Curvy root canal.. or straight?

welshdent

brake wrote: »

I searched for an endodontics spec, but none would do rct on nhs (as we all expected I think). So I now have a late booking with original dentist for tomorrow pm for the root canal work on nhs.

Just a quick check. brook2jack mentioned that rubber dam is essential. Silly question, is there any reason why rubber dam shouldn't be avail on nhs? Just to be clear my dentist hasn't said this, its a question that occurred to me tonight and I want to be prepared at the appointment to ask the question (and understand the answer). After I just read up on it, rubber dam seemed to make such good sense. If they say 'no dam' I wonder if I should leave?

The reason there are no generally accessible specialists in root canal treatment available on the NHS is simple. The NHS wont pay for them. There is simply no system available that the specialist can carry out root canal system on the NHS. They would not be salaried and the general NHS contract requires the dentist do all that is needed to attain oral health. As such the specialist would either be obliged to do everything as per your general dentist or creatively only allow the root filling to be done. Problem is that if they did do that the funding would not meet the costs of the treatment let alone pay staff and the dentist so the endodontist would not be working for very long!

Rubber dam however is in my opinion essential regardless of the funding system. I have zero problem with the dentist withholding rotary instruments in favour of hand files for NHS treatments. It is still perfectly possible to attain a good outcome with hand files. In fact for many years thats all we had! Not using rubber dam however IMHO could potentially impact on the likely success of the treatment.

justme111

For some canals hand instruments are better or the only ones that can be used. . Besides no machine instruments are used without at least some hand ones. In any case the real difference in quality and cost of endodontics is not in use of one particular instrumentation "machine".So division in hand and machine , nhs and private is in essence simplified and probably misinterpreted message.

justme111

brake wrote: »

I asked about the dam and was told that my dentist prefers to not use them. ..No chemicals were being used- only corsodyl. I received a briefing before and after, using xrays. Not a twinge of pain and a wonderful chair-side manner.

Wow. Rct without rubber dam and hypochlorite. But with good chair side manner. Shows what public values I suppose...
Very interesting it costs £400 under the NHS as well..

welshdent

brake wrote: »

Third, while reading up here, I noticed that the Dentist must hold a specialist qualification to do root canal work. I’ve only registered with my Dentist fairly recently and I have been very impressed with the professionalism shown and I do feel a bit silly even asking this, but does MFDS RCS cover root canal work? my Dentist also has maxillo facial surgery experience and an interest in the specialism.

Incidentally mfds rcs is not a specialism qualification. It is recognition of membership of the Royal college of surgeons which is granted following sitting initially a multiple choice exam then passing some oral exam stations. It stands for member of the faculty of dental surgery at the Royal college of surgeons. The interest in max fac actually is the opposite of endodontics. Endo saves them max fac takes them out