Any Dentist's on here? Or anyone had root canal work?

[carat 3.6]

Hi all, after a recent bout of toothache I reluctantly made my first visit to the dentist in 16 years. Turns out I have a problem with my lower right, rear molar, which needs root canal work to fix. So Thursday I attended my booked appointment to have this done, but sadly due to a very well hidden/inaccessible root, they were unable to fully complete the work.

As such I now have a temporary filling in that tooth, and have been referred to Endocare of Harley street, who are a specialist's in dealing with these sorts of problems. I have a consultation with them this week.

Now my original dentist had priced things at £600 for the root canal, and a further £600 for a crown on top. Endocare are quoting a possible £995 for the root canal alone!

So my question is, is it worth it? Up to this point I have never needed to have any work done, and not even had a filling. So I am quite keen to try to save the tooth, but £100 to just have it removed is quite tempting...

Anyone had this sort of work done, or care to share their thoughts about it?

 

[Red C220]

I had this issue about 8 years ago. £1000 to keep it, £80 to pull it.

I had it pulled, at the time £1000 was too much.

Now I'm probably facing having to have an implant (circa £3000) as it's starting to effect the tooth above. So I'd say if you can afford it, get it fixed.

 

[Codger49]

I have just had root canal treatment and a crown fitted, £320 for the root canal and £450 for the crown. However, this was for a front incisor which is a simpler job than a rear molar (fewer roots, fewer canals). My dental practice is also based in darkest East Sussex which may be less expensive than those nearer to or in London.

This website, although American, gives a pretty good description and what is involved (even has videos if you really want to see them). It also has links to US cost estimates for both rural and big-city situations, which bracket the figures you mentioned.

http://www.dental-picture-show.com/endodontics/a-how-many-root-canals.html

Harley Street dentists are not going to be cheap, maybe you can locate a more technically competant practice somewhere else? E.g. my dentist is a specialist in restructuring, implants etc and I know his father trains such dentists at his practice in North London.


Otherwise, its £1500 for a rebuilt rear molar which should last you out. (At least it will always be there to hook a plate onto!) Removing it and having an implant will probably be twice the price.


PS the owner of my small rural dental practice has their children at private schools and buys a new E coupe or convertible annually.

 

[Druk]

My understanding of the costs are because a special microscope is reqd for canal work. £600 up here average cost. As said...does it have to be Harley St?

 

[geraldrobins]

I've had root canal work done twice in the last 10 years but fortunately have an NHS dentist so the cost was just over £200 each time including the crown.

 

[MD5]

Worst case scenario, think of the money you've saved over the years. At least you'll be able to properly bite the bullet afterwards!

 

[carat 3.6]

Gentlemen, thank you.

Redc220, your situation is what I was concerned about. Although I could remove it, it will then cause problems at a later date. £1000 is a bill I could do without right now, but if it is the better option then it will have to be done.

I was referred to the Harley street team as they only specialize in awkward root canal work, the tooth in question is in a difficult position compared to others, so was trying to increase the chances of it being successful.

 

[Simon_M]

Why Harley Street? Would take w124 to The MB F1 team for servicing?

Had root canal a few years back, which required an impacted wisdom tooth to be removed first.

I don't recall any cameras involved, just lots of drilling, scraping, temporary fillings and a crappy crown. Think the whole lot was about, the root canal was NHS but the crown was private to colour match it.

S

 

[grober]

Think most dentists [without a financial interest in the proceeedings! ] would tell you preserving orginal is best if at all possible. Not quite sure capping at this stage is necessary if the root canal treatment is successful unless that molar is crumbling completely. Remember its an excellent natural fit to its opposing tooth in the other jaw- a crown even a well fitted one is never quite the same. I would say get the root treatment from the harley street or other specialist and see how it goes. It can always be crowned later.

 

[DanielMBScott]

May I ask why it is so much?

I go to a NHS dental practice to have root canal - it took two appointments and they classed it as band 2 (£53). First appointment was painful but second went fine and it is now fixed.

Have you tried a NHS practice? BTW I work full time and have a job (so it's not subsidised!)

