Reply to: Toothy dilemma

[lilelvis2000]

The nerve in one of my upper molars is dying.

Visited the dentist and the options are tooth removal or root canal/crown.

Erring on the side of root canal/crown, as I don't want a gap there if the tooth is removed, but the mere thought of this treatment is making me wince.

And the cost of this prospective pain? A snip at £750.

Really not sure what to do.

Who's had this done and how did things work out?

I had one done by an NHS practise - I think it cost £200 all in. Definitely the crown is the way to go. However, in my case the tooth under the first crown became very brittle and broke entirely off leaving just a stump. So I now have a second crown mounted on the stump. That should last for around 10years when I'll have to get it replaced. But its far better than a bridge.

[Old Greg]

No, but a shag from the hygienist would be appreciated

Get him to trim his beard first.

[Paddy]

Are you getting commission Paddy?

No, but a shag from the hygienist would be appreciated

[DimPrawn]

Our local NHS dental practice is staffed by Indian dentists and Eastern European reception and dental assistant staff. All the 'locals' have gone private the greedy ****s!

I hate greedy ****ers!

Always looking for the best rate, more money etc. Moving on to better pay etc.

[shaunbhoy]

It seems that your dentist has not done the root canal correctly. Very few dentists get it right. From what you say; a crown would also need a screw to hold it in place. You should have gone to my dentist and it would have cost you half including flights etc.

Are you getting commission Paddy?

[Paddy]

So, had this work completed last week with the fitting of the crown.

A few days later, the affected tooth started to feel sensitive which, I presumed would settle.

Unfortunately, it hasn't and is now a combination of sensitivity and pain similar to that experienced prior to this dental work.

I'm going to leave it a few days and see if it clears up before contacting my dentist but my fear is that the end result, whenever that may be, will be tooth removal.

If so, I won't be best pleased as, when I first visited my dentist regarding this tooth, I did say I thought removal would be the only real option as the tooth had a large filling and I didn't think it would support a crown. However, my dentist never said anything and root canal, as far as she was concerned, was still a viable option.

Questions that come to mind are:

- If further remedial treatment is required should I be expected to pay?
My thoughts are that I should not be expected to pay for any further remedial treatment.

- If remedial treatment is not an option and the tooth needs to be removed, should I expect a partial refund?
My thoughts are that I should be entitled to half the money back as, if I had initially opted for tooth removal, the cost would have been £375.
As it stands, I have potentially spent money on unnecessary treatment. FYI, the treatment cost a total of £750: £375 for the root canal work and £375 for the crown.

I have a good relationship with my dentist and wouldn't want something an incident like this to spoil that but need to balance it with potentially having spent a fair bit of money on treatment that was either in-sufficient or unnecessary.

Thoughts?

It seems that your dentist has not done the root canal correctly. Very few dentists get it right. From what you say; a crown would also need a screw to hold it in place. You should have gone to my dentist and it would have cost you half including flights etc.

[TheFaQQer]

I also left it a copule of months between getting the root canal done and the crown fitted so that everything had plenty of time to settle down before gluing something expensive on top of it.

[TheFaQQer]

When my root canal needed to be redone, I went to an endodentist in Maidenhead to have it done. Specialist treatment at a specialist price.

[Moscow Mule]

Thoughts?

The crown might be too high, causing excess pressure on the tooth, which won't settle down, which is causing you discomfort etc.

Don't wait, get down the dentist and get him to sort it.

Remedial work should be free.

[TinTrump]

He's probably got more room to manouvre, it's easier if you can get your elbows in

Hope you have some joy with your return visit Clippy. Damn annoying, and expensive, to have it pulled after all.

I've still got a milk tooth. Although as I'm 7 years old maybe that's not such a surprise.

[shaunbhoy]

Only just seen this. Had a root canal done privately for £200 (the cleaning bit) and an extra £150 for the white crown (on the NHS).
No pain at all from the root canal, just some slight discomfort.
But then I am double 'ard.

And it has to be said that your teeth are considerably easier to access than most other people's sas.

[TestMangler]

my dentist is an Asian with the name M.T. Khan.


I didnt know whethere to laugh or cry till he gave me the nitrous oxide

Mine is a part time Karaoke presenter and his name is Ghupta Singh.

[EternalOptimist]

BTW my dentist is excellent based in central london and seems considerably cheaper than yours.

He's probably got more room to manouvre, it's easier if you can get your elbows in

[sasguru]

So, had this work completed last week with the fitting of the crown.

A few days later, the affected tooth started to feel sensitive which, I presumed would settle.

Unfortunately, it hasn't and is now a combination of sensitivity and pain similar to that experienced prior to this dental work.

I'm going to leave it a few days and see if it clears up before contacting my dentist but my fear is that the end result, whenever that may be, will be tooth removal.

If so, I won't be best pleased as, when I first visited my dentist regarding this tooth, I did say I thought removal would be the only real option as the tooth had a large filling and I didn't think it would support a crown. However, my dentist never said anything and root canal, as far as she was concerned, was still a viable option.

Questions that come to mind are:

- If further remedial treatment is required should I be expected to pay?
My thoughts are that I should not be expected to pay for any further remedial treatment.

- If remedial treatment is not an option and the tooth needs to be removed, should I expect a partial refund?
My thoughts are that I should be entitled to half the money back as, if I had initially opted for tooth removal, the cost would have been £375.
As it stands, I have potentially spent money on unnecessary treatment. FYI, the treatment cost a total of £750: £375 for the root canal work and £375 for the crown.

I have a good relationship with my dentist and wouldn't want something an incident like this to spoil that but need to balance it with potentially having spent a fair bit of money on treatment that was either in-sufficient or unnecessary.

Thoughts?

Root canal work often requires more than one go if the nerve hasn't been completely removed for some reason.
Luckily that wasn't the case for me, but I was warned that it was a possibility.
Your first step is to see your dentist asap and find out what's what.

As for payment I think dentists work on a time and materials basis - but you could argue that as the work hadn't been done properly in the first place any firther work should be free.
BTW my dentist is excellent based in central london and seems considerably cheaper than yours.

[Clippy]

So, had this work completed last week with the fitting of the crown.

A few days later, the affected tooth started to feel sensitive which, I presumed would settle.

Unfortunately, it hasn't and is now a combination of sensitivity and pain similar to that experienced prior to this dental work.

I'm going to leave it a few days and see if it clears up before contacting my dentist but my fear is that the end result, whenever that may be, will be tooth removal.

If so, I won't be best pleased as, when I first visited my dentist regarding this tooth, I did say I thought removal would be the only real option as the tooth had a large filling and I didn't think it would support a crown. However, my dentist never said anything and root canal, as far as she was concerned, was still a viable option.

Questions that come to mind are:

- If further remedial treatment is required should I be expected to pay?
My thoughts are that I should not be expected to pay for any further remedial treatment.

- If remedial treatment is not an option and the tooth needs to be removed, should I expect a partial refund?
My thoughts are that I should be entitled to half the money back as, if I had initially opted for tooth removal, the cost would have been £375.
As it stands, I have potentially spent money on unnecessary treatment. FYI, the treatment cost a total of £750: £375 for the root canal work and £375 for the crown.

I have a good relationship with my dentist and wouldn't want something an incident like this to spoil that but need to balance it with potentially having spent a fair bit of money on treatment that was either in-sufficient or unnecessary.

Thoughts?