NHS Molar Root Canal

izzybella16

Maybe amalgam is used widely because they know a lot of people will come back at a later date to have them replaced by white fillings so there's no real reason to develop an amalgam replacement.

Toothsmith

izzybella16 wrote: »

Maybe amalgam is used widely because they know a lot of people will come back at a later date to have them replaced by white fillings so there's no real reason to develop an amalgam replacement.

But that's going to happen anyway!

There is no way that such a material - once developed - with all the development and testing costs - will ever fulfill the criteria of being 'cheap' as well!! So people on State care systems like the NHS or budget private care would still be provided with amalgam.

They would still then 'trade up' to the more aesthetic treatment when and if they can afford it.

When a nice simple to place, biocompatible, long lasting, aesthetic filling material is developed, then it really will be a huge moneyspinner for the inventor. It would make no sense at all not to release it to the market.

welshdent

I think it is a bit simplistic to just go along the lines that without sugar we would effectively be out of a job. We are about prevention as well as treatment. It is not just sugar that causes problems. Trauma for one causes a lot of issues. I have had an 18 year old with such a heavy bite that he literally broke every single cusp off his one molar tooth that had a small filling in. Came in with pain. Took the filling out which was holding it all together and it literally all broke away.

I have seen many rugby, assault, horse kicking face injuries that result in breakages and loss of teeth all of which need treatment.
Tooth surface loss by either own teeth grinding on each other over time or parafunction habits and toothbrush abrasion.

Periodontal disease
The list goes on but none of those examples were caused by sugar.

izzybella16

welshdent wrote: »

I think it is a bit simplistic to just go along the lines that without sugar we would effectively be out of a job. We are about prevention as well as treatment. It is not just sugar that causes problems. Trauma for one causes a lot of issues. I have had an 18 year old with such a heavy bite that he literally broke every single cusp off his one molar tooth that had a small filling in. Came in with pain. Took the filling out which was holding it all together and it literally all broke away.

I have seen many rugby, assault, horse kicking face injuries that result in breakages and loss of teeth all of which need treatment.
Tooth surface loss by either own teeth grinding on each other over time or parafunction habits and toothbrush abrasion.

Periodontal disease
The list goes on but none of those examples were caused by sugar.

I think to say without sugar there would be a 90% reduction in requirement for dental work would be an understatement. Of course there are injuries, but at least 90% of dental work has sugar as the root cause.

brook2jack

Actually in the UK most people have teeth removed because of gum disease rather than decay.

Dj_plasma

Hi there,

I'll start by saying I am not dentist but was in a similar position. I had and issue with a pre-molar, which is right next to a molar that I previously had root canal treatment. The stinger is that the molar i had done previously was messed up by an NHS dentist (from a different practice) and my dentist was not comfortable undertaking a root canal treatment due to this and that they weren't sure which tooth was causing the issue. After 1-2 years of living with the issue and trying to get it resolved at my dentists, I gave up and requested a referral to the dental hospital to get it looked at by a specialist.

After seeing the consultant, it was confirmed that i did need a root canal treatment doing and that they would perform the procedure at the dental hospital. I've now had that treatment completed and am very happy with the result, I ended up being treated by the consultant as the student originally assigned the work was taking too long and not able to complete.

Perhaps your friend could request a referral for the treatment, the upshot would also be that there is no cost for the root canal treatment if it is done at the dental hospital.

brook2jack

Unfortunately most dental hospitals will no longer accept referrals for endodontics or will accept only very rarely for endodontics. EG in London molar endodontics will not be routinely done, and all other endodontics will be subject to certain criteria and long waiting lists http://www.kldc.org.uk/files/Reasons-for-the-change-in-the-referrals-protocols.pdf

welshdent

izzybella16 wrote: »

I think to say without sugar there would be a 90% reduction in requirement for dental work would be an understatement. Of course there are injuries, but at least 90% of dental work has sugar as the root cause.

I do not think the statistics back up what you say and certainly not in my day to day work. But even it did - we do not live in an ideal world therefore Sugar and its effects are a reality and as such we need to be equipped to deal with the consequences. I think we do a good job

izzybella16

Dj_plasma wrote: »

Hi there,

I'll start by saying I am not dentist but was in a similar position. I had and issue with a pre-molar, which is right next to a molar that I previously had root canal treatment. The stinger is that the molar i had done previously was messed up by an NHS dentist (from a different practice) and my dentist was not comfortable undertaking a root canal treatment due to this and that they weren't sure which tooth was causing the issue. After 1-2 years of living with the issue and trying to get it resolved at my dentists, I gave up and requested a referral to the dental hospital to get it looked at by a specialist.

After seeing the consultant, it was confirmed that i did need a root canal treatment doing and that they would perform the procedure at the dental hospital. I've now had that treatment completed and am very happy with the result, I ended up being treated by the consultant as the student originally assigned the work was taking too long and not able to complete.

Perhaps your friend could request a referral for the treatment, the upshot would also be that there is no cost for the root canal treatment if it is done at the dental hospital.

How long did the referral take?

izzybella16

I think dentistry should be more preventative. Stop caries before they develop, fissure sealants are effective I have seen studies. Limiting sugar to once per day would be so effective!