Root canal by nhs dentist - did it work?

[GentleSloth]

Anyone had a root canal by an nhs dentist - did it work?

Mine worked fine - though was also told it may not work and to expect discomfort for 2 - 3 days but to take painkillers as needed and to call immediately if any concerns. I had no need to call back. Cost £300 on NHS.

@GentleSloth 2 front teeth and a pre-molar and a molar I think

The success rates will depend on the tooth, your body's ability to respond to infection, your dentist's equipment and your dentists skill.

If it's nhs or nothing give it a go. If you can go private, do so as it does increase the chances of success

If it's anything but a front tooth or a front tooth with more than a small amount missing then get it crowned to seal it and prevent fracture. Your dentist will advise what's appropriate. Factor the cost if the crown and anything else into the treatment.

Molar

I've had several (can't remember exactly how many!) all on the NHS and never had any problems. Not recently though, all over ten years ago I think.

Yes, my two are still rock solid 12 years later.

Sorry last question! Did you all get your root canals crowned after?

My DP has had two done. Touchwood they are ok. Just in the waiting period to have crowns fitted now.

I've had 3. 2 NHS and 1 private.
All lasted a good length of time but 2 have subsequently failed and needed extraction. One is still hanging on (NHS job and crowned) and I think it's helpful that one of the extracted teeth was the one that met this one so it's not really being used any more.

@GodspeedJune how long is the waiting period?

Mine was crowned a bit later. I needed the work done after about 20 years of dental phobia keeping me away from the dentist, so just had it filled until I could face having the crown done.

@Beamur how long did they last?

Mines has been fine ( touch wood) two years sgo

I've got 1 that has been fully done and a second which was started yesterday. The 1st one I got done 5 years ago and hasn't needed crowned yet. When I got the other one started yesterday, the dentist said that they are successful in 85% of cases, and the ones that fail are generally due to the tooth being too infected. Hope it all works out for you OP.

6 months. Although I admit I don’t understand why the teeth need to be crowned at all. They aren’t damaged and DP has no more pain or discomfort.

@HansBanans thank you! I’ve had the first stage done as an emergency appointment at my dentist, but have to wait until the second stage in July. It isn’t painful anymore, but just feels a bit odd in my mouth, like it isn’t my tooth 😅

@GodspeedJune i think it’s because they’re more brittle once the pulp has been removed, so the crown acts a protection

I've had two done years ago. Different dentists but same practice. I had soreness and the weird feeling of it not being my tooth - a similar sensation is when they overfill a filling and it needs grinding down, until about three months after and things settled down. It can be a brutal procedure and incurs deep swelling so that needs to calm down imo. I think the oldest was done 15 years ago, the other 12 years, had no pain from they moment they extracted the root. Bliss.

I've had 2 root canals. The first was done by an NHS dentist several years ago. It was fine but he did not crown the tooth afterwards and I ended up with a tooth fracture a few years later.

The second was done more recently by a specialist endodontist. He was very good as you'd expect, but I had to go to my regular private dentist afterwards for a crown.

What @goingdownfighting wrote. Excellent advice.

@Pixiedust1234 I am wondering if it has been overfilled and thats sensation I am feeling….

It's obviously been a while but I vaguely recall they take the root out and put antibiotic packing in to deal with any residual infection. That's why there are two appointments. The second appointment is to remove the packing, use proper filling to stop the tooth from crumbling, and apply the false tooth if you are having one. Obviously they over pack to ensure the whole area is filled and there are no gaps where food could get in and rot because technically your tooth is "open". Maybe that's the sensation?

Yes, and it’s still going strong 22 years later

I’ve had several, all NHS. Never had any problems with any of them.

I've had two, the first one lasted 7 or 8 years, but I ground my teeth during a stressful time, the crown cracked and an infection got in, so I had it redone privately, as it was a specialist procedure.

The second one was done beautifully and is still going strong about ten years later.