Dentistry

[gfwgfw]

Just back from our friendly Dentist who is Polish and I do find hard to understand what is going on

Well it is like this

He mentioned "Root Canal" and "Capping"

The procedure needs three visits to his surgery

And will cost £214 . . . ouch

Hoping someone on board can explain what is this procedure

Thanks in anticipation

[HK phooey]

Giant, there must be, or has been, an infection in your tooth. Rather than take the tooth out the dentist will clean and pack the root canal and then finish it off with a cap. This will probably be done over 2 appts. You will have an injection and won't feel any pain until you take your wallet out to pay.

[paultheeagle]

gfwgfw

Well done for having your own teeth at your advanced years...Keep them as long as you can, cap them fill them do whatever it takes..... £214 does seem a lot but it will be worth it...

It is very hard to suck rabbit....... you need a good set of gnashers to chew that tough old meat.

Good luck, I hate dentists. Nasty, nasty people.

[kaymar]

If it's a back tooth, Giant, tell him to pull it out - it's cheaper!

[Romig1]

Are you sure this bloke is qualified?

I hear that there was too little work for Polish plumbers, so they decided to branch out.

[gfwgfw]

Unfortunately it is front tooth - cracked molar I think ?

Rather shocked

If it the tooth was extracted it would mean a day/night in hospital ?

. . . and my good looks would suffer

Thanks for your posts

[Not so ancient mariner]

Dentists will never remove teeth unless its absolutely essential: - as long as they are still there, they are a potential source of employment.

On a serious note the drilling of root canals involves the use of incredibly thin solid carbide drills. There is a (remote) risk of these breaking, so the dentist will put a rubber dam behind the tooth he/she is working on, so that if the worst does happen bits of the drill can't disappear down into your lungs etc.

Not the worlds most enjoyable procedure - but it isn't that bad. I would have another one done if necessary - and I have had 3 done already!

[Jan Rosser]

I've got a problem with one of my teeth which is more filling than anything else. At least your dentist wants to save the tooth - I've just seen a dentist who wanted to take out my tooth and give me a denture - not what I wanted to hear - she advised me that I would get used to it - no way

I have all my own teeth - fillings yes but no other work and the thought of a denture fills me with horror.

My regular dentist has set up his own practice and I have tracked him down and he has no intention of taking it out and anyway suggested a bridge should it have to be removed some time in the future.

Bite the bullet lubberly giant and preserve your good looks pay up and I'm sure you'll be pleased with the result - I'm off next week for further treatment

[Quizzical Bob]

Unfortunately it is front tooth - cracked molar I think ?

Rather shocked

If it the tooth was extracted it would mean a day/night in hospital ?

. . . and my good looks would suffer

Thanks for your posts

If it' a front tooth then it's not a molar. I have had several root canals filled, enough for a few cruises. The capping may involve a crown, which means removing the top of the tooth and fitting an artificial replacement. The treatment can be uncomfortable but I wouldn't say it was painful. Your price seems rather cheap, but you certainly don't want an abscess.

[Onelife]

I've got a problem with one of my teeth which is more filling than anything else. At least your dentist wants to save the tooth - I've just seen a dentist who wanted to take out my tooth and give me a denture - not what I wanted to hear - she advised me that I would get used to it - no way

I have all my own teeth - fillings yes but no other work and the thought of a denture fills me with horror.

My regular dentist has set up his own practice and I have tracked him down and he has no intention of taking it out and anyway suggested a bridge should it have to be removed some time in the future.

Bite the bullet lubberly giant and preserve your good looks pay up and I'm sure you'll be pleased with the result - I'm off next week for further treatment

Hi Jan Rosser,

I’ve recently had a bridge fitted (canine) and I’m pleased to say I’m delighted with the result. I was however a little apprehensive as I couldn’t see how a tooth attached to another false tooth... via a piece of “wire” (probably titanium?) would be strong enough to withstand such things as crunchy apples, and the odd toffee Curly Wurley. Well up till now I’ve had no problems whatsoever and now display a smile to die for..Look

Btw I had a filling done at the same time and the total cost came in at around £240

Regards

Keith

[emjay45]

Stop it! Stop it! I've got the dentist on Thursday. I've had a few root fillings I hated them

[Jan Rosser]

Thanks for that info Keith. My late husband had a cantilever bridge fitted many years ago which was quite ironic as he was a civil engineer - he found it amusing That was a canine tooth like yours.

Like you he had no problems so if one day the bridge fairy visits me I'm sure it will be fine.

Looking forward to next Monday

[Capt Black]

All dentists have shares in Tate & Lyle.

The bill your dentist gives you is proportionate to the amount of petrol in the fuel tank of the dentist's DB9.

