Paying for NHS root canal treatment

bird~brain

Hi, just had some root canal treatment today. Part way through the dentist was having a problem with the files getting stuck as the roots are curved. He was worried about the files breaking off inside. He decided to ask his boss to lend his hi tech root canal equipment to help with the job. I was given a choice: Fill the tooth as was and if I got an abscess in the future would have to have tooth taken out, or have the tooth out now, or pay £350 for treatment with machine. I choose treatment as don't want to lose tooth. Also they are charging £250 top up for a gold crown. It is a back molar with 4 roots BTW. I receive full free NHS treatment. Would I be able to claim back any of these costs or get them reduced at the dentist? Thanks

brook2jack

If a dentist cannot root fill a tooth and they need to refer you, then that may very well be privately and you would have to pay.

What they cannot do is to treat the tooth themselves and charge you a private fee for better instruments even if they loose alot of money on the proceedure. If they accept you as a nhs patient then those are the conditions. If the dentist just borrowed the equipment you should not have to pay privately. If their boss is doing the job then that might be ok.

in England and Wales a tooth that is privately root treated can be crowned on the nhs which should be free for you. In Scotland and NI the crown would have to be provided privately.

in brief you should not have had to pay your own dentist to privately root fill the tooth, but if another dentist does it because it is too difficult then yes you probably will have to pay.

You cannot claim any private fees paid back even if you don't normally pay for treatment.

londondent

What Brook2jack has said is correct.

The dentist cannot say the treatment cant be under the NHS, but if you pay him more he can save the tooth. If you see another dentist at the practice (who may only work privately) then yes, you may have to pay the £350 fee.

Coincidentally, using the rotary machine files does not necessarily reduce the risk of file breakage in long curved roots, especially in in-experienced hands.

If the Dentist feels the root canal treatment is beyond his capability to treat effectively, he can refer you to a Specialist. There may not be provision for NHS endodontic services in your area, in which case you would have to pay privately to see a specialist.

Derby_Babe

hi
I too have had root canal treatment today.I originally went to nhs dentist with severe pain in my lower right molar,after 2 x rays she couldn't find any sign of an infection,and sent me on my way advising painkillers and to return in 3 days.
On return told her the pain had subsided alot and on further exam of my mouth said she could identify the problem as a crack in the tooth,(would have thought that would have been evident on the x-ray)
Gave me the standard spiel of advise root canal , private being more successsful,albiet £600, or extraction.
Told her didn't really want to loose tooth,and can't really afford private and felt i put her under duress till she offered me nhs treatment.
Went today,didn't get any injections ,did get some pain :eek: and she kept saying didn't think would be successful as crack in tooth was big,then further into treatment when i started getting pain said the canals were close together,then that i had severe calcification in the canals,
Outcome of it all being she advises private treatment or extraction,so back to square one .
I'm booked to go back in a weeks time for another 30 minute appointment,so have got to decide what to do,feel i have no option but to have it taken out.
Can anyone give me any advice ?
If i had it extracted is there any way in future i could have a crown or bridge ,if i have the luck to win the lottery,?
Thanks ,

brook2jack

We can't say without seeing your x rays and the tooth. You need to be asking your dentist these questions.

In general a cracked tooth is one of the most difficult things to diagnose, it doesn't show up on x rays and often cannot be seen until a filling is drilled out of the tooth and even then sometimes only with magnification. Often it is just diagnosed from symptoms because you just can't see anything.

The dentist could see it was difficult and advised you correctly that it needed referral. As she has attempted it and it needs specialist attention you have two choices pay for a private root treatment, which still may not be successful, or have the tooth out.

HSS_2

My dentist said he couldn't save my tooth but I didn't want it taken out so I went private for another opinion. The private dentist did a root canal treatment + gold crown for £450 over three visits.

When I next went to my NHS dentist for my 6 month check-up, x-rays showed that only one of 4 roots had been filled, and the crown was cracked near the gum. I now need to be aware that I could get an infection there, and meticulously clean the area and pay for a hygienist privately. So far, a few years later it is ok, so long as I stick to water-jet cleaning etc.
On reflection, wish it had been taken out.

I wish we could see before and after x-rays when we get treatment. If I had, maybe I'd have spotted that only one root had been filled.

Good luck with your treatment!

bird~brain

In reference to my earlier post. I sent the dentist a message asking if perhaps there had been a mistake and they had not realised that I have a tax exemption certificate. He replied that because of difficulty of job I have to pay up £340 or lose tooth, or go to endodontist privately. I have said I am going to Citizens advice about this tomorrow, he has offered to refund payment and remove the tooth. Don't know what to do.

brook2jack

Contact your local pct (phone number in the book). CaB are not much use in this situation.

To be clear is the dentist saying they will root fill the tooth themselves or someone else in the practice will do it? If it is someone else then this might be ok ,but if they are going to do it themselves they cannot do this, and you need to ring the pct and explain the situation and they will investigate.

bird~brain

What shocks me is that if I went for an op in an NHS hospital, I would not be offered private treatment to complete the job half way through because it was difficult, it would be completed as best as possible under the NHS using the same equipment as a private patient in the same hospital. Feel sure this dentist will remove me, my partner and children from his books. Sigh feeling very poor and vulnerable and possibly ripped off.

bird~brain

I am seeing my nhs dentist who did the canal drilling (only partly using the rotary machine borrowed from his boss that I am being charged £340 for) on monday to have the tooth filled.

brook2jack

The difference is medical specialists are funded by the nhs. I am not aware of a single pct or lhb that funds a specialist endodontist (root treatment specialist). In these cash strapped Times when lifesaving or enhancing treatments are limited spending £400 plus of nhs money saving one tooth that could be extracted and solve the problem, is difficult to justify.

Also be aware in England there is no such thing as registration with a dentist so you are no longer on a dentists books anyway and you can go to any dentist you wish if they have space to see you.

You need to sort this out before Monday, phone the pct tomorrow to get the ball rolling.