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Original poster

Has anyone been quoted 1.4K for a root canal on one tooth, with a specialist?

58 replies

CatAndHisKit · 24/05/2023 23:53

I've had a thread here recently about my dilemma of root canal vs the removal of the tooth, but the dilemma is partly due to the extortionate cost of it!
Yes, this is with an endodontist and it's the three-root side tooth that's partly broken (but no pain so far) and he's not sure whether the filling will have enough surface to stick to, but part of fthe tooth is ok - and he didn't say it can't be done.
But I did a same type of tooth just over a year ago with a specialist too and it came to 600 all in, and that was not seen by anyone as low cost! Here it seems like the consultation, scans and the filling is charged on top of the actual canal work which is over 800 on its own. It seems way over the top - esp as they know a crown will be needed too. I wonder if this is a way for the dentist to discourage someone when they aer not keen to do the work / not confident of success?
Is there any pount trying t discuss the cost after it's been officially quoted (I wouldn't think so)?

OP posts:
KirstenBlest · 26/05/2023 00:15

Have the tooth extracted and get an implant. It should last you a lifetime.

Rina66 · 26/05/2023 01:01

I was told when the first root canal was done that it only had an 80% chance of working, I think that's the case for all root canal work, There are no guarantees sadly, it's not the dentists fault, it's how teeth work! Dentists always say they will try everything to keep a tooth, they don't like to remove teeth, but I just think going forwards I would have any troublesome tooth replaced, not great for dentists as implants will not require any further work, but far better for me.

CandyLips · 26/05/2023 01:06

thewillowbunnies · 25/05/2023 22:13

Sounds about right.

That's why I'm with Denplan. £25 a month, all covered.

Lot to be said for not having the worry of what expensive treatment you might need. Who's got £1k just lying around!

I would be interested in hearing about this as I am with Denplan but costs like this are not covered in full. I pay 28 a month for 2 check ups, 3 hygienist and diagnostic things like x rays.

quiettimes · 26/05/2023 01:09

Can’t you go back to the place that charged £600? Or just go to another specialist if you’re not happy with the price?

CandyLips · 26/05/2023 01:09

I am with a private dentist and have been recommended to a specialist for a root canal. I will be having a new crown on the top. I was estimated about 1500 by my regular dentist which I hope covers the cost of everything. I have my initial consult next week so will come back to this and update. I don't know why the dentist just doesn't do it? Is this the norm now to pass you on? Ive had private dentistry all my life but abroad and the dentist would do it.

mightymam · 26/05/2023 02:46

Mine cost £1500 a few months ago (Greater London). Having it pulled out would've been cheaper but I wasn't quite ready to lose a tooth just yet (and I wouldn't go abroad for treatment).

EmmaGrundyForPM · 26/05/2023 02:58

I had root canal treatment just before Covid. Sadly it did t work (I was warned that might be the case) and the tooth had to be removed about a year later.

Luckily I have an NHS dentist so it cost just over £50, can't remember exactly how much. There's no way I'd be paying the sort of money you've been quoted if there was a risk that it wouldn't work.

LittleBrenda · 26/05/2023 07:04

That's why I'm with Denplan. £25 a month, all covered.

I thought Denplan at £25 a month would only cover check ups and cleaning, not thousands of pounds of root canal. At my dentist you get 10% off fillings etc with denplan.

savoycabbage · 26/05/2023 07:16

Luckily I have an NHS dentist so it cost just over £50, can't remember exactly how much. There's no way I'd be paying the sort of money you've been quoted if there was a risk that it wouldn't work.

I think most of us had NHS dentists then, I certainly did. My NHS practice had eight dentists. Now there is one.

My tooth started hurting in January. I tried and tried to get an appointment with my NHS dentist and I couldn't. The tooth started hurting more and I tried to get an emergency appointment. They wouldn't give me one.

I rang 101, they told me to tell the dentist I needed to see someone, they wouldn't see me. 101 told me to go to A&E. I went to A&E. they told me to go to the dentist, the dentist wouldn't see me.

Eventually, I was in so much pain that I was sobbing when I was ringing of each morning at 8 o'clock to get my emergency appointment. Eventually I got one was told I need a root canal.

I was prescribed antibiotics for an infection and after three days the pain went away. But I couldn't get an appointment for this root canal so I had to go private. I didn't want to go private! I would have been thrilled to have it in the NHS but that wasn't an option.

I thought I had an NHS dentist and that I would be fine in an emergency but I wasn't.

Rina66 · 26/05/2023 07:30

My NHS dentist recommended that I went privately for my root canal treatment because there was a better chance of success - he said if he did it on the NHS the chance of success was 65% if I went privately that rose to 80%🤷‍♀️,so I had it done privately. Luckily it worked, but here we are 10 years later and it needs working on again - I thought it would solve the problem permanently, like I say, I wish I'd just had the tooth out and an implant put in, bigger outlay at the time but in the long run it would have been far more cost effective and no more pain.

