Is it normal for NHS dental practice to do root canal only as private treatment?

[CatAndHisKit]

Just really disappointed to find out that the practice I've joined (I thought luckily as it's a good practice) as an NHS patient, tells me that I need to go private for the root canal.

I've had a few check ups there as NHS, and a mixed nhs/private practice but they take a limited number of NHS new patients so surely ahould honour that? The root canal going by x-ray is not specially complicated as been told the nerves are 'straight' - but they are referring me to their part time specialist in root canal - not sure if they do this routinely or am I unlucky. It's a bit cloak and dagger - I ve asked for a private quote, they don't know - I have to see the dentist in question for assessment (even though he saw the x-ray done by my usual one), and they wouldn;t even tel lme if I can 'top up' the nhs price to an extent as a mix.

As it's aside tooth it will be over 500 provate which I can't afford - what am I supposed to do? I@ve joined the practice knowibg it may be coning up - it's been over a year as its chronic, but now would need to do it soon.
Can you start Denplan at the same time as booking and it would save anything - and is it available to all, or do they check credit rating?

I also wonder if I can't find an option and it becomes acute, would emergency treatment (which they do) be charged on NHS rates?

*and would it save anything immediately, I meant - and I'm sorry for other typos.

I've had root canal treatment on the NHS - my usual dentist.
I don't know if what yours is doing is right or not, I suspect that they offer only a limited range of NHS treatment. Do you have any other options locally?

I had this with my dentist a few years back. They were trying to convince me to go to their other clinic which only did private work to have my root canal done. I was lucky and went to a different Nhs dentist. They did it and I was charged for the tier 2 bracket which at the time was about £45. As far as I know, root canal is done under the nhs tier 2 bracket and if the your Nhs dentist thinks that it’s too complicated for the community dentist to do, they should refer you to the hospital dentist where it’s done for free. I had a complicated extraction last year and was referred by my Nhs dentist to the hospital dentist.

Beamur there might be options but it's luck of the draw when and which practice you can join - they are all busy ad take new nhs patients on/off. When I found this one (I'm relatively new to the area) I didn't see anyone as good nearby it's a large town not a city) - and I personally liked a particular dentist there but she's now leaving and won't do this work.
sally wow that's surprising - I think they pronably only dp this for something very complex - but t he practice s very good as thye honour your NHS status. Maybe they aer nhs only, whereas the mixed ones haev htese grey areas. Mind you it's scary to go to a hospital - as you don't know the dentist and for me I prefer to know i feel comfortable with someone - I don't like anyone 'tough' for one!

mine is not too complex though - he would do it but privately.

It's to do with the structure of the NHS contract with dentists.

They don't get paid enough by the NHS contract to cover the actual costs of more complex treatment so the more business savvy dentists are no longer doing treatments that lose them money on the NHS.

It isn't the dentists fault. Blame the people that commission NHS dentistry.

I'm a doctor but work closely with hospital based dentists. When I needed a new one they universally advised me to just go privately as NHS dental care in the community is now so patchy.

Unfortunately the nhs contract means they get the same for a simple filling and a root canal hence the refusal. I've had one on the nhs

I had one last week at my NHS dentist. It's been a long complicated job and I'm pretty sure he resents doing it.

Acovic but many people to gaev it done on NHS (unless especially complicated / nerves wonky etc). What is then the point of NHS dentistry if they can do check ups and cheaper treatments, but not the expensive one?
Most people join an NHS dental practice as htey can't afford to pay 500+ for ONE tooth, what about those who need seeral root canals in one year, or other expensive stuff?

Kyph yes I can see that, but I'd be happy to pay extra if it gets complicated, just not the extortiate amount.

My dentist told me it will take an hour, and second visit much shorter - so surely around 250 would be reasobable.

On another note, those who had it dome - is it really bad? just tedoius or pain involved?

motogogo ho did you manahe that? And was it a good dentist, or a young/starting out as they may ne happy to start on lower pay...
Do dentists try to challenge the structure so that canal treatment is more expensive than a filling but nothing like many hundreds, unless a special case?

sorry, a million typos again. I just don't know what to do as my finances really tight until August and it needs doing.

Do I phone around arious dentists asking if they do it on nhs?
Or can I start a Denplan but so it works immediately (I doubt it).

Mine took an hour for the actual root canal, he said it was difficult because the canals were narrow. It didn't hurt much while he did it but was painful for two days afterwards , I took paracetamol every 6 hours and eventually went back. He did something and it was instantly pain free.

Before that I had two appointments, each to drill and apply antibiotic. I then got an abcess .
Next I have a 20 minute appt for crown impression and finally a crown fitting. All weeks apart. This started in February and won't be finished until late July. No idea of the cost but it is NHS, I haven't paid yet.

Kyph oh no, sounds dreadful and never-ending! but at least hopefully it's almost done. Maybe your dentist isnt very experienced? sounds like there were mistakes. I do worry that dentists who agree to wor on NHS are 'getting experience' and once they aer very good, theu go private - but I just can't see why not let NHS patients top up the pay for canal work in the sanme way yo ucan top of for porcelain fillings!