Root Canal

welshdent

PollySouthend wrote: »

Root Canals are the Most Profitable Procedure in Dentistry, so there is a long long line of people wanting to attack him for damaging their profits.

http://www.thewealthydentist.com/blog/1877/root-canals-are-the-most-profitable-procedure-in-dentistry-video/

Sorry but that is complete and utter nonsense! A ridiculous statement to make. I work primarily under an NHS contract. Would you like to hazzard a guess how much I earn for every root canal treatment I do??



Absolutely NOTHING. In fact given the required time allocation that is NEEDS and the equipment needed to actually do the procedure to a high standard it actually costs me money for every single one I do. Even when doing them privately they are hardly highly profitable!
Its just misleading at best and a scaremongering lie at worst to make such claims.

Many of the dentists I know HATE root canal treatment and would rather do the extraction!

welshdent

jm2926 wrote: »

Thank you for this, I find it quite reassuring. The main problem I have with my dentist is his reluctance to strongly recommend an option, saying it's up to me. The last time I pinned him down by asking what he would do if he was me. He really is a lovely dentist and knows I'm terrified and hate having any treatment which I think colours his advice as he knows I don't want to be there at all.

Just over an hour to go .....

I think its because we try not to lead people. We make them aware of what are able to do and allow you to choose. Certainly what I would consider being done for my own treatment and what many of my patients want do vary greatly and took a while to gain that appreciation. Its your tooth and you neeed to live with or without it at the end of the day so only you can make that decision.

PollySouthend

welshdent wrote: »

Sorry but that is complete and utter nonsense! A ridiculous statement to make. I work primarily under an NHS contract. Would you like to hazzard a guess how much I earn for every root canal treatment I do??



Absolutely NOTHING. In fact given the required time allocation that is NEEDS and the equipment needed to actually do the procedure to a high standard it actually costs me money for every single one I do. Even when doing them privately they are hardly highly profitable!
Its just misleading at best and a scaremongering lie at worst to make such claims.

Many of the dentists I know HATE root canal treatment and would rather do the extraction!

Thats because you work under the NHS! The link I posted was from US dentists.

It wasn't so long ago that some unscrupulous NHS dentists were drilling perfectly healthy teeth as it got them more money. Times have changed since then and I think NHS dentists are paid per patient rather than treatment.

welshdent

actually I dont work for the NHS I do contract work .... but RCT is the same the world over so surely your logic should hold true here as there? We only do them and cover up the cancer causing evidence because its profitable? Except it isnt and we dont.
Also as I said, even my private fees are not exorbitantly profitable. The time needed in surgery is significantly longer than all other routine treatment and in many cases the fee is lower. To be frank, whitening is the most profitable treatment in my hands! Minimal surgery time, lower overheads to cover!

PollySouthend

welshdent wrote: »

actually I dont work for the NHS I do contract work .... but RCT is the same the world over so surely your logic should hold true here as there? We only do them and cover up the cancer causing evidence because its profitable? Except it isnt and we dont.
Also as I said, even my private fees are not exorbitantly profitable. The time needed in surgery is significantly longer than all other routine treatment and in many cases the fee is lower. To be frank, whitening is the most profitable treatment in my hands! Minimal surgery time, lower overheads to cover!

No, the healthcare systems in the US and the UK are very different.

To be honest didn't think you needed to be a qualified dentist to do teeth whitening as hair salons offer this.

Where does all the money go if private dentistry is not that profitable? It's certainly not cheap, its worth going on holiday to India if you need a few things doing.

welshdent

PollySouthend wrote: »

No, the healthcare systems in the US and the UK are very different.

To be honest didn't think you needed to be a qualified dentist to do teeth whitening as hair salons offer this.

Where does all the money go if private dentistry is not that profitable? It's certainly not cheap, its worth going on holiday to India if you need a few things doing.

All businesses must be profitable to survive, but thats not what I said. I cant re type all I Said before, but RCT is NOT a holy grail of profitability that they are claiming,. .. or words to that effect

jm2926

welshdent wrote: »

I think its because we try not to lead people. We make them aware of what are able to do and allow you to choose. Certainly what I would consider being done for my own treatment and what many of my patients want do vary greatly and took a while to gain that appreciation. Its your tooth and you neeed to live with or without it at the end of the day so only you can make that decision.

Over the last week it had settled down to just being sore when brushing or if I bite on it. The dentist was quite happy with that and has done some last treatment and taken the impression for the crown. I'm back in 3 weeks for fitting and a hygienist clean, then I'm done!

I can't see these 4 appointments are making much for the dentist at all. The original estimate was under £300 for 3 visits of 1 hour, once materials are accounted for it's not a lot of money.

nyc_451

If I have a root canal treatment on my right upper tooth, will I need a crown? A third of that tooth is a filling, if it matters.

And what is a failed RCT? Do you know immediately that it has failed or only after a few years?

I don't want to be without a front tooth and can't afford a private treatment here. Such a headache.

davholla

welshdent wrote: »

Many of the dentists I know HATE root canal treatment and would rather do the extraction!

As someone who is considering root canal or extraction can I ask why?

welshdent

because its extremely fiddly, back breaking and grossly underfunded on the NHS. It requires a significant amount of time trying to find a series of root canals that are less than a mm in diameter in order to clean out the dead tissue and disinfect it. If you are unable to locate all the anatomy there is increased risk of failure and the instruments that we use can potentially break leading to more issues. Furthermore, you really need magnification to do it as this lessens the back strain, eye strain and makes the anatomy easier to see. That magnification on the cheap end is hundreds of pounds to but and a microscope is 5 - 30,000 depending on the specification. usual price is 10 - 15K.

Forceps and 20 mintes for an extraction and a guarantee that it works and on the NHS it pays better.

Some reasons why a lot of dentists don't like it.

Personally I find it the most satisfying and rewarding procedure I do and every tooth presents me with new challenges that I love trying to rise to.

I am also a geek so love all the toys.