he's seen is £1k and that's without the crown!! Guess I'll just have to live with the gaps for now, at least they're molars and not at the front otherwise I'd have to rob a bank!!

~Chameleon~

Why are implants so expensive???? I got quoted £2k just for one tooth

domdent

Implants are relatively expensive compared to other dental treatments for a few reasons

1 they are not generally available on the NHS so the cost reflects the actual cost of providing them. (unlike other dental care where NHS fees distort the market ).

2 Implants have a record of high success because most dentists/surgeons follow strict guidlines in their placement , this means more time equals more cost.

3 uk dentists are generally charged upto 40% more by the suplliers for implants and components.


Root treatments that fail may never have worked even if a specialist sees the tooth as alot of teeth root filled have cracks that cant be seen without a microscope.

varu

Am getting RCT for the 31st teeth. My insurence wil not cover for the crown and i cannot afort for the costly crown that may cost for 600 to 800$. So can you suggest me something so that i can have it temporarily for 2 yrs and get it done once i go to my country.

Toothsmith

2 yrs is not temporary!

Ask your dentist for suggestions - he's best placed to advise.

A root filled tooth is very prone to fracturing, and if it does, it might well be the end of the line for the tooth - which will waste the money already spent on it.

Some teeth, if not too badly damaged, might survive a couple of years without a crown, but you'd be taking a chance.