Failed root canal, dentist has said will cost me £650 +

[ijustwant8hours]

Hi, has anyone been in a similar situation or can anyone offer advice? I am a bit stuck as to what to do next....

I am an NHS patient with my dentist. I have a failed root canal, it isnt very painful, unless I prod it, but there is clearly infection there as I have a massive lump on my gum.

Dentist told me that it needs specialist treatment and she could 1. Refer me to Guys Hospital who might not take the case, 2. Refer me to a specialist which would cost £650+ or 3. One of their senior partners isnt a specialist but would have a go for £550+.

Guys have refused the case so now dentist says my only option is to pay. Is this right? She didnt mention extraction and I was too shell shocked to think straight, but presumably they could just take the tooth out?

I really can't afford that kind of money and it feels almost like I am being blackmailed!

@Carla1978

NHS RE ROOT CANAL TREATMENT

I have been told that I need a Re Root Canal procedure carried out but my current NHS dentist feels unqualified enough to save the tooth. I have located another NHS dentist with a specialist interest in this area although they are telling me that I need to go their private practice and pay to get the treatment carried out...

Does anyone know of a NHS dentist with a specialist interest in this area (Re Root Canals) in the North West or Central Uk (I am prepared to travel) that may consider me.

I have an infection and been told by Manchester Dental Hospital that this procedure is necessary. I have also been informed by the PCT that the NHS should fund this treatment.

I am becoming pretty desperate as I am in constant discomfort and distress. I was told by the specialist at Manchester Dental Hospital that I needed this treatment ASAP to avoid infection spreading to surrounding teeth.

I have called the PCT / NHS and everyone has said this treatment IS AVAILABLE on the NHS...

Please can anyone help by pointing me in the direction of a dental practitioner with some expertise in this area who is willing to accept patients on the NHS...

Kindest regards
& Thank you for taking the time to read this far :)
Carla

Hi Carla I'm now in the same position and live in Manchester. How did you resolve this please? Thank you Mark

@SlaterJones

Hi Carla I’ve just read your message & I’m in exactly the same boat & also live in the NW...just wondering how you got on & if you found an NHS dentist that would do the work? I’ve been told it’ll cost £700 privately (& I need specialist root canal on both sides 😳) Thanks in advance!

Hi Slater Jones I live in Manchester and have the same problem. How did you resolve the matter please? Thanks Mark

I just wanted to mention that my private dentist sounds more reasonable than than and they try and help if it is their previous treatment which failed, also...

They recommended me to dental insurance which helps a lot, recently have paid £200 for a couple of emergency treatments and it was paid back in full at the same time as the insurance giving a payment holiday due to covid. It is only about £10 a month per person and under 16s get free checkups as well. Really worth it.

For the NHS side you could try contacting PALS at the NHS trust who may be able to help perhaps.

This happened to me and I had to pay for private endodontist which was £££. NHS alternative was extraction.

I need to have root canal surgery re-done. The private dental cost is over £1000 which I cannot afford. Does anyone know of any ways around this, please?

Get it pulled. This is the only option available to me with my NHS dentist when the time comes.

Op, I had this very problem last year which involved a crowned tooth developing an abscess on the front of the gum. It became so large it was pushing out my top lip. My own dentist couldn't do it but recommended a private practitioner who could.
I went ahead as didn't want to risk losing the crown and he did a superb job. No pain afterwards and have been absolutely fine since. Well worth the £600.

I need to have this procedure done, has anyone living in southwest England had it done successfully and if so could you recommend the dentist? Thanks.

Peter Davies in Tavistock
Johnathon Hope south Devon Dental in Paignton

I'm an arsehole. But a decent person.

Is it a bad thing to not ask for anything.

Your tooth needs endontal treatment as in a rubber dam around it then cleaning out and a dressing placed for two weeks to clean out any infection within the tooth or surrounding areas otherwise it will fail months or decades later causing serious health problems having experienced this myself necrotizing fasitis from failed root canal treatments extraction is better if endontal treatment is not available your dental surgeon is not allowed to inform you of this as the above information is not in the public domain