Root canal on the NHS

tony3619

Hello,

I developed an abscess a couple of months ago, went to the emergency dentist and they cleared out the Infection and put a temp filling in. 

All seemed fine while I waited for my scheduled Root canal. I had this done about 2 weeks ago and Ive now developed the abscess in the same place (a little milder)

I've read that the NHS doesn't cover root canal retreatment which I'm guessing this falls under? I feel abit cheated that the root canal failed so quickly and now they can only offer an extraction or going private for hundreds of pounds. 

Any other options? 

Undervalued

tony3619 said:

Hello,

I developed an abscess a couple of months ago, went to the emergency dentist and they cleared out the Infection and put a temp filling in. 

All seemed fine while I waited for my scheduled Root canal. I had this done about 2 weeks ago and Ive now developed the abscess in the same place (a little milder)

I've read that the NHS doesn't cover root canal retreatment which I'm guessing this falls under? I feel abit cheated that the root canal failed so quickly and now they can only offer an extraction or going private for hundreds of pounds. 

Any other options? 

That is not entirely true. A NHS dentist is supposed to do relatively straightforward root canals as part of a Band 2 treatment. They are entitled to decline more complex ones if the skills or equipment needed are beyond what would reasonably be expected of a general (i.e non specialist) dentist.

The problem is that they are time consuming and need expensive materials to carry out so, with the obscure formula the NHS use to pay dentists, they can easily lose money doing root canals.

Obviously that gives a temptation for the less scrupulous to refuse ones they should be perfectly capable of doing!

They cannot offer to do it privately themselves but they can suggest another dentist in the same practice or elsewhere. 

diystarter7

Hi OP

Is there a hopstial near yo that does dental work?

A friend of ours, the nhs dentist would not remove their wisdom tooth as deemed too complexed becuse of problems our friend had with their jaw - the tooth got infected several times and friend paid the 50/60 odd quid a few times and I think the dentist referred him to the nhs hopsital - the wait was a couple of months and they had the toot removed and no further charges.

Worth considering, checking IMO

Good luck

Toothsmith

Hospitals will only take out the trickier teeth, a wisdom tooth would count, but a normal molar unless some special complication would be considered within the capability of a general dentist.