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

Savvy_Sue

SparkyG wrote: »

I have previously seen dentists who have regarded my failure to get numb as a personal slight,

not dentists so much as doctors doing minor surgery. "You shouldn't still be able to feel that." "Well I can, so would you please stop and give me some more anaesthetic!"

Why would we make it up?

Amy83

Olympika wrote: »

Amy I am not a dentist but as far as I understand it the going rate for RC success is about 90-95% successful for the first time it is done on any particular tooth. The chances of it succeeding go down if you have to have it redone. Mine was done super-carefully, but one of the roots was just too curved around to clean out properly, which is why mine didn't work.

I am not totally sure of the answer for the second question but as far as I understand it, if the pulp of the tooth is infected then yup, the tooth either needs RC or extracting. but am sure Toothsmith can give you some advice

Really hope you get it sorted asap, you poor thing having such awful pain on holiday!

Thanks Olympika, sorry to hear that yours didn't work out!

Amy83

Toothsmith wrote: »

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It depends how it's done, and who does it. And - to some extent, how much you're prepared to pay.

There are some good dentists still on the NHS, but statistically, you're much more likely to get a decent root filling if you see someone privately.

Root fillings done under rubber dam are 20-30% more likely to be successful, so make sure the dentist uses rubber dam.

If you can afford to get referred to a specialist endodontist, then get your dentist to do this. Most specialists run at success rates of 95%.

Thanks Toothsmith, I'm guessing my best answer would be that I'm willing to pay for the best possible result....will have to think about it as it's quite a chunk of money.

I've written down what to ask/check for...my dentists going to think I'm possessed. I usually just meekly wander in, sit down and open my gob, now I've got The List!

Thanks again

hethmar

Amy, Ive had pretty awful dentists all my life - hence a number of gaps - I was SO pleased I decided to spend money on a good private one (recommendations). He has already saved 3 teeth my old NHS dentist was going to whip out. It really is money well worth spending.

Olympika

hethmar wrote: »

You sound same as me Olympika, I get a bit scared so I tell them that now as you can feel your heart pumping fast cant you.

I don't really mind the actual injections that much, it just seems to be the type of anaesthetic that is used for extractions which has a funny effect on me even if I have a big meal before hand, I always pass out. Normal injections are fine though

Amy - if you possibly possibly can, I would say go for the RC, and if you can afford an endodontist to do it then so much the better!! I wish I had gone that route TBH, I might still have my tooth now if I had (or maybe not, but least I would know one way or the other ).
Lots of luck and hope you are pain free very soon :j

hethmar

No Im not keen on the injections, particularly the ones that seem to go forever up the side of your nose but its the effect of the stuff, it makes my heart fast. scarey.

Toothsmith

Could well be the adrenaine in them.

It's there to close up the blood vessels in the area, so that the anaestetic isn't washed away so quickly. But, in people who are a bit sensitive to it, - and particularly in people who are pumping out plenty of their own adrenaline anyway - it can just push them over the edge and make their heart race a bit alarmingly. It's not dangerous, unless you have a pretty bad heart condition, or very high blood pressure.

There are adrenaline free anaesthetics which either have a different vasoconstrictor in them, or without a vasoconstrictor at all. Ask your dentist next time, and he'll probably use one of these instead (They're no dearer!)

Sometimes, people are mistakenly told they're 'allergic' to adrenaline. This is completely wrong - you can't be allergic to adrenaline. It's the thing you're given if you have an allergic reaction!!!!!

Sometimes it easier for a time-pressed dentist to tell someone they're 'allergic' rather than explain properly what's going on!

hethmar

Well, Im normally well wound up when I have treatment toothsmith, so you may be right on that front Im a hyper personality anyway - always running in higher gear than I should be, no doubt adrenlin over active. But I will mention it to my chap next time.

Bf109

Toothsmith - is there anything I should or shouldnt do the night/day before to make the aneasthetic more effective? Alcohol or caffiene etc...

By the way, thanks to all for your support and telling me it would be fine. Even though it hurt like hell, I'm glad I went in there thinking it would be fine, I would have been in a state otherwise.

To others reading this thread yet to experience the joys of RCT, dont worry, my experience seems to be the exception and not the rule.

Toothsmith

Bf109 wrote: »

Toothsmith - is there anything I should or shouldnt do the night/day before to make the aneasthetic more effective? Alcohol or caffiene etc...

By the way, thanks to all for your support and telling me it would be fine. Even though it hurt like hell, I'm glad I went in there thinking it would be fine, I would have been in a state otherwise.

To others reading this thread yet to experience the joys of RCT, dont worry, my experience seems to be the exception and not the rule.

It is my experience that people with a VERY high alcohol consumption (talking alcoholics here) can be very hard to numb, but that's purely anecdotal.

Too much caffiene in your system could make you jittery which wouldn't help - but again that would probably be a few strong coffees right before.

Just chill out. mp3 player with relaxing music whilst it was being done? An Ibuprofen or two an hour or two beforehand would probably help too (But tell your dentist you've done this).

Second visit is USUALLY easier and more straightforward than the first.