That said, I've come across several really helpful great dentists when I've some problems. Only one dentist who I would never go back to, who was probably a descendant of the dentist in Marathon Man.

[gfwgfw]

Good morning

I thank you all for your helpful - amusing posts

Graham

[Silver_Shiney]

I used to say that should I ever a root canal, they'd have to catch me first. The horror stories of how painful it was scared me to death, as pain is against my religion (I'm a devout coward).

However, when it came to it, the only painful bit was the injection, and that because the dentist refused to numb the gum first with anaesthetic cream. After that, it was no problem at all.

[MaureenB]

I think, Gentle Giant, that the price you have been quoted is the maximum amount that can be charged for National Health treatment. As there is a lot of work involved it is easy to reach this inflated price. Can you not find some other work that needs doing at the same time? That would come into your already quoted price!! Just thinking economics.................

Good luck, and like the other replies I can confirm that the pain level is zero.

Lubbu

Maureen

[Keechy]

My OH recently had root canal work done. She's incredibly brave when it comes to dentist and she didn't have any injections. It has to be said that we've been really lucky with our dentists and we never experience much in the way of pain.

Last week I had a tooth break in half - no warning, no pain or any other sensation. It was a filling with a tiny pin in it that has lasted for well over ten years, so now I have to have a crown fitted. We are members of Denplan so the work will cost £155 but that's for the Lab work and not the dentist's time. OH's root canal work was £180 and would have cost about £600 without Denplan. I would say it's probably worth considering because it's the first time either of us has had to pay for any dental treatment per se. We have regular check-ups at three month intervals and have also had free fillings. OK I suppose they're not actually free because we pay a monthly fee, but even a check-up and scale and polish can be quite pricey.

Good luck GFW (open wide!)

[Kendhni]

Last weekend I was pumping some iron at the gym through gritted teeth .. in fact they were gritted so much that I broke a tooth and had to visit the dentist ... fortunately he is a mate of mine so doesn't charge me .. although he does use me for his guinea pig every once in a while .. I was his first wisdom tooth extraction and his first root canal.

[gfwgfw]

The Giant has concluded that at his ripe old age the need to spend a week's Zider money (£214) on three sessions of Dental Polish delectation

We shall gender the village blacksmith to yank the bloody tooth out for Firkin of Mucky Brown's Famed Darzet Zider wee a bag of Darzet Knobs

Lubooo all
nbn

[Stephen]

Just back from our friendly Dentist who is Polish and I do find hard to understand what is going on

Well it is like this

He mentioned "Root Canal" and "Capping"

The procedure needs three visits to his surgery

And will cost £214 . . . ouch

Hoping someone on board can explain what is this procedure

Thanks in anticipation

£214 gfw!! ............ If he's only charging that much then I would ask to see his qualifications

[gfwgfw]

Stephen

He also looks after the village drains

[cornmillgirl]

I am somewhat a "root canal" expert, I have six ! dont ask, problems caused by a dentist who got struck off after I reported him to the General
Medical Council years ago. The first four were done privately in Manchester by a consultant noted for his root canal work to the tune of £1500 and
I am talking over 15 years ago, so goodness knows how much it would cost privately now.

The last two I had done by my current dentist under Denplan as per a previous post I only paid about £150 each for the lab work involved. I have had no problems with any of them, no pain during the procedures and no issues since.

I have heard horror stories about root canals, but apparently if you have them done by a professional and look after your teeth, you should really have
no problems and they should last for years which obviously is evident by mine still being intact

Hope you get it sorted soon.

[howard18]

I've got a problem with one of my teeth which is more filling than anything else. At least your dentist wants to save the tooth - I've just seen a dentist who wanted to take out my tooth and give me a denture - not what I wanted to hear - she advised me that I would get used to it - no way

I have all my own teeth - fillings yes but no other work and the thought of a denture fills me with horror.

My regular dentist has set up his own practice and I have tracked him down and he has no intention of taking it out and anyway suggested a bridge should it have to be removed some time in the future.

Bite the bullet lubberly giant and preserve your good looks pay up and I'm sure you'll be pleased with the result - I'm off next week for further treatment

Jan,

Just another thought - explore the cost of having an implant. I had a couple fitted many years ago - never been any trouble. Fit and forget for life.

Howard

[Jan Rosser]

Jan,

Just another thought - explore the cost of having an implant. I had a couple fitted many years ago - never been any trouble. Fit and forget for life.

Howard

Thanks for that Howard - good to hear from someone who has been down the implant route. This is another possibility - I've been to the dentist this week and he has dressed and refilled so fingers crossed but I'm reassured there are so many alternatives to a denture

[wolfie]

gfw

Get the root canal sorted. Mine has lasted over 30 years so it should last you!!

Extraction should be your last port of call.