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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to ask the dentist to remove my tooth instead of doing a root canal treatment?

53 replies

Bellagio · 27/05/2010 21:09

That's it really..... is it something I can insist on? It's a very back molar so I don't think I'll miss it. Just can't face the hassle, pain and expense of a root canal (not NHS so can't imagine how much it's gonna cost!)
Is it up to me as a patient or can he refuse?

OP posts:
FiveOrangePips · 27/05/2010 22:48

It can minimammoth, I am with an nhs dentist.

Superfly · 27/05/2010 22:49

Recently had a root canal treatment. I was in so much pain from it before it was treated I was on the point of begging to have it extracted - like you it was a lower back molar so reasoned 'I wouldn't miss it'.

However - as the previous dentist has mentioned, a gap will throw up other problems.

Once you are numb you wont feel anything anyway, it just excruciatingly boring having to keep your mouth open while the root canals are cleaned rather than excruciatingly painful.
If you are very nervous can you not ask for gas and air (if your denist does it?)

Its always better to save a tooth rather than extract it. I feel so sorry for my father who has now got a mouthful of dentures, because when he was younger it was cheaper to pull them out rather than treat the cause of pain.

MilaMae · 27/05/2010 22:50

Oh God dp just this week informed me he needs root canal as it's an important tooth. He's on antibiotics and is in pain but he's not NHS,they've quoted £800[faint emoticon]

My sister had it on the NHS and says to ring round anywhere as even if we drive miles it'll be cheaper.This was a chink of hope,so do they not do it on the NHS?She insists she did and it was £40 .

Now do you reckon we should ring round the NHS dentists without coming clean or come clean before(just worried he'll be rejected by them all when they here his sorry tale).

And oh it was a crappy dentist that caused the damage in the first place. How do you find good dentists private or otherwise?

bumpsoon · 27/05/2010 22:52

i had root canal work which was horrendous , became infected about a year later and the pain was worse than childbirth ,had it taken out and it was bliss ,it was a big bottom molar too .Luckily for me my wisom tooth filled the gap .

Superfly · 27/05/2010 22:54

Sorry I am having to pick myself up off the floor at the quotes for root canal. I was charged £90 - and that was private.

Ring around - dentists are not like doctors - you can just phone and ask what they charge and if they will accept you as a patient. If they are a solely private practice they will accept you as they are not going to refuse patients which = money.

FiveOrangePips · 27/05/2010 22:55

It seems to be luck finding a good NHS dentist (we have lived here for 3 yrs on emergency treatment) and just got on NHS dentist that opened last year, with 4 months wait at least for the first appointment).

DH went to visit family in Ireland and had tooth problem, he managed to get an appointment, and filling the next day with an NHS treatment, cost £14 iirc. They sent the bill to our home in Scotland.

msrisotto · 27/05/2010 22:58

I had a root canal at 17 and the pain of the op and aftercare was Nothing compared to the pain compared to the pain the tooth caused. Also, obviously everybody is different because if recovery is worse than childbirth, i'll be able to give birth in my lunchbreak!

MilaMae · 27/05/2010 23:06

Sorry 'hear' not 'here'.

Will get ringing tomorrow then,dp is being a tad weedy.

So it's painful then. I thought it was a manflu type thing,will give him a bit more sympathy tomorrow.

FiveOrangePips · 27/05/2010 23:08

I actually quite like childbirth, it definitely has been more pleasant for me than any visit to the dentist.

Original poster
Bellagio · 27/05/2010 23:09

Thanks so much everyone for your input, food for thought indeed. I had no idea that extracting the tooth could cause jaw problems etc. I guess I was seeing it as the more straightforward option. I'm not so much scared of having the root canal, it's more the financial side (fainting at the prices some of you have quoted!) and also that I thought it would be less painful just to have it out. I had some back molars removed around age 11 to "make room" and they were no bother, but I guess it's a lot worse when you're older.
I'm going to keep an open mind and discuss it with the dentist when I go in
Thanks again to all

OP posts:
FiveOrangePips · 27/05/2010 23:11

yes Mila, it is painful, nerve pain is unrelenting and painkillers don't seem to touch it, so it doesn't compare to my relatively easy births! I have writhed in agony with toothache that lasted for hours - labour is waves of pain, and well everyone is being so nice to you, it doesn't compare(I may get flamed, but that is my personal experience).

