My DP tooth, what would you do?

[Glitter99x]

Hi all. My DP has got a choice to make regarding one of his teeth. Basically he went to the dentist about two weeks ago with pain. His dentist examined and determined he needed a root canal, he had an infection in there so bad also that he needed 5 days worth of antibiotics. He's done that, but a choice needs to be made. He can either get the tooth taken out, get the tooth out and an implant put in which he has been told is costly, get his dentist to do the root canal which would be about £50 but has a 50/50 chance of working, or get a specialist to do the root canal but it will be £600. He is leaning towards just getting it taken out, as he doesn't want his root canal to chip like his other one did then have to have it fixed, and he is thinking of getting it taken out and no implant put in, as it is luckily in the side of his mouth, covered almost by his cheek. The only way you would be able to see if it is missing would be to look close I reckon. What would you do?

Also I must add, it is quite high up in his mouth the root. So the reason it may not work if his dentist did it is because his dentist doesn't have the microscope like a specialist would to see.

Take it out
I had a root canal a few years ago with a crown. Then I got a nasty infection and after extreme pain I had to have the tooth removed altogether. I have a gap and you can't see it

@CodenameVillanelle Root canals are more pain than they are worth really. I have a scarred lip due to mine and it took quite a few treatments. Luckily had no problems once it was done, but yeah. Glad you are in no more pain.

Many root canals are fine - if his tooth is pretty ordinary no special microscope should be needed just a dentist doing his job. Root canal and crown is way more than 50 quid though, so not sure where they get that price from as most root canals I have had required a crown

I would get a second opinion first

I have the same problem currently and also on a course of antibiotics. I've decided to have the tooth taken out

I’ve got two root canals that were done in 1976 and have never given any trouble since. Yes, 1976. Both have crowns, one of which is still the original 43 year old one.
So they can be good.
Surprised at only £50 though.

I had a root canal work with my own dentist in January. Had awful pain overnight so then treated with antibiotics + strong painkillers for a week. Root canal then finished followed by crown. This seemed to take up the whole of January.

I was still having pain and dentist decided it must be the adjacent tooth also needing root canal. This carried on for a while hoping it would settle. It didn't, she was reluctant to do it as it's a heavily filled tooth. My only options were specialist root canal or extraction,which she then said would need something to fill gap as it was too big . Like a £2000 implant (!)

So I ended up paying £754 for the specialist job. I was told it might fracture but it didn't ... and so far so good,touching wood etc etc.

My NHS root canal and Crown were certainly more than £50 too! Teeth are a pain.

It's way up so he does need it to be done microscopically @RB68 but I do agree about second opinion

@zenasfuck good idea

@FadedRed they can be good, mine's good, but he has had trouble with his other one.

@campion teeth are a pain, the amount of work I've needed done recently, had two massive holes in two of my teeth that were side by side, then one fiilling fell out, was told if happened again would need a crown, luckily mine hasn't fallen out. Touching wood also. Hope your teeth are better now. Dentists are so expensive, I've been lucky as I was on universal credit but now I've been in my job a few months and coming off shortly. Not looking forward to having to pay for the dentist. So expensive.

They are expensive Glitter99x and you feel that they've got you as what's the alternative? There isn't one,unless you like suffering!
The specialist endodonist was a tad on the grumpy side, despite me paying him all that money ,but seemed to know what he was doing. I'm 2 months in and my fingers are still crossed that it's now sorted properly after months of problems.
Hope your DP makes the decision he's happy with.

I think it was the NHS crown that was the costly bit-the NHS root canal was about £60 iirc.

The root canal is a tier 2 NHS charge which is around £50? But the crown is tier 3 which takes the whole cost to around £250

Take it out. If he decides he wants an implant at a later date there are plenty of good places you can get them done for around £1000. I get mine done at the Brighton implant clinic and pay £1000 for the whole process pay as you go. The last one they did for me is still going strong 10 years later.

He is still going back and forth he really doesn’t know what to do. I’ve mentioned all your responses.

Hi Glitter99x,
Just to add - my dentist did say that it's always better to save a tooth if it's strong enough. Better for your mouth etc. They're much more reluctant to just take teeth out these days without attempting to fix them. She also said mine would be difficult to remove and would probably break into several pieces. That cheered me up,not.

@campion thanks I told him, he said his dentist said as he is young it’s best to keep the tooth

I would agree with keeping if you can.

I have had one problem root canal which ended up with an abscess and having to be redone but it came within the cost which I do recall being around 250.

AntiBs before hand is usual to get inflammation down so the anesthetic can work properly

My Dad had his removed it was fine

I had a tricky thing called internal readsorption so had to go private and have a £800 root canal done by a specialist endodontist he was expensive but for my tooth issue worth it.

DH had a root canal and a crown. He also went for a private check on a tooth he was told something similar for and they said he didnt need it