 

[grober]

A quick perusal of the charges levied by this private clinic- reckoned to be among the best in Scotland and subject of referrals from many Dentists Blackhills Clinic | Specialist Dental Referral Clinic Scotland
would indicate that the Harley street charges are not much higher than the average specialist. Its perhaps important to ascertain that the treatment may actually intail several visits----- preliminary assessment/xray/scan ----treatment----- subsequent follow up/s -----and viewed in that light the seemingly high charge may not be so bad after all being levied to catch all possibilities .

 

[Harrythedog]

Go NHS for the Root Canal and private for the Crown

 

[Deleted member 37751]

If you get stuck I'll take it out for free pal.

 

[PobodY]

Talk to the dentist about Denplan insurance (or similar). - Probably a bit late if you need to go in for emergency dental surgery, but it takes some of the cost out if you've got a load of work that needs to be done in the not-too distant future.

Failing that, any form of health insurance (through employment for example)? - That might also cover some of the cost.

 

[Deleted member 65149]

A few years ago I suffered extreme pain in my lower left rear molar. I suffered a session of root canal drilling and digging that made me wonder whether the dentist was hoping to strike oil. I was expecting the worst in terms of pain, but compared to the pain I'd endured over the Christmas holiday it wasn't too bad. But, the major problem was in roots that my NHS dentist was unable to reach satisfactorily, so couldn't all be removed. Lots of disinfectant (Tesco bleach?) squirted in there didn't do much either. So he temporarily filled the now large cavity and gave me a prescription for antibiotics in the hope of killing off the remaining infected pulp.

It didn't work so a couple of months later I was back for another attempt by a different dentist. Deeper and more painful digging still not fully effective so it was time for another go on antibiotics.

Still no success so on my third visit I asked for the offending tooth to be removed. It's amazing how well infected roots can hang on, especially when there's not a lot of tooth to get hold of! Still, it's gone now and 4 or 5 years later I've had no problems with the matching tooth above. I just wish I'd opted for removal in the first place.

Regarding implants, my wife had a couple of adjacent implants about 15 years ago and they're still perfect. Because I don't miss my molar anymore I'm not bothering to do the same (we're having a holiday in the Maldives instead!).

 

[PobodY]

I'd certainly rather go to the Maldives than the dentist!

 

[grober]

Root canal morphology can be very complex. So complex that straight forward X rays may not be enough and some equivalant of a CT scan may be required. That's where you need a specialist in root canal therapy. A bit like taking your Modern Mercedes to the garage round the corner or to an MB specialist. Forget the simple stylised anatomy images of root canal treatment here's the potential reality.

 

[Dryce]

May I ask why it is so much?

I go to a NHS dental practice to have root canal - it took two appointments and they classed it as band 2 (£53). First appointment was painful but second went fine and it is now fixed.

Have you tried a NHS practice? BTW I work full time and have a job (so it's not subsidised!)

Not all practices do specialist endodontic work. NHS treatment tends to cover basics. So if you go in for a root canal and the root is problematic then you have to be refered to a private specialist if you want it dealt with.

I'm not sure how things work if you're being treated by a dentist under the NHS who is also an endontic specialist. I don't think they're allowed to aportion costs for treatment between NHs and private on the same treatment.

When I've looked at practices in the past the ones offer specialist endontic treatment tend to be private.

 

[carat 3.6]

If you get stuck I'll take it out for free pal.

Lee you legend! Earlier today I would of taken you up on the offer, cos it is sure reminding me that it's there today.

 

[carat 3.6]

A quick perusal of the charges levied by this private clinic- reckoned to be among the best in Scotland and subject of referrals from many Dentists Blackhills Clinic | Specialist Dental Referral Clinic Scotland
would indicate that the Harley street charges are not much higher than the average specialist. Its perhaps important to ascertain that the treatment may actually intail several visits----- preliminary assessment/xray/scan ----treatment----- subsequent follow up/s -----and viewed in that light the seemingly high charge may not be so bad after all being levied to catch all possibilities .

Graeme thank you,

I've been comparing charges from various specialist's today, and they all seem to be similar figures. The good thing in my mind as it shows the Harley street team are not charging a fortune just because of their location.

As you say, my understanding of the high charge is to cover all possible outcomes. So on that basis I wont be getting any extra bills should it be a bigger job than first appears, which I suspect it will be!

I think I shall just have to bite the bullet and get it done, expensive or not I think it will have better chances of success at a specialist.

Simon.