Under filled root canal

dbrookf

I went for root canal treatment this morning knowing that there was quite a pronounced curve on my root canal after an x-ray last week. The dentist completed half the treatment telling me that she hadn’t been able to get down to the apex because of the curve. I’ve got to go back next week for the other half of the root canal treatment but I am wondering whether this is a lost cause as it potentially has a high prospect of failure eventually. Not sure whether to continue or whether to consider extraction or endodontist. Opinions welcome!

brook2jack

The best person to ask is your dentist who can see your X rays etc. A specialist endodontist is likely to charge £400 to £600 to root fill the tooth . They are not generally available on the NHS.

dbrookf

Dentist obviously prepared to carry on as I have another appointment next week to finish off – I realise the endodontist would be a private appointment. Also if I decided to go down the endodontics route, would that mean I would have to pay the full NHS fee for what is done so far – basically half the root canal treatment?

brook2jack

You would probably need a crown on the tooth so you would pay a band three charge. If not it depends on whatever treatment you have had

Saffythecat

I had a similar situation with an upper molar which had really twisted roots. My own dentist was concerned she might not be able to reach then end, and said she could try it, or refer me - I saw an endodontist who was like “pfft, no bother”. I paid him almost £900, but my own dentist didn’t begin the treatment. I then had it crowned by my dentist after three months (had to return to the endodontist for further x-rays then he signed me off).

welshdent

Endodontists would say it's no bother because that's what they specialise in. I take referrals and routinely do work that would be daunting to a generalist. But that's to be expected because we have actively sought additional training

Saffythecat

Oh, gosh, I really hope that didn’t come across like I was criticising my dentist. That was not my intention at all. I trust her 100% and asked her, “if this was your tooth, would you want the specialist to do it?”- she said, “honestly, yes”, and I went from there.

As a slightly nervous patient, I am so grateful to have a fantastic dentist who I know will send me in the right direction. In all honesty, having to see a different person was really daunting, more than the idea of the treatment itself, but based on my dentist’s recommendation I was confident I would be in good hands.