AIBU to think I should be able to get a root canal on the NHS regardless of the length of my teeth???

[RoboticSealpup]

Dentist just told me my teeth have such exceptionally long roots (yuck) that he needs to send me to private endodontist as he's not confident he will be able to perform a successful root canal on such a long root. It's the upper molar at the very back. This will cost me £900, apparently. Or I could have it pulled on the NHS.

What the heck? Any dentists here?

Jeezo. Thats rubbish.

My dentist ruptured my sinus removing my top wisdom tooth several months ago and had to put 13 stitches in that small area of my gum to try to seal the hole to stop the contents of my sinus draining into my mouth and to stop whatever I drank coming down my nose.

He said that if it didn’t work then he’d need to send me privately to fix it. I told him that I would not be paying for his fuck up - he should have stitched me when he removed the tooth rather than wait to see if my sinus ruptured.

They’re fucking cowboys.

How nice dingdong

OP, just have it taken out. A much better use of time & money. Unless it's the only tooth you have on that side.

That sounds horrible, dingdong

Is it really better to take it out Mrsmorton ? Anyone know any risks with extraction?

i am currently undergoing dental work which includes root canals, crowns and a new plate.
Total for all of this which includes x-rays, casts, temporary crowns, permanent crowns, new plate and a couple of molar root fillings is £900 for NHS and £365 for me.

Don't have t pulled unless really necessary.

Almost seems like he's sending me to his dad's private practice or something...

I’ve had numerous root canals and numerous extractions. I’d go for the extraction every time xx

demented are you in England? Those aren't NHS charges at all. Not even close.

robotic I'm not going to get involved, I feel there's an agenda behind your questions. If you don't trust your dentist, find a new one. Good luck.

This happened to me too. After the NHS dentist did 4 separate root canals on the same tooth she then admitted defeat and said I would have to see a private specialist to complete it as my roots were too curly and narrow. I spent the money and even he couldn’t finish it so just filled it. Annoyingly the issue wasn’t even with my tooth 😩. I didn’t want it pulled as it would have been really noticeable to have a gap where it was and I couldn’t afford a decent implant.

i.m.o., most molar root fillings should be carried out by a specialist endodontist.
If I needed such a root filling, I would see a specialist: and not my colleagues at work, not even my husband!
Most dentists I know would see a specialist, over a general dentist.

Sounds pretty standard (although not sure about the cost)

Mine gave me 3 options. She could do it with about 80/85% chance of success. I could get a referral to a private endodontist or she could extract it.

I'm not going to get involved, I feel there's an agenda behind your questions.

That's a really strange comment. Do you think I'm the Daily Fail or something?

If you're dentist isn't confident to do it and you want to keep the tooth either pay privately or go for 2nd opinion.

I am currently paying off a £1700 endontist bill so I feel your pain.

Wow, absolutely amazed that randoms have more knowledge of dentistry than a qualified dentist has who attended 4 years of dental school.

If the dentist can’t do it, go private as advised or get a 2nd (qualified) opinion.

Northern

I thought it was strange to be referred to a private dentist and I wanted to know if this was normal.

I guess I'll go private. I wonder what happens if the private root canal is unsuccessful. Would I have to pay another £900 to fix it?

robotic I have ridiculously long roots too. I went to have a root canal done privately (no chance of NHS in my area) and he couldn’t clean it to the end. I had to be referred to hospital and it was done under general anaesthetic. Your nhs dentist isn’t obviously confident doing it, I’m assuming there’s no one else available on nhs to do it so he’s saying he can take it out or you try and find smomeone private to do it.

FWIW the tooth I had the root canal on in hospital completely crumbled about a year later anyway. Wish I’d just had it taken out in the first place.

robotic if it’s unsuccessful you would have to pay to have it fixed. They always tell you before the start root canals that there’s no guarantee the tooth will survive.

Can you not be referred to your local dental hospital?

@Northern - dental school is 5 years, not 4
Absolutely agree with Pullups on this.
Almost- where we are wouldn’t be accepted- they have no funding for this.
Good luck OP.

I would not want a dentist who was not confident in his ability to do what was needed, doing a root canal treatment on me. However, it might be worth asking if you can be referred to another NHS dentist, who is capable of more complex root canals.

When I was doing my nurse training (admittedly sometime in the last century), the teaching hospital I trained at had a dental department, as part of the maxillofacial speciality - if there is one near you, they may be able to give you more advice, @RoboticSealpup.

I hope you can get the treatment you need. You have my sympathy - dental issues are literally a pain - I am currently nursing a very sore jaw, after a wisdom tooth extraction - the root was an odd shape so it was a real fight to get it out, and I am surviving on a cocktail of ibuprofen and paracetamol, and hot compresses (and a healthy serving of self pity).

I bet dementedma is in northern Ireland. They would be our prices.

I'd ask yourself if your going to miss the tooth if it's extracted. Seems like a lot of money to pay. I'd also consider the condition of the neighbouring teeth, are they likely to need RCT canals also?

I have recently had appointments at my local dental hospital. Whilst I didn't NEED any work done, I was born with hypodontia. I have a tooth missing at the front. They are putting a complex bridge in for free. This would usually cost hundreds. It might be worth a try? If I can get a free cosmetic procedure I'm sure they would at least consider doing your root canal.

It would be a hard decision for me to have a tooth pulled. I like my teeth and would always choose to have one fixed instead of removed if it was an option - even if that meant exhausting every available avenue.

I think it's a good sign that he's told you he's not confident enough to do it. But why is he not referring you to an NHS endodontist? Could be lack of availability in your area or waiting times? But it's not a given that you can't have it done on the NHS.

When I hung up my loupes, there was no such thing as an NHS endodontist, sparkly Can't imagine that's changed, a hospital referral for this wouldn't even get past the secretary.

I went private for root canal. I was told by my fairly young Dentist they didn't have the time / expertise to conduct the tricky (angled) root canal on a nhs appt and I paid £500 odds several years ago for a private Dentist. I'm in Scotland