Should I be able to get an NHS dentist to perform a root procedure?

-pete-_2

Hi everyone. So I need a root canal as my filling is coming away, so my dentist suggestion to have a private consultation to see if they could do it. I went for the private consultation at the same practice today (same room and everything) with a different dental practitioner and he said that the tooth is probably saveable and he would get his assistant to figure out the cost. During my first visit my usual dentist suggested that the cost for this would be around £250 - expensive but reasonable. The quote from the assistant today has come out as nearer £450! Does NHS treatment not cover me for things like this? I think the practitioner does do NHS treatments and it was in the same practice so I'm kinda feeling like I'm getting ripped off!

elsien

Root canals are available on the NHS.
My dentist gave me the option of NHS with him or private with another dentist in the same practice who had a higher long term success rate.

brook2jack

Root canal can be a difficult and complex treatment, particularly on back teeth (molars).

Some can only be tackled by a dentist who has further training and equipment eg an operating microscope.

Unfortunately, in general , the NHS will not pay for a specialist in root treatment and in almost all cases specialist treatment for root treatment needs to be private.

What a dentist cannot do is say I cannot do this tooth on the NHS but I will do it privately , use different equipment privately . However they can refer to a colleague, even in the same practice to do the treatment.

To put this into context , to do a MSC in root treatment will cost upwards of £30,000 , an operating microscope £14,000, even specialist glues such as MDTA cost £50 a time.

£400 to £600 is roughly the cost for a molar root treatment.

sheramber

I have had root canals done by my NHS dentists- more than one dentist as i have moved and changed dentists.

None have mentioned private treatment

Owain_Moneysaver

£100 for a molar root canal, NHS. Scotland.

brook2jack

However if a root canal is difficult ie roots are curved, very narrow or obstructed etc then the dentist has to refer to a specialist. Unfortunately , by and large, specialist endodontists are not available on the NHS , in which case you would need to pay privately.