NHS dentist fobbing me off, or has he got a point?

emilykf

My friend was told by an NHS dentist (the same one as I go to!), that she didn't know how to do root canals and she wouldn't be able to see one of the private dentists at the practice so recommended another private clinic, who charged just over £1k for the procedure! :shocked: I was completely gobsmacked and told her at the time that it didn't think that was right, and tried to get her to phone the NHS to find out whether it was correct. In the end she didn't, but found another private practice and paid £300ish to get it done.

Mind you, this is the same dentist that did a filling for me a couple of weeks ago, and less than an hour later (the anesthetic hadn't even worn off) it fell out. They fitted me in with one of the private dentists first thing the next morning to have it re-done, at no extra cost.

welshdent

Is your dentist UK trained emily? I only ask because I know there are some countries where it is entirely possible to train to be and qualify as a dentist but have never done a root filling in the entire time. Similarly some may have never taken a tooth out. If they are UK trained then saying you do not feel able to do the physical procedure is one thing but its a big leap to say they do not know how to do them. However I know I wouldnt let someone near me that lacked confidence in themselves to do a highly skilled and technical treatment. You are just asking for trouble no matter what a PCT may tell you regards to entitlement. FWIW I do not think any dentist should be forced to provide a treatment they are no comfortable doing provided the reason is not on cost grounds. I myself HATE taking out teeth and particularly loathe hospital consultants telling me what THEY think I am capable of doing. Also FWIW I do not refer in willy nilly. I refer in when I think something is beyond my ability.

murphydog999

Just a quick update incase anyone is interested. I've been to another practice as an 'independent' and was seen by a lovely lady dentist would has had no hesitation about recommending and booking me in for a root canal, a white filling after - although she is going to decide whether a crown would be better at the time. £80 for the root canal and about the same for the filling, booked in for a couple of weeks time. I'm not in any discomfort at all, but at least I won't have to worry about re-infection.

After reading various posts (albeit going back a few years) I'm a bit surprised as I've been booked in for 2x 30 mins treatments, isn't it meant to take a lot longer than this?

brook2jack

for an uncomplicated ,single root upper premolar , this should sufficient. The thing that is essential is rubber dam. £80 is dirt cheap as the disposables alone can be £30 plus and surgery time in a cheap practice will be £130 an hour or more.

murphydog999

Well another quick update. After all the horror stories about root canal work I have been pleasantly surprised how painless everything was. It was all explained along the way, the lovely lady dentist was very keen to make sure everything was all clean before it was sealed, and apart from 20 minutes with my mouth open - just a bit uncomfortable - I've had no discomfort, during, in between or after. I've had my 2 appointments now and will wait 2 months when they will fit a white filling.

The gulf in service between the first practice I went to and this one couldn't be bigger, no comparison, very happy chappie I am.

Annonay

brook2jack wrote: »

The thing that is essential is rubber dam.

Having just had (or rather in the course of having) root canal treatment, and not having had anything I would call a 'rubber dam' used, I thought I would find out more.

This seems the latest must-have, but in fact is not essential at all. It all depends on what the dental surgeon is most happy to work with.

The rubber dam (a piece of material, usually latex) is used primarily to stop the dentist dropping anything down your throat! :eek:
It can also be useful to isolate the tooth to prevent saliva entering a root canal or keeping a tooth dry whilst being filled with a white material.

BUT... some dentists prefer to work with an uncovered mouth so they can see everything that is going on ... and hopefully won't be dropping anything down your throat!

e.g. years ago when I started going to a dentist, I had a great dentist who never gave an injection for a normal filling so I couldn't understand what all my school pals were on about when they talked of these injections
(I later did have one when he extracted a milk tooth - but decided a possible 5 seconds of uncomfort was better than and hour or two of numbness where a filling was concerned)

When I grew up and moved away, I went to a dentist who would not even consider doing a filling without first giving an injection. As this dentist was much younger I thought maybe I got an old fogey originally who didn't keep up with latest dentistry tenchniques. However, I lost faith in this 'young, new dentist' for a number of reasons which I won't go into here.
Eventually I found another dentist who I am happy with. I was really surprised that he asked if I wanted an injection before a filling. (As I have now become used to these injections, I wimped out and said yes)

Anyway, there was no rubber dam used when I had root canal treatment. (and for this an injection was provided without question) The tooth was kept dry by the use of traditional swabs around the tooth.

I guess it all depends on what the dentist is happiest using and, to an extent, the dentist's own faith in their abilities not to drop anything down your throat (or hit a nerve whilst doing a normal filling)

brook2jack

Sorry but you are very misinformed.

I started dental school thirty years ago and rubber dam was taught then and even then wasn't new.

Clinical evidence shows that use of rubber dam is the single most significant factor in root canal success.

It is not a new fad , or up to dentist choice it is best clinical practice plain and simple.

welshdent

Annonay you are seriously misinformed. Rubber dam has been in use for over century. This following passage is taken from http://www.jdentaled.org/content/72/10/1177.full

"For over a century, the rubber dam has been considered the optimal method to isolate a dental operating field and prevent moisture contamination during the placement of direct restorations and endodontic procedures.1 Other cited advantages include improved operator access and visibility, minimization of airborne debris and aerosols, and patient safety. Many consider it to be an essential component of modern adhesive dentistry.2,3 Because of the obvious merits, most dentists are taught the use of the rubber dam in dental school, and the military and state/regional licensing examination boards continue to require its use for virtually all restorative procedures.1,4"

Someone is giving you half truth and a very slanted perspective. Personally I think rubber dam is absolutely essential for root treatments. Today for example I spent 15 minutes getting one on a tooth. I guarantee you I would not have done the treatment if I could not manage it.

londondent

Agree with welshdent. NO rubber dam = no root canal treatment!

Annonay

So presumably none of you would do a white filling without a rubber dam either?