Cost of tooth extraction?

SnowyOwl_2

I think I am going to need to have a molar tooth, right at the very back removed. After it breaking and fillings falling out twice, being refilled and breaking again, I'm getting rid. It's too painful on my jaw and on my wallet. But can anyone let me know what to expect in terms of the procedure and in terms of damage to my wallet?

I am not looking forward to the actual extraction though it'll be nice to be able to chew gum in safety, and eat/drink cold/hot things without pain again.

Savvy_Sue

I can only say that the two back top wisdom teeth I've had out have been a doddle compared to the previous hassle of having them filled. Don't remember cost so can't have been extortionate! I found the actual extraction uncomfortable but not acutely painful, and only needed to get used to the absence of tooth afterwards, maybe a few paracetomol and a little bit of bleeding, but nothing serious.

But I know some people have suffered more than I have both at the time and afterwards, so I hope yours goes OK!

SnowyOwl_2

Oh Savvy_Sue, I forgot about wisdom tooth extraction! I had one taken out about 16 or 17 years ago...it was a truly awful experience, he even sawed out a bit of bone! I HATED going to the dentist's, I had told him I was nervous and unhappy about the surgery but he didn't care he wanted to take my teeth out there and then. Looking back he was a money rip off merchant...he insisted I needed the wisdom tooth on the other side removed as well but I never ever went back to him. To this day I have never had trouble with that wisdom tooth, nor has any other dentist ever commented on my remaining wisdom tooth (I only ever had 2, the top ones aren't there). Or to put it another way, I don't believe there was anything wrong with my teeth, he just wanted to perform the surgery for a bit of practice and to make some money - of this I am convinced.

That episode put me off so much I didn't return to the dentist again for about 10, maybe 12 years..when I did venture back it was from the pain of an old filling that needed to be replaced, absolutely nothing else was wrong.

After lots of teeth grinding in my sleep I've broken some teeth and now find myself needing an extraction due to the stress I've caused my back gnashers. I'm not too scared, my current dentist is v.careful though it's a bit daunting to think of a tooth being pulled from my head as the roots are quite long. Oooo am giving myself the willies now.....!!

hrafndot

You've given me back the willies with your talk about long roots!! I've got a rear molar extraction on Thursday and i've been gibbering about it for weeks. I've got some valium to keep me calm and I'm having a dry run tonight to see how I react to it. My mum shamed me into being brave - she had her hip replaced under local anaesthetic. Whatever happens, it will be quick!

SnowyOwl_2

My parents tell me that back in the good old days people used to tie a piece of string onto the offending tooth then tie the other end to a door. They would then slam the door thus bringing the tooth with it.

Whatever happens on Thursday THAT isn't going to happen!! Maybe plan something extra special to look forward to on Thursday evening and focus on that instead. Just a suggestion.:)

You will be fine hrafndot...please tell me I will be fine too...

Am amazed at your mum by the way, brave woman!

hrafndot

Thanks for your words Snowy. I wish you luck. Mum is amazing, she had the hip replacemenent op once under epidural, came home to recuperate then fell over and had to have the same operation done again, knowing what it was going to be like!

When it comes to my tooth loss, I feel grief because it was so unnecessary. I had been telling my dentists since 2002 that I had an abscess, this was masked from the xray by an inlay. Now it has fractured and must come out.

From now on, I'm going to be listened to by my dentist and I will not hesitate to go to a dental hospital casualty to get advice. I trust my body and it was telling me exactly where the abscess was and what was happening. I was just too passive and pain tolerant.

good luck with your treatment

hrafndot

Sorry, I got carried away and lost the plot.

COST - have you thought about taking out a dental cash back plan? I have one with WPA towards which I pay £9 per month. They then pay 75% of all dental costs up to £500 after which they pay 100%. You have to wait for three months after commencement of policy but are covered for emergencies after 14 days. I got my policy after reading Martin's article on cashback plans and would highly recommend it.

SnowyOwl_2

Oh thanks Rachel,

My latest dentist has been so cheap....I'm in rural N.Ireland having moved here from London. I got a check up and two replacement fillings for £24.00 - my response was "you mean one hundred and twenty-four pounds?" - this of course based on my experience of dentists in London. A filling later fell out and was replaced for free!

I will look into the cashback schemes all the same - I've got two badly fitted crowns which I really want to have replaced so this would allow me to go ahead and get the work done, so good tip.

It's wonderful to find a good dentist...that cowboy/butcher who removed my wisdom tooth all those years ago really did me, himself and his profession a massive disservice because of his determination to do what he wanted rather than what I wanted. It's worth making these people listen, they might be experts, but they don't know everything. As in your case they can just make things worse if they don't take notice of what they are told.

Good luck on Thursday, I'm sure it won't be too bad, and I hope it goes smoothly. Do definitely give yourself something lovely to look forward to for Thursday evening or Friday.

Snowy Owl

spankymonkey_2

my mum has just had 2 teeth extracted and new teeth made to put on her plate. i could not believe how much she had to pay nearly £400!!!!! i was disgusted....

SnowyOwl_2

Spankymonkey, I am similarly disgusted.

There's a whiff of exploitation around dentistry I feel...how are we supposed to know what is a reasonable charge, what needs to be done and what alternatives are available. Bit like car mechanics really - most of us have little choice but to accept what they say and trust they are being open and honest rather than looking for a way to line their pockets.

Lots of dentists are of course honest but my experience tells me that not all of them are.

If they push the cashback schemes which hrafndot/Rachel described above, then are they possibly looking at ways to persuade us to get non-essential work done under the guise that we'd get most of the charges back? Betcha there are a few who have twigged onto that possibility and are getting richer on the back of it.

Poppy9

There were a few dentists lurking around the forum. They all seemed to join and make a couple of posts defending private dental care. Perhaps you could pm one of them to advise you of how to find out reasonable costs of getting work done. In theory as most dentists are now private isn't it easier to get a second opinion? If you have denplan, which locally all the dentists insist on, can you move from practice to practice or are you tied into one?