EricNorthmansmistress · 27/05/2010 23:29

Root canal on the NHS costs about £200 (tier three treatment?) and private can cost around £1000. An NHS dentist will still get paid for the work but will be paid by the government rather than the patient so they won't be bothered that you need one. I went to my new dentist needing root canal and they were absolutely fine about it. What put me off the extraction most was that a bridge would not be covered on the NHS and I would end up with a gap! But I'm very glad I had the root canal, it's bliss not to feel the tooth anymore!

MegBusset · 27/05/2010 23:38

I had my first root canal done a couple of months ago, it was absolutely fine, in fact quite relaxing having an hour off from the DC!

It's an expensive business, though -- even on the NHS it's £198, privately inc crown I was quoted £700-800.

FiveOrangePips · 27/05/2010 23:39

here gives you nhs prices, but it says root canal is band 2, so £44.

FiveOrangePips · 27/05/2010 23:42

unless it is under a "private crown or filling"

My dentist charged £30 for temp filling, deep clean (£24) and two x-rays.

jasper · 27/05/2010 23:45

Bellagio I am dentist and would have not the slightest problem with your decision.
The possibility of jaw problems is very slight

Nettiespagetti · 27/05/2010 23:58

Hiya I would speak to your dentist definately. I had a crown which had already had one root canal and it was failing so I asked him to take it out and he did. There was another with a slight problem but he said he would nit take out as affects shape of face?

Vistana · 28/05/2010 00:10

Hiya!
Can I recommend one of my dentists (I am picky so use him for things that can't be done using lasers and check ups)
www.mgdentalcare.co.uk/

He did a root canal for me a couple of years ago, with me he recommended leaving it for a few months to ensure it had settled before having a crown. I actually took 2 years to get my crown as I never got around to it but did mean I had a gap to spread the costs. Most good dentists have payment plans on 0% so that may be an option.
I wanted to keep my tooth as if I had it removed it prob wouldn't be great as the roots were bent and very long. Plus when I smile I can see the tooth (back molar) and would hate to have the gap visable - dispite what people say people notice things like that they just don't tell you unless you're a close friend.

This dentist has just got a lovely new place with sky tv so you can watch tv to distract you when having treatment - provided he's not got his hands blocking your view at times. Also more than happy to get you from just outside if you can't stand waiting in the waiting room.

Good luck have a look around and make the desicion thats right for you as its for life.

KillerCleavage · 28/05/2010 00:13

I had private root canal work on a rear molar and it cost me about £250. I'm due to have a crown fitted to the remains of the tooth in the next couple of weeks and that will cost about £300.

Compared to an extraction I had the month before the root canal jobbie was a breeze. Once you're numb it's just boring. I had two appointments, one lasting an hour and another lasting 30 mins. No pain apart from jaw ache once the anaesthetic wore off from having my mouth open for such a long time.

Ewe · 28/05/2010 00:17

I am in exactly the same position, was going to do just this thread!!

My NHS dentist has said they aren't v.good at root canals so I will have to go private and not sure I can stomach the cost. About £750 I was quoted.

I would love to keep tooth but it's so expensive! I have extraction booked for 22nd so will have a little time to decide.

KillerCleavage · 28/05/2010 00:22

£750?? That sounds ridiculously expensive. My dental practice doesn't do NHS at all, only private and mine wasn't anywhere near that. You might want to get a second opinion and quote.

southeastastra · 28/05/2010 08:18

'they aren't very good at root canals' what an odd thing to say!! mine cost about £320 and that was with a filling as well

JaneS · 28/05/2010 11:17

I've had a root canal, it was painless.

I do sympathize a lot though, I am a nervous wreck and I hyperventilated throughout, the poor man had to keep stopping and letting me calm down.

helenwombat · 28/05/2010 11:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

helenwombat · 28/05/2010 11:27

This reply has been deleted

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