Specialist Root Canal Treatmt - Ideas4 Savings?

Superdooper_2

I got some bad news from my dentist: One of my teeth is up for a cap/crown, as it is mostly composed of filling and the dentist says it is of concern. But the cap needs a good tooth underneath and that is where this all gets expensive.

From what I understand of the problem, the tooth was root-filled some time ago, but has a very thin filling in the root canal and maybe one side was not even done(?) …… nothing visible to the xray scan.

To resolve this, apparently, I need referral to a specialist to get the root canal work in order – ie special root canal filling work. The specialist does not work with NHS so I have to shell out about £600-£700 for his root canal work (and following on from that, after things all calm down, there will be a crown needed to finish things off….gulp).

Seems the root filling is curved and the specialist is well able to drill down that odd/thin line etc etc, whereas my regular dentist does not have the special tools and not so much experience as this/these specialists. Hence the referral.

I know it can be a lengthy action and normally painless etc. It is just the cash side (being the MSE site :money:) that I am particulatly interested in.

ie, it seems a bit odd that this work cannot be done (or partially done) on the NHS. If I was a 12year-old I am sure it would be NHSed, one way or other, no?

Does anyone have some experiences of these kinds of situation or ideas that I could check out to reduce/wipe the £600-odd expense?

Toothsmith

Huge thread covering all these issues here :- https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/277380

Superdooper_2

Toothsmith wrote: »

Huge thread covering all these issues here :-

Thanks ToothSmith. I read all of that 2006 thread before posting and, well, it seems to nicely cover all the pain and gore yet misses the vital MSE aspect of it all, baring brief mention of flights to far-away countries, which probably all works out the same after travel/accom/buying food, etc considering the several visits.

Any ways to reduce the bill in the UK?

brook2jack

Not really, you may find a specialist to do it a bit cheaper but not alot.

The equipment is expensive, a dental microscope alone is £15,000, mdta cement £50 a use etc but the most expensive part of the treatment is time. A room in a dental surgery costs £120 to £200 an hour to run depending on where it is, how high end etc. To redo a root canal most specialists will spend a couple of hours over a couple of visits and that's where the expense is.

There are no pcts I know if who fund specialist endodontics and in this time of straitened finances when some cancer treatments are not funded £400 plus to save one tooth for one person may seem an extravagance that cannot be justified.

Toothsmith

Superdooper wrote: »

Any ways to reduce the bill in the UK?

Have the tooth out?

Superdooper_2

Ah, Toothsmith, you must be a dentist, then.

I have just been watching "The Truth About Your Dentist" on Channel Four, and the cat is right out of the bag, now:
{couple of horrible adds before it starts...}
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/dispatches/4od#3192880

It seems the root of the problem{phew, a pun} is that the dentist does not make money by doing root canal work under the NHS. In fact their minutes could be better used treating other actions on other patients, which is why they body-swerve the root canal work. This SPECIALIST probably does the same thing, sending his canal work to a Specialist, who may well be my own dentist. ie an arrangement where they cross over the problem. Each being the specialist for the other.

I must say it was like a repeat of what occurred with my dentist, where my normal dentist was talking herself down, as not being skillful enough to do this complicated canal work, special instruments etc very complicated etc, and for that reason I should go to the specialist who is expert on these types of treatments and pay mega for what should be done on the NHS.

Alternatively, just like yourself, they suggested the tooth extraction, a treatment that would save me these mega costs and it is quick(ul) and painless. They could do that treatment for me (as they can earn some good money doing that quicky).

Called 'Gaming', apparently.:money:

Now, ToothSmith, from your insider position, can you not give out a few tips on how we MSE-types can obtain some fair NHS treatment? ie get the canal work done for the NHS-contracted, agreed NHS price, and avoid having to needlessly loose the tooth?

brook2jack

Sorry but from your explaination the root canal is difficult,curved and thin canals and has already been root filled once all indications for specialist treatment. You cannot force a dentist to do what is beyond their scope and some root canals need specialist treatment which is generally not available on the NHS..

Toothsmith

If it were doing the root filling for the first time, and it was a relatively straight forward tooth - then I'd be agreeing with you, and have advised other MSEers accordingly in the past.

Re-rootfilling a failing molar tooth however is not a straight forward proceedure - and even me, as a private dentist, would recommend that my patient seeks out the services of a specialist (And the NHS does not fund specialist endodontists for anything other than highly exceptional circumsatnces).

How important is the tooth to you?

If you're not really fussed whether you keep it or not, then you might be able to twist your dentist's arm into having a go at doing it (He would be within his rights to refuse in this instance though - it could quite legitimately be classed as something above and beyond what he could reasonably be expected to do - would you force your GP doctor to do a heart by-pass in his surgery, or would you want a specialist cardiologist in an operating theatre).

The dentist would charge you £47 odd quid to do it, and then quite possibly another £47 a year or two later when he had to take it out when the infection comes roaring back.

Or, you could spend one lot of £47 and have it out now.

Or you could spend the money on the private referral as your dentist suggested and give it it's best chance (but by no means 100% - re-rootfilling a tooth has a poorer success rate even with specialists).

Gaming does go on in dentistry, and if you read my posts you will see I have been identifying it and advising people on their rights on the NHS for years.

Your case does not strike me as gaming though (although obviously I've not actually seen your mouth). I think you have a dentist who is looking out for your best interests, and has advised you well.

But if saving a few quidis your priority - have the tooth out.

welshdent

I actually think endodontics is not the simple procedure that the chap being interviewed was making out. Re endo is certainly not simple. If someone was advising me to see a specialist I would take the hint and see them because regardless of my entitlements it is clear to me that I won't be getting as good a job. Offering to have the same person do it privately on the other hand would raise my suspicions