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

hethmar

Dont know Olympika, my roots are apparently excessively long but there are ways of overcoming this - Im sure toothsmith will give you better info. I dont understand how he could give you two different explanations though - its either still got infection in it cos they didnt reach the top or its filled ok and just needs a bite adjustment.

I posted on here a couple of months back as I was in a lot of pain with a rootfilled and crowned tooth - I was sure it was another abscess as the pain was bad but in fact an adjustment to the bite and the next day the pain had stopped.

Toothsmith

There are ways of overcoming most problems - but the tricky things will take the expertise of a specialist. This is expensve, so it's really down to whether the tooth is worth the money to you.

Olympika

hethmar wrote: »

Dont know Olympika, my roots are apparently excessively long but there are ways of overcoming this - Im sure toothsmith will give you better info. I dont understand how he could give you two different explanations though - its either still got infection in it cos they didnt reach the top or its filled ok and just needs a bite adjustment.

I posted on here a couple of months back as I was in a lot of pain with a rootfilled and crowned tooth - I was sure it was another abscess as the pain was bad but in fact an adjustment to the bite and the next day the pain had stopped.

He didn't do another x-ray today, just used the one which the other dentist took at the end of the RCT... He talked me through it and showed me where that root was missing the filling but didn't say definitely if this was the cause of the problem hence he checked the filling etc.

I guess the crucial question (and I think I know the answer :rolleyes: ) is whether the WHOLE of the root space needs filling for the RCT to be considered a success? I am guessing that even if it doesn't get re-infected immediately, sooner or later the bacteria left in the root bit will start to make trouble??

hethmar

Well Im not an expert - though Ive had so many root fillings I should be But it sounds like he should have been a bit more thorough doesnt it. My new dentist (private) said to me that Id probably lost other teeth which had been rootfilled because they hadnt got right to the top of the root. When he did them he was taking further x rays during his work to make sure it did reach the top of the roots. Fingers crossed 18 months on and 3 teeth my old dentist reckoned Id lose are still all fine. He had to go through the gum to do one of them - it really didnt hurt - just a bit sore afterwards. If you are like me, Id go through virtually anything to hang on to a tooth.

Toothsmith

Olympika wrote: »

I guess the crucial question (and I think I know the answer :rolleyes: ) is whether the WHOLE of the root space needs filling for the RCT to be considered a success? I am guessing that even if it doesn't get re-infected immediately, sooner or later the bacteria left in the root bit will start to make trouble??

That's pretty much it.

If asked the difference between and NHS root filling and a private one, I often answer "about 2mm"!

It can be a very dear 2mm, but it's often the difference between still having the tooth 10 yrs later, and having a gap.

Froglet

Froglet wrote: »

Could i ask for some advice again please? A few months ago i posted on here about whether to have a root canal filling or an extraction,.after a gum abscess and awful pain around the bottom corner tooth.I decided on the root canal treatment and after two weeks i went to the dental hygienist.Big mistake,she caused a front piece of the tooth to break,and i was both upset and angry.Ok it may have happened sooner or later but up till then it had setlled down nicely.Anyway the dentist patched it up,assured me it was no big deal and for a further 8 weeks i had no problems at all.

I also have sensitive teeth and a receeding gum in one area at the top,around 2 crowned teeth,but that does not bother me unduly,and i can keep it at bay with good quality toothpaste,flossing and mouthwashes.

Anyway,8 weeks later i get a further gum infection in the same area as before.2 lots of antibiotics later it clears up and i hope that is now it.No reason i could see for it and she couldn't either

However another 4 weeks pass and ANOTHER infection.By now i am getting really fed up.This time i went to the doctor for the antibiotics,as i knew what it was and the pills don't cost me anything as i have a prepresciption certificate.

I am now deciding on whether to go to a different dentist and start all over again.I have had enough expense to last me a long time but equally if this is going to keep happening would i be better to just have the damn thing out?Is it possible the RCT was not done properly,or is it because it cracked.Or is something getting behind the tooth and causing the infection?

Sorry for the long post but i could really use some good advice.Thankyou.

An update to the above query.

A few more niggles sent me to the local dentist,and a new ,young chap there.Gave him the history and he took fresh xrays.Turns out that the third root canal is causing problems,coupled with a crack in the tooth that is letting in the bacteria ,so i cannot ever win and so the upshot is i am having it out next week.

In the last week i have felt i was going to get another infection at leat 5 times but each time it has gone off again.Annoyed that i just didn't have the damned thing out in the first place but you have to try and i have 3 other teeth that were root filled years ago and have given me no more problems at all.

You win some you lose some.Thanks anyway to you,Toothsmith you have been most helpful.

Olympika

Toothsmith wrote: »

That's pretty much it.

If asked the difference between and NHS root filling and a private one, I often answer "about 2mm"!

It can be a very dear 2mm, but it's often the difference between still having the tooth 10 yrs later, and having a gap.

Thanks Toothsmith, that's what I thought from what my dentist said, he didn't seem to think that it was a bad job as such, just that the root was very curved and that it would have been very difficult to get round it to clean / fill. Have to admit am disappointed though - guess now it's a case of either grabbing the bull by the horns and making a decision now (and if I go for RCT I think it'll be re-done free at the surgery, assuming he's confident it would be worth doing by a non-specialist) or just seeing how long I can put up with grumbling yucky pain. Oh well!!

Thanks again to everyone for advice and help :beer:

hethmar

Hope it goes well, as someone who put up with niggling abscess pain for years on one tooth, I have great sympathy with you. Is it one that is easily seen? If it is I would think of getting someone else to look at it. Im not sure if the curved root bit is a justified reason for not cleaning it to the top I often wonder how many I could have saved if I had seen a private dentist earlier. The first dentist must have been aware he had not reached the top of the root. It really depends on how much the tooth is worth to you. If its one that cant be easily seen then you may want to have it removed to avoid pain in the future. It was worth every penny to me to have mine saved by my new man - I am just so grateful I found him.

alison999

Olympika wrote: »

I think it'll be re-done free at the surgery,

why would it be free?

alison999

LOL @ the toothsmith thing.

Call the practice about any money you have 'in credit' there. if you paid in full and didnt have all the work done (and didnt miss any appointments) surely you'll be in credit. get a refund, if youre owed one, and if you have to lie, say you'll ring the practice to make another appointment after your holidays. just to get your money back.

find out what dentists your friends & family go to and see if theres anyone that they'd recommened. and start from scratch with them. just have a check up, get a feel for the place and if youre happy commence treatment. surely its only a matter of time before you have problems?