To ask how bad a root filling is?

[silverking]

I went to the dentist yesterday for the first time in eight years.

I need a root filling, to say that I am petrified is an understatement.

How bad is it?

I am too frightened to google.

I just found it lengthy myself. It takes a while is all. If you can imagine yourself on a beach in Mauritius or something...

I have also had an extraction. The extraction was far easier. But eventually you run out of teeth if you opt for that.

I am having it done a week on Monday as that is my day off so at least I can just come home and take it easy. So not looking forward to it.

£56 should get you root canal on the NHS how much more are people paying!!

Appreciate you say you don't have NHS available to you OP but how much are they charging you?

My denist offers private and you get all the fancy tools that are supposed to make it quicker that no doubt cost him a lot of money he doesn't get on the NHS. when I went for NHS because I'm poor he used the fancy expensive tools anyway.

Can I recommend that you listen to music through headphones? Something with a fast, loud beat. It will distract from the drilling sound and make you less anxious.

It's fine just takes a while and you get a very achy jaw. Never had problems either the tooth since (touch wood)

Ontheboatdealk I honestly don't know how much it will cost, I was just told to book an appointment for a root filling. Maybe there is a price list on their website. I shall have a look.

So the website says for a multiple canal root filling cost is from £300.

Bad? - not in the slightest - did not feel a thing! Relax!

Absolute agony. The worst pain until childbirth! But the dentist quickly gave me more anesthetic so it was only briefly horrific. But likewise, my toothache had been so bad I was just grateful to receive treatment.

I am in awe of the posters that fell asleep during the treatment.

If your dentist is competent and there are no complications, you'll feel like someone's poked you with a pin when the anaesthetic is injected, and then no pain caused by the procedure. As mentioned, aching jaw just from keeping your mouth open is common.

But it can be got wrong and hurt like heck. If the anaesthetic injection is rushed or done badly that will be very painful. If there's an abscess or other severe infection then that can make the anaesthetic less effective. If you have an unusual nerve layout in your jaw then the dentist will need to give injections in different places to numb you, and some dentists are better than others at doing that. If you have ginger hair you're likely to need more anaesthetic. People with certain medical conditions might need different anaesthetics altogether that the dentists will need to order in.

If you need a root canal because you're in excruciating pain from toothache, then in a few years time you might remember the toothache and forget the actual root canal was painless. That's one reason root canals have a bad reputation.

If your dentist doesn't believe you when you say something hurts, find another dentist.

Please find out the cost before you have it done. Is there no way you can register and book with an NHS denist?? They will do their best to make it ok for you

Join I too feel grateful that I am able to get it fixed and not have to lose a tooth. Toothache is truly awful.

I had one done OP and it was painless. You'll be fine.

Oh, and if your dentist tests the tooth for sensation, usually by tapping it or blowing cold air onto it, and you say you don't feel anything but actually you do, don't be surprised if later during the procedure it hurts! That's your own dang fault.

I am in awe of the posters that fell asleep during the treatment

You just reminded me that I did. There was a TV screen on the ceiling of the surgery so you could look right up at it and I fell asleep watching something.

Ontheboardealk I must have phoned a dozen dentists, none of which were taking on new NHS patients. It would cost £56 with a NHS dentist. It's a big difference in cost isn't it.

Top tip Safari. I will remember that for sure.

Oh no that's not good. I've just put my postcode into this website and found 2 near me. Any good for you?

www.nhs.uk/Service-Search/Dentists/LocationSearch/3

Thanks for that ontheboardealk. I had already checked. It does list two local NHS dentists but when I called I was told that they were not able to take on any new NHS patients. One did say to try again in a couple of months.

Mine was similar to a PP. NHS dentist tried twice and was then honest and said I needed to see a specialist. Hence the £1000 bill including a crown but it was 6 years ago and has been ok since (crosses fingers).

I'm glad that you got your tooth sorted Mamm. I am bracing myself for the cost but at the end of the day it's my own fault for not going to the dentist for eight years. I guess I will be paying eight years of dental care in one go. I have learnt my lesson on this one

Good luck. For me it was after I had my twins my teeth were completely messed up. There's a reason you get a year's free dental after you have a baby.

I had a root canal earlier this year due to a fractured tooth from my teens.

Honestly I expected the worst and out it off twice but it didn't hurt and it was a front tooth so harder apparently. It took two sitting as he couldn't get all the root the first time but all I felt was like pulling feeling no pain.