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Original poster

Made a massive mistake and regret it but there's no going back.

114 replies

xmasduo · 26/12/2021 16:22

Just before Christmas I had toothache. Turns out I needed a root canal or extraction of the tooth. I'm at a NHS dentist but he said if I wanted it done before Xmas I should try a private dentist. Cost for root canal was too much and I could barely afford the extraction. With all the talk of lockdowns and being in pain I opted to pay £££ for my tooth to be extracted privately.

Now I'm gutted. I've lost a tooth that should have been saved. I should have waited for my NHS dentist to do treatment but they said it would be months and I was worried about any lockdown.

I can never get that tooth back. I'm so angry with myself.

If lost a tooth and a lot of money!

Just needed to moan to someone really as I am so down.

OP posts:
wombleflump · 26/12/2021 17:33

I had health two teeth out as part of orthodontics a couple years ago. Will they not just move or you can have them moved a little to fill in the gaps?

KirstenBlest · 26/12/2021 17:35

Get an implant. The extraction will need to settle first but you could go to see a dentist now, and book it for when they say is the soonest they can do it.

You can shop around but I had it done privately by my NHS dentist

moggiek · 26/12/2021 17:36

Like PPs, I’ve had root canal treatment on several teeth. Ended up losing them all.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Dental health
Nomoreusernames1244 · 26/12/2021 17:36

How much does an implant cost?

Hmmmwhatnametochoose · 26/12/2021 17:38

My root canal filled tooth got infected last year - in the middle of lockdown. I'm incredibly lucky to be able to have private dental insurance - NHS dentists weren't working. It was agonising and I ended up having the tooth out in hospital. I wish I'd never had the root canal work done - I hadn't realised root canals often don't last forever.

Bobbybobbins · 26/12/2021 17:40

Try to think positively - better for it to be gone than ongoing pain or struggling to get treatment in a potential lockdown!

KirstenBlest · 26/12/2021 17:41

@Nomoreusernames1244, it varies. Depends on which tooth it is and who does it. I paid £1500 but that was about 10 years ago.

I went to my regulare dentist but shopped around first. Quotes were less than £2K.

I'm going to have another 2 or 3 done when/if I can afford it

amillionrosepetals · 26/12/2021 17:43

Another vote against root canals. I had one done many years ago. That blasted tooth spent the next 7 years grumbling and eventually cracked so it had to come out. Never again.

Luredbyapomegranate · 26/12/2021 17:43

Let it go

If you hadn’t paid you could have been in agony over Christmas

Teeth that need root canals often end up being extracted later because they are weaker and infection more easily sets in

Shehasadiamondinthesky · 26/12/2021 17:44

I had a dental abcess throughout lockdown and then spent £1000 having a root canal and trying to save my tooth and the 3 weeks ago I had to have it extracted as the root canal failed. I'm so pissed off. What a waste of money.

BeLessMe · 26/12/2021 17:44

@Mydoghealsmyheart

I had a failed root canal and had to go back several times. In the end it failed and so the tooth was extracted anyway.
This was also my experience, even though two attempts were actually done at the dental hospital.

If you had exaggerated the pain OP and the dentist couldn’t fit you in, they may have only offered to remove it anyway and that may not have been quick. DH had to wait 5 months for an extraction earlier this year. He had 3 lots of antibiotics for the abscess and was in a lot of pain at times, it never got him seen quicker.

LefttoherownDevizes · 26/12/2021 17:45

I've had failed root canals and currently a failing crown. I asked for extraction and the February wouldn't do it, I would never go for root canal again as it's not permanent and continual low level infection from the tooth is just v wearing.

Honestly OP I think you made the right choice

EIIa · 26/12/2021 17:45

You’re paying to have a dead tooth spiked into your mouth. Sounds good? I removed a tooth rather than do that.

Taking it out is so much better IMO

Well done for making a good choice

icedcoffees · 26/12/2021 17:45

Root canals have no guarantee of success. Often they have to be re-done and you end up losing the tooth anyway.

If the gap bothers you, you could look into the cost of getting a dental implant put in.

GemGEmGemster · 26/12/2021 17:46

I reckon you dodged a bullet. I’ve had 4 root canals and none of them have worked and it’s been a painful and expensive journey. Now have implants which are pricey but fuck it. Honesty - try and move past it if you can. Onwards and upwards lovely x

Branleuse · 26/12/2021 17:46

I fucking hate root canals. Ive got one in a few days. I also have a missing back tooth i had extracted years ago after root canal weakened it so much it kept breaking and i couldnt face another repair.

It is what it is. Your reasons were sound and you made one of two choices that were both a bit shit. Maybe your dentist can give you a bridge if its visible

LadyWithLapdog · 26/12/2021 17:47

I understand the depressing feelings about it. Look into having an implant put in. It’s around 2K and needs doing, sooner or later, so better do it whilst you have good teeth strength and structure IMO.

KirstenBlest · 26/12/2021 17:48

What are you on about @Ella?

An implant is a metal root put into your jaw, and a crown attached to it.
Your teeth affect your speech, your eating and other things Wink.

Summerhillsquare · 26/12/2021 17:51

@MaudbeGonne that is such fabulous advice. And not just for dentistry!

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 26/12/2021 17:51

I have just had an implant done after losing a retained milk tooth in my 50s. It's cost me around £2700 (London prices). I also have a root canal that has lasted for more than 15 years. I would take advice from your dentist on what your best options are. It might be that a bridge would work if an implant is too expensive.

Moneygone · 26/12/2021 17:51

@xmasduo

I am also annoyed that my dentist couldn't help me and I had to go to a private dentist. I think if I'd exaggerated the pain they would have fitted me in sooner and probably be over £200 better off. I felt rushed into making my decision with Christmas shutdown and possibility of a lockdown.
Did having the tooth removed cost over 200?
GiraffeDancer · 26/12/2021 17:52

I also had a root canal done that later failed and cracked, and made for the most awful traumatic extraction I can imagine. It was hideous! I do not regret losing the tooth because of the pain it saved, but I did feel ridiculously self conscious for a long time. It’s a pre molar too, so not easily visible, but I do know how you feel.

Raaaaaaarr · 26/12/2021 17:52

I needed a root canal in my 20's and I can only describe the pain in my tooth in the week leading up to it being address as similar to childbirth. It was INCREDIBLY painful. If you had waited and the pain started you'd have had to get it pull anyway so think about this as saving yourself a lot of nasty pain.

Stripyhoglets1 · 26/12/2021 17:52

I had a tooth out years ago when I was a student and couldn't afford to get anything else but free emergency treatment at the dental hospital school.
The gap is much smaller now and causes no issues.

whynotwhatknot · 26/12/2021 17:52

my sister is a dental nurse they dont shut down in a lockdown your dentist sounds crap