Root canal treatment cost

StartAfresh

Recently had root canal work on a tooth. My NHS dentist is very good and said they could do it, but the chances of losing the tooth was about 80%. If I went private to someone who specializes in difficult root canals then there would be a 20% chance of losing the tooth.
The private dentist had specialist equipment.

Decided to go private and paid around:
£120 for first initial consultation.
£380 for second visit which included clearing roots and putting in temporary filling which stayed for about a month whilst swelling and infection reduced.
£320 for final visit which was to take out temporary filling and putting in a permanent one.
Total cost close to £820 compared to £50 for NHS treatment.

(Second and third visit when the did the work took 1.5 hours each - doubt NHS dentist would have spent that long)

Unfortunately with root canal work the tooth is normally more fragile so I expect I will have to pay another load of money, to NHS this time, to fit a crown in a few months time.

Loads of money for one tooth though, but worth it for me.

pogofish

jasheemkhan wrote: »

Hi
Shes was told her tooth has 3 curved roots and the practice was not comfortable doing it.
We were told it would be in range of £3000.
That is too steep for us.

If its too difficult for a normal dentist, then they should be referring her to the local maxillofacial/oral surgery unit, not quoting stumping great fees!

You may want her to seek a second opinion on this.

StartAfresh

jasheemkhan wrote: »

I have no clue about band B or C others are talking about. can anybody explain?

There are 3 different charging rates for NHS dental treatment. Sorry as I am new I can't post a link but you can google NHS charges and all will be explained.

pogofish

jasheemkhan wrote: »

I have no clue about band B or C others are talking about.
can anybody explain?

See my link - It explains everything.

Toothsmith

pogofish wrote: »

If its too difficult for a normal dentist, then they should be referring her to the local maxillofacial/oral surgery unit, not quoting stumping great fees!

You may want her to seek a second opinion on this.

Oral surgeons/maxiofacial surgeons do not do root fillings.

The NHS commissions very very little in the way of specialist secondary care dental services.

You need to put pressure on local NHS services if you want these things - not blame ordinary dentists who do not have the proper training to treat the more complex cases.

If you needed a heart bypass and the NHS didn't commission specialist cardiac surgeons - you wouldn't be demanding that your GP did it would you?

pogofish

Not root fillings but they will take-on work that is beyond a normal dentist. I've been referred there myself for work relating to difficult teeth/potential jaw damage and to another local dentist with better facilities/abilities for other work

However I'm more of the feeling that seeking the opinion/skills of a different dentist might be the more practical way to go?

brook2jack

pogofish wrote: »

Not root fillings but they will take-on work that is beyond a normal dentist. I've been referred there myself for work relating to difficult teeth/potential jaw damage and to another local dentist with better facilities/abilities for other work

However I'm more of the feeling that seeking the opinion/skills of a different dentist might be the more practical way to go?

Maxillofacial surgeons are just that, they do surgery and some oral medicine. They do not do root treatment, crowns bridges etc.

I am not aware of any area that has commissioned specialist endodontists that are generally available.Not surprising when in a time of financial constraints it is difficult to justify the health service spending hundreds of pounds to save just one tooth.

Neither am I aware of any area that has commissioned advanced prosthetic and restorative dentists that are generally available.

If a multi rooted tooth is complex to root fill it is virtually impossible to get this done on the nhs and Mexico legally any dentist would be a fool to attempt it who is not a specialist.

welshdent

pogofish wrote: »

If its too difficult for a normal dentist, then they should be referring her to the local maxillofacial/oral surgery unit, not quoting stumping great fees!

You may want her to seek a second opinion on this.

Max Fac is where we send people to arrange extractions not root fillings. I am afraid they wont do it and hospital services already provide little in the way of root canal treatment as it is.

beckstar1975

My NHS dentist referred me for a specialist opinion on a failed root canal to a dental hospital, who was willing to redo my root canal for me on the NHS - but I wimped out a) as he would do only with local not sedation and I am terrified, and b) I have had so much bother I just want the blasted thing gone. This is on a fractured molar ( I grind and clench).

So, not only are tricky root canals covered by the NHS but I was lucky enough to get agreement for a re root canal on NHS too - I would recommend changing your dentist as they don't sound like they are trying to help you at all.

Toothsmith

beckstar1975 wrote: »

My NHS dentist referred me for a specialist opinion on a failed root canal to a dental hospital, who was willing to redo my root canal for me on the NHS - but I wimped out a) as he would do only with local not sedation and I am terrified, and b) I have had so much bother I just want the blasted thing gone. This is on a fractured molar ( I grind and clench).

So, not only are tricky root canals covered by the NHS but I was lucky enough to get agreement for a re root canal on NHS too - I would recommend changing your dentist as they don't sound like they are trying to help you at all.

There are less dental hospitals in the UK that there are fingers and toes on Heather Mills.

These places have severe budget constraints as well, so will not be doing very many root fillings each year. You are more likely to find a lottery winner than you will be to find someone who has had a root canal treatment done by a specialist on the NHS.

So it's hardly accurate to say 'it's available on the NHS' - it isnt!

Even someone who's met you will not be able to say "I've met someone who's had a root filling done on the NHSby a specialist - because you didn't get one done either! Shame really! You'd be a rarity!!