LittleBrenda · 26/05/2023 07:38

LittleBrenda · 26/05/2023 07:04

That's why I'm with Denplan. £25 a month, all covered.

I thought Denplan at £25 a month would only cover check ups and cleaning, not thousands of pounds of root canal. At my dentist you get 10% off fillings etc with denplan.

Although, thinking about it, you would have far less chance of reaching the root canal stage if you were actually seeing a dentist every six months so that might be how it's 'covered' for want of a better word.

As soon as I went to a private dentist one of my fillings was identified as leaking and a week later I had it replaced. If I hadn't I suppose I would have ended up needing a root canal.

RobinHumphries · 26/05/2023 07:39

Implants do not last for ever and they don’t last a lifetime. We quote 20 to 30 years

Kyse23 · 26/05/2023 07:52

LittleBrenda · 26/05/2023 07:04

That's why I'm with Denplan. £25 a month, all covered.

I thought Denplan at £25 a month would only cover check ups and cleaning, not thousands of pounds of root canal. At my dentist you get 10% off fillings etc with denplan.

There's a couple of types of plan
I pay about £23 a month for denplan care

Has anyone been quoted 1.4K for a root canal on one tooth, with a specialist?
Kyse23 · 26/05/2023 07:55

In fact the cost of my denplan covers what I would pay for 2 dentist and 2 hygienist visits
I've had a filling recently and composite bonding on one tooth, all included
Mould for mouthguard was free but I have to pay lab fees so £60

CandyLips · 26/05/2023 08:21

LittleBrenda · 26/05/2023 07:04

That's why I'm with Denplan. £25 a month, all covered.

I thought Denplan at £25 a month would only cover check ups and cleaning, not thousands of pounds of root canal. At my dentist you get 10% off fillings etc with denplan.

Same here.

Rina66 · 26/05/2023 08:34

@RobinHumphries that's interesting, what happens after 20 to 30 years to the implant? I'm 57, so thinking if it lasts 30 years I'd be 87, so it could possibly outlast me...... would it have a resale value?😂

CandyLips · 26/05/2023 08:39

It seems that everyone has had different experiences and are willing/able to pay out certain amounts of money. I have root canals and crowns that are up to 20 years old and this is the first one I have had an issue with ( due to gum erosion).

KirstenBlest · 26/05/2023 12:57

RobinHumphries · 26/05/2023 07:39

Implants do not last for ever and they don’t last a lifetime. We quote 20 to 30 years

That probably is a lifetime for some of us.

Original poster
CatAndHisKit · 26/05/2023 19:03

So is it always he case that Denplan covers your treatments at the specific practice only? They said it would give me a discount if I did the root canal with my dentist (but not via referral to specialist) but as the tooth is part broken, my dentist say the chances aer not great at hte genral practice - the endodontist has specilist equipment and tools to achieve a high success rate but this tooth is still not srtaight-forward.
Like mightmum I just can't seem to psyche myself to just go and remove it as so far it doesn't hurt - I think mentally it's much easier to want to get rid if there is pain.
quiettimes I think I will speak with the previous practice to check what's the waiting time - ther ewas a wait of nearly three months there last year (thankfully I could wait, but that tooth wasn't broken) - whereas here it's 2-3 weeks. Maybe the cost explains that! But I can't wait 3 months for this - I don't eat on that side currently as it's damaged and want to avoid making it worse while I wait. I ve been told to gargle and put paste on constatly which is also getting tiresome.

OP posts:
Original poster
CatAndHisKit · 26/05/2023 19:05

Also I've just realised my teeth gone this muh worse (I also need afew fillings when previously I needed one once if a few years) after I stopped drinking milk due to the new intolerance - I used to have alatte a day, now I'm on oat milk - I thojght they add enough calcium to the alternatives, but I've just realised that might be the reason! I don't know if I should take D and Calcium?
Or do teeth go bad during peri- / menopause?

OP posts:
Deedoo · 02/09/2023 17:05

@GladysHeeler I know right what is the point in consultations it’s all money

Deedoo · 02/09/2023 17:12

@Rina66 can I ask what failed in the RCT you had 10 years ago as I had mine over 15 years, who told you it was failing and did you have pain what did your x Ray show thanks x

Ihonestlydontgetit · 02/09/2023 17:21

I made the decision to lose the tooth. I am very nervous in the dentist chair and couldn't risk the root canal failing and having multiple visits.
So glad I did. A little gap is no bother.

CandyLips · 02/09/2023 17:31

I have now had my root canal totally redone. It was 950 with the specialist and all went well. No trauma at all.

Tiredmummy201 · 02/09/2023 17:34

Yeah I had a root canal done a few years ago and now it’s infected and needs re doing by an endodontist .. cost quoted was over 2k including crown but only a 60% chance it’ll work. I have decided to get it taken out and get an implant which is more expensive but least that’s the end of it then. Not london either prices are crazy.

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