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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

44 replies

RoboticSealpup · 24/07/2018 20:13

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?

OP posts:
Chrisinthemorning · 24/07/2018 22:04

I’m really jealous you’ve hung up your loupes MrsMorton Envy Smile

Mrsmorton · 24/07/2018 22:05

It's blissful. I haven't missed it once, not even a tiny bit.

Except the high speed was quite handy for the odd DIY thing & I can't do my own SP anymore. Smile

PurpleFlower1983 · 24/07/2018 22:09

Our dentists have just changed hands and they now refuse to do root canal on the NHS due to their new expensive equipment. Hmm They too charge £900!

Chrisinthemorning · 24/07/2018 22:10

I have an exit plan but need to be mortgage free first. Aiming to be out by 50, am 41 now.
OP Dentistry is incredibly stressful, we’re dropping like flies, be kind to your dentist. FWIW they sound ethical and as though they are giving you good advice.

llangennith · 24/07/2018 22:24

At my advanced age I've had a fair bit of root canal work done on my teeth. You should be aiming to keep as many of your teeth as possible not go for extraction.
Often the process of drilling into the root to get to the nerve will split the tooth root so a good dentist will suggest a crown after the root canal treatment. I don't have long rooted teeth but a had root canal and a crown done on NHS recently and it cost me £135.
Ring your Health Authority and explain the situation. They may be able to find you a better NHS dentist. Or phone your nearest dental hospital and talk to them about it.

Semster · 24/07/2018 22:39

Personally in your situation I'd go with the specialist and have the root canal. I'd also have a crown put on the tooth to extend its life as far as possible.

I think teeth are worth keeping if at all possible, even if it costs a lot of money. But it does depend on whether you can find the money.

I did have one tooth extracted after two different dentists said they thought the chances of saving it were below 20%. Luckily I hadn't had the tooth in front of it extracted when given the choice of extraction or root canal, so although I have a gap on one side it's not too huge.

I live outside the UK so I'm more used to spending money on my teeth and general health. So far it's always been worth it.

Original poster
RoboticSealpup · 25/07/2018 07:09

Thanks everyone. Sorry if I have offended any dentists on the thread.

I live in London, so plenty of dentists around. I've actually had a root canal on another tooth at the hospital in the past because of unexplained persistent pain (which I still have, five years later.) Funnily enough the new dentist didn't really believe me when I told him this! So I guess getting a referral there is out of the question.

I do know an NHS endodontist who used to work at the hospital. I think I'm going to call him for a second opinion and if he doesn't want to do the root canal I'll go private.

OP posts:
Chrisinthemorning · 25/07/2018 07:17

Not offended and hope you get your tooth sorted OP. It would be lovely if you could get it done NHS but like the rest of the NHS, Dentistry has funding issues and the referral services just don’t exist for the situation you describe.
It would also be lovely if your dentist could do it but it sounds like he has assssed it as too tricky and if he feels this, referral is the correct thing for him to do. Think of it as like seeing your GP and being referred to a consultant for a certain area of your body- it’s the same thing.

dementedma · 25/07/2018 22:07

I'm in Scotland, for whoever asked

PomPomtheGreat · 26/07/2018 03:39

I had a long root with a tipped back end and the only way to get to it properly was by drilling through the front of the gum. The local NHS hospital did it for free. Is this a possibility?

Usuallytootiredbuthappyanyway · 26/07/2018 04:13

I think this is fairly normal. I had to pay for a specialist to do my last root canal as well because the roots on the tooth were particularly narrow. I went to a dentist who specialises in root canal and she still struggled. When I went for my first consultation with her about it she pointed out that the tooth in question was not functionally necessary as I had had the corresponding tooth above extracted years ago so therefore my choice to go for root canal instead of extraction was a cosmetic choice. The NHS on the whole provides treatments that are essential and functional when it comes to dentistry and that seems fair enough to me. I have always found my dentist very honest and up front about services.

Bezm · 26/07/2018 04:24

I've had exactly the same thing recently. On an upper back tooth. My NHS dentist said that root canal was an option but the root was extremely long and may be very hard to drill successfully. After a watching and waiting approach for a year, I eventually decided on extraction. I have a real phobia of drills! I was also petrified of an extraction, I have a problem with my jaw and can't open my mouth wide for any length of time. I opted for sedation and it was all over in an hour with me being oblivious to everything. I now have no back tooth, but it is impossible to tell, it just feels a bit weird at times when I chew on that side. My tooth root was over 1 cm long in the end!!!
Honestly, save your money, have the tooth out. Buy a new handbag instead Grin

Original poster
RoboticSealpup · 26/07/2018 20:06

Honestly, save your money, have the tooth out. Buy a new handbag instead

It's just that I already have a back tooth missing on that side (from orthodontics in my teens). It might feel really unbalanced to have five teeth on one side and seven on the other...

OP posts:
Original poster
RoboticSealpup · 26/07/2018 20:10

The endodontist I know is no longer doing NHS work so I'm just going to go private. At least there's no waiting time - he gave me an appointment for tomorrow! Hopefully he will still be willing to do it when he sees the x-rays...

OP posts:
Original poster
RoboticSealpup · 27/07/2018 19:40

Update: went to the private dentist. He gave me some interdental brushes and said I don't need anything done. Shock

OP posts:
ggirl · 27/07/2018 20:17

WTF !!! Really?

ggirl · 27/07/2018 20:18

IS this the private one you were referred to that said that?

Original poster
RoboticSealpup · 27/07/2018 22:15

No it's the one I knew about from a few years ago who used to do NHS endodontal work but no longer does...

OP posts:
Original poster
RoboticSealpup · 27/07/2018 22:43

But I went to him with a view to get it done privately, yes. He only charged the NHS price for a checkup in the end. (The first dentist charged me something like 65 for the check-up! I don't know why as they told me they were accepting NHS patients.) Oh well, it's all good. I feel like I saved £900!

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