Need root canal (I think) - can't afford the £1700 I have been quoted! - I don't know what to do??!!!

[bloss]

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fuck me, that is HUGELY pricy.

can you afford a second (private) opinion??

£1700 sounds like they're taking the piss. Just keep at it - ring other private dentists for a cheaper quote, and perservere with the NHS, even if it involves travel. Somewhere out there there must be an NHS dentist with places.

I had root canal for significantly less than that at a very good private very expensivewest London dentist! Definitely second opinion - where are you ? Maybe someone on MN can recommend a dentist in your area.

Oh sympathy!

Can you even try another private dentist? That's so horrifically high compared to NHS.

I had a very deep filling last year and had a lot of pain afterwards. The dentist reckonned the nerve was just irritated and she removed the filling, put on a dressing and filled it again a week later. No pain!

It sounds to me like this dentist is giving you a bit of pressure. Would the NHS dentist give you an emergency appointment as you're in quite severe pain?

Get them to pull the tooth out. It's soo much cheaper and solves the problem.

at very least get AB's to clear up infection as I don;t think anyone will do root canal until infection is cleared up... (could be wrong but rings a bell)

That's WAY over-priced.

I agree with Kew, what area are you in?

Someone might have a good private dentist there who charges less.

Certainly, if he thinks there's an infection it seems mad that he's not prescribed abs.

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I'm sure my root canal cost nothing like that, and I've an excellent dentist who caused no pain either.

Whereabouts are you roughly - maybe someone could give recommendation?

Do you have an emergency dental service for non-registered patients? I had to go to one while I was on the waiting list to join an actual dental practice. Surely that price can't be right.

There are some dentists on here so hopefully one of them will see this. Am about his abs explanation quite frankly.

Dentists are pretty keen on keeping teeth where possible so I wouldn't worry about them whipping it out unless it's necessary.

Definitely seek a second opinion locally though.

OMG bloss they are taking the mick surely.
I have had 2 root canals, 1 on the NHS and one private. The private one was a while ago and cost a couple of hundred then, but my dad had a tooth capped privately last year which cost him 250. I'd get a second opinion. (I think Kew is right re ABs btw)

don;t fly to AUs - at a push if you cant get a recommendation for WInchester then come up to London! I think my dentist charged about £400 (wihotu crown or anything - crown would add another £500 ish).

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When I have had similar problems, they started with antibiotics, to get the infection calmed down before disturbing it. They were pretty heavy duty ones, (definitely no booze while taking them) but certainly calmed the infection.

I paid about £350-£400 for a root canal a couple of years ago, and my husband recently had a tooth crowned which cost about £500. That is self-funded private treatment. So £1700 is still an awful lot. I think I would ask around before paying that.

still agree that £1700 is about twice what you should be paying.

ditto on the fuck me, that is an enormous bill, where are you going, Harley Street?

I had an entodontist do my root canal last year (£500) and a crown fitted (£450), none of it NHS, and I thought that was bad enough! Go somewhere else, get another quote, that is hugely expensive.

Bloss- you need to keep this bumped. Have you checked out what would happen if you went down the emergency route. I'm not 100% sure but I think that if you self refer to our local out of hours service, you will get seen by the on call NHS dentist. That could be a cheaper way of doing it. Alternatively where's your nearest dental school? Could you get cheaper treatment there?

I think it would be worth ringing your local NHS trust and making enquiries.. Have you got any health care cover in place? I know ours only covered us for emergency dental treatment of £200 in aus, but it might be worth trying.

If you get no joy, ring me or email me, you've got the numbers and I have a friend who works for a private dentist in the village as his office manager. She could give you an estimated price to compare with your quote. If it's way cheaper you can come and stay and have it done here!

In the meantime, thinking of you.

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There should be an emergency NHS dental treatment centre where you probably can't get the work done, but you will be able to get a second non-profit motivated opinion. If they agree a root canal is needed I would get at least one further opinion.

oh if you look in the yellow pages/phone book you should get the number for the emergency treatment centre.

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Have you tried Friarsgate Dental Practice? Tel: 01962 862893 They aren't accepting NHS at the mo, but might be more reasonable re: their private fees.