Would you see a specialist endodontist for root canal when pregnant? Advice please!

[Napqueen1234]

Hello,

Posted recently with deep filling and now definitely need root canal treatment- horrible weekend with trip to amazing emergency dentist who got this started. Saw regular dentist today who said options are:

a)leave all treatment until after baby born (currently 30 weeks pregnant) not an option for me as in constant pain and maxing out on safe painkillers

b)have it done via regular dentists. Will require 3 x hour long visits involving x ray, anaesthetic, cleaning out of roots and redressing in between. Finally a crown put on top. All free (bless NHS dental treatment for pregnant women!)

c)being referred to specialist endodontist who should be able to do whole procedure in 1 session (2 hours or so) and is a specialist in root canal treatments. Can then go back to regular dentist for crown. Cost £400-450.

I provisionally went for option b as not in a financial position to pay however my mum rang to ask how the dentist went and was horrified and offered to pay for the private treatment to 'just get it done by a specialist'. FWIW my parents are fairly wealthy and could happily pay and would not want the money back although it does make me feel like a 16 year old asking mum and dad to pay.

WWYD? Tempted to take their incredibly generous offer and get it done properly the once to reduce x rays and number of treatments and therefore potential infection/things to go wrong. If anyone has experience if either way please do let me know.

Thanks!

If your mum has offered the money, I'd go to the specialist which is exactly what I'm doing at the moment too. They have better X-ray machines and equipment and the odds of success will be higher than if your regular dentist does it. You can be referred and go for a consultation which you'll pay for, then they should give you a break down if treatment and costs to go away and think about. You can then go back to your normal dentist if you wish, or go ahead with the specialist. Mine has a clause which says if she starts treatment but once started finds it can't be completed, I pay a flat £350 fee. Happened last year, she found hairline cracks in the tooth so it couldn't be saved and I had it out under sedation in hospital.

I've also found myself at an emergency dentist for pain relief so I understand why you want to get it sorted. I have to say that if my Dad hadn't offered to pay this time I'd have to opt for extraction because we can't justify the £1400 it's coming in at.

Thanks @frugalkitty sorry you've been experiencing it too its awful isn't it! The place the dentist want to refer to doesn't have any availability until late December and I absolutely cannot wait til then so may be stuck with regular dentist as she can crack on this Thursday (and is free!). The thought of 2-3 sessions kills me though I hate the dentist! Other places wont do the second stage until after the baby is born.

I had one done without anaesthetic as they wouldn't give it to me because I was pregnant. Do whatever you can to delay treatment until baby's here.

Oh god @musicallychallenged that sounds hideous!!!! I’ve already had local anaesthetic I don’t think that’s contraindicated in pregnancy anyway? How cruel!!