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

crazycurls

Earlier in the summer I had noticed a tooth occassionally seemed cold sensitive. I mentioned it at a check up at the begining of september and the dentist filled it. When he did this it hurt me and he said it was a deep filling.

Following the filling the sensitivity got worse and the tooth started to hurt. I called for another appointment but they couldn't fit me in for a fortnight. However last weekend the pain became excruciating. They managed to fit me in on monday. I was in there for about 30 mins I had loads of local injected but when he started putting files or something in my tooth it hurt he squirted something in and carried on with the filing then put in a temporary filling and I have to go back in 3 weeks.

When the anaesthetic finally wore off it was great i was pain free:D Now 3 days later it is really staring to hurt and I am going away on a short holiday tomorrow. Is there anything I can do? Why would it hurt. I did have a root canal years ago and that didn't hurt that one took ages though and I had all kinds of rubber and stuff in my mouth. This only took 30 mins will the next appointment be the longer one? I can't remember what happened last time. This is the same practice but different dentist.

Nurofen isn't touching it do I need to go and get antibiotics. It seems my weekend celebration is doomed I can't eat and if I take antibiotics I won't be able to drink either.


Has anyone experienced anything like this what was the outcome, any tips? After a sleepless night I'm feeling a bit sorry for myself:rolleyes:

Thanks

Toothsmith

You need to get back to see the dentist.

Savvy_Sue

In the meantime, and as an emergency measure only, ask a pharmacist about stronger OTC painkillers than Nurofen.

But hopefully you can see the dentist today, before you go.

crazycurls

Well I called the dentist didn't get to see him but i had to go in and pick up some erythromycin. I've got to take 4 a day for 7 days and the nurofen then go back for the 2nd appt on the 29th.

At the moment i feel like getting some pliers and pulling the dam tooth out the whole right of my face and jaw is killing me with massive lump all along the gum line.I have a long drive to do tomorrow then a posh celebration meal in the eve. Saturday i am at an exhibition all day and show in the eve. The rest of my family just think I am making a fuss but its dam painful:mad:

Oh and just to add insult to injurythe receptionist said my bill for this tooth is at £250 already ! and I've all I've got so far is pain. She also said don't worry about settling it yet as it will be way more than that before it's finished_pale_

I am off now to turn out the medicine cabinet to see if I can find any stronger pain killers lurking.

hethmar

Sounds like you have an abscess there crazy. The one bit of comfort is once it is full blown the pain tends to go and the area feels numb. And your family are lucky they havent had one - as you say, you feel like pulling it out yourself when the pain is that bad. Hope those anti biotics kick in soon for you.

Toothsmith

crazycurls wrote: »

Well I called the dentist didn't get to see him but i had to go in and pick up some erythromycin. I've got to take 4 a day for 7 days and the nurofen then go back for the 2nd appt on the 29th.

At the moment i feel like getting some pliers and pulling the dam tooth out the whole right of my face and jaw is killing me with massive lump all along the gum line.I have a long drive to do tomorrow then a posh celebration meal in the eve. Saturday i am at an exhibition all day and show in the eve. The rest of my family just think I am making a fuss but its dam painful:mad:

Oh and just to add insult to injurythe receptionist said my bill for this tooth is at £250 already ! and I've all I've got so far is pain. She also said don't worry about settling it yet as it will be way more than that before it's finished_pale_

I am off now to turn out the medicine cabinet to see if I can find any stronger pain killers lurking.

A private dental practice really should have a bit better customer care than that. it's not beyond the whit of man to see your own patients in pain on the same day. Private dental practices should not be so full of patients that they have no emergency slots. Did they offer you an appointment at some point later in the day? Was it just that you called at a particulaly busy time?

I would get this sorted and then look around for a private practice offering a private service, not just charging more money for an NHS service.

hethmar

Have to agree with toothsmith (who is the expert!!) my dentist even gives you his mobile number in case you have an urgent problem.

domdent

We have our mobile number on our practice answer phone !

WE did a typical root treatment on a back tooth this morning 2.5 hours start to finish with no breaks no jumpy patient.

tirednewdad

We also have a contact number on our answer phone to one of the dentists for any emergancies. There is also an on call service on weekends, where each private practice takes it in turns.
ALas i'm on call this weekend and christmas day. But at least it only come around twice a year.

Different dentists would treat the condition in different ways. I would probably have given the pt antibiotics as he was going- with instructions to take them if the syptoms worsen. BUT most importantly i would have seen him the same day first, to reclean and rewash the tooth.

alison999

tirednewdad wrote: »

BUT most importantly i would have seen him the same day first, to reclean and rewash the tooth.

Not always possible though, theres only so many patients you can see in one day.