Root canal re-treatment nhs

Simba-ali34

Hello,

I have a root canal that has failed ( it's 4 years old) and my dentist is saying re-treatment of the root canal is not covered by NHS. I have been quoted £1000 for root canal and new crown. Is this correct??

He also said re-treatment of a failed root canal is only covered on the nhs for front teeth?

Regards

brook2jack

re treatment of a failed root treatment is deemed a specialist treatment. There are virtually no specialist endodontists available on the NHS. The very few that might be available ( I know of no areas near me that provide NHS endodontists other than for people on bisphosphonate therapy or jaw radiotherapy) will only treat essential teeth and that is normally teeth further towards the front and where there are no other teeth missing.

That means for the vast majority of people they will need to see a private specialist for re root treatment . The cost of a molar treatment for a specialist will be around £400 to £600+ and the cost of a crown will be on top of that , but the crown can be provided on the NHS £233.70 in England.

Simba-ali34

Thank you for your quick reply.hmm I am unsure about what to do as that's quite alot of money. But then having a extraction and leaving a gap might cause issues later on...

So I could get a re-treatment on my front tooth on NHS if someone is available? But not a molar?

brook2jack

It would be unlikely in most places you would even get a re treatment on a front teeth as there are virtually no specialist endodontists available in most areas on the NHS.

The only ones I have heard of are only available for patients with complex medical problems which mean having a tooth out would be dangerous. The tiny amount of commissioned specialsist endodontists I have heard of but have no experience of , have to work to strict criteria which means even if you were lucky enough to leave in one of the tiny amount of places that fund them it is very unlikely they would re root treat a back tooth.

brook2jack

EG here is referral criteria for Kings in London. Complex endodontic cases are on an advice only basis they will not do treatment , and all other endodontics there is no guarantee of acceptance, only if there is availability and not on very back teeth .https://www.kch.nhs.uk/service/a-z/restorative-dentistry

Simba-ali34

My main 2 issues are that I have a failed molar root canal which I will probably have to have extracted as I cannot afford £1000 when he says it only has a 70% chance of success.

Secondly my front tooth needs it's first root canal after a nasty knock. My dentist said he does lots of them and because it's an easier tooth nhs treatment should be very successful but he can refer me to a specialist if I prefer which again is private and costly. Being a important tooth I'm not sure what to do as I don't know the difference in quality between nhs and private. Any suggestions?

Regards

brook2jack

Front teeth , in general, have only one root canal which is normally easy to get to and access. Any competant dentist should be able to do a good job.