Why can't I have my wisdom tooth extraction on the nhs?

butler_helen

I've been advised I need both my wisdom teeth out. I'm an nhs patient but its going to cost me £370 for the work. This is because "sedation isn't available on the nhs". This seems a little unfair given that it'd be free at the hospital and a lot less if it were a normal tooth. Any ideas?

Oh and I can't opt for the hospital- the dentist has decided he will sedate me at the surgery. If I leave it then I will need to keep taking antibiotics and painkillers as both need fillings and are really very painful.

I'm whining about it but the dentist won't ring me to discuss.

brook2jack

Sedation is a specialist service on the nhs so can't be offered except at surgeries that have a specialist contract. If you meet the criteria for a hospital extraction ie lots of recurrent infections needing antibiotics and difficult to extract teeth then you can be referred to a nhs hospital and put on the waiting list.

If however the teeth are easy to remove and you just want sedation because you are nervous then you can be referred to a community clinic to have this carried out. However the waiting lists at community clinics can be very long, over a year in our area.

So in summary sedation is available but the likelihood is that your dentists surgery doesn't have a contract for sedation and it can only be provided in hospital , if you fit the criteria, or in community service with a long waiting list.

butler_helen

Thank you!! I've had a round of antibiotics and am in pain again but not "kill me
Now" pain... More constant dull ache pain. They recommended the sedation - I was opting for normal pain relief and just take the pain as it comes... I'd rather have £370! The teeth are near the nerve but the dentist thinks he can do it.

I will go ahead, I'm just annoyed at the cost - i am insured though- hopefully that helps.

Pennylane

I'd rather go to hospital any day.

My son's mate went to hospital to have his wisdom teeth removed as he is a very nervous patient. He didn't have to wait very long either and he was very, very pleased with his treatment there.

butler_helen

Pennylane wrote: »

I'd rather go to hospital any day.

My son's mate went to hospital to have his wisdom teeth removed as he is a very nervous patient. He didn't have to wait very long either and he was very, very pleased with his treatment there.

So would I, but the dentist has recommended I have it done with him. I could wait until I'm in agony regularly I suppose but I guess each time I see him it's £17 so after a few trips including petrol, I might aswell have just had it done now.

I'm not a nervous patient - I like my teeth and look after them but my wisdom teeth are not very wise- they're hiding under a flap of gum which is hard to clean- so they are cavity covered now:(

poppy_f1

i had 3 wisdom teeth out at the hospital for free altho im in scotland and this was over 10 years ago (june 99 - only reason i remember as i got the phone call to go in 2 days later on the day i sat my driving theory test ) from what i remember it was the way they were sitting the dentist referred me to be knocked out to get them done and also mine were causing me recurring tonsilittis
i had to get 1 removed at the dentist surgery as it had broke and that was pretty grim getting that done (that was an emergency app tho as the tooth had broken while eating over the new year period )
saying that it did take about 9 months from being referred and getting x rays done at the hospital to getting them removed and it was a cancellation slot i got

ivylinn

I'm surprised you can't opt to go to the hospital,
I had one of my upper wisdom teeth removed after taking a course of antibiotics and still being in pain.
I was told that I could either have it done immediately in the dentists surgery or go to the hospital but I would have to wait around a month for an appointment.

peachyprice

butler_helen wrote: »

The teeth are near the nerve but the dentist thinks he can do it.

The 'thinks' he can do it??? Oh my days, I'd want him to be 100% sure, no 'thinks' about it!

Alisha2008

I had a wisdom teeth removed without sedation, and it was needed to cut and give some stiches... also had an implant put at the same time, and all of this without sedation. The dentist offered it but it was too expensive, I just took a couple of valium and was perfectly ok. Sedation will only make you sleepy, but what it won't stop the pain. (there shouldn't be any...)

brook2jack

Sedation actually does more than that, it also is amnesiac ie you don't remember anything that happened during the proceedure. It makes you very relaxed and slows your reactions hence you need someone to take you home afterwards.

Alisha2008

I had sedation for another test some years ago and I remember everything clearly.... so I think that depends on the person. Obviously the experience is much easier with sedation, but it's not really necessary.