Private dentist prices for root canal treatment
I have all my dental work done by a NHS dentist and get free treatment because I am a poor starving O.A.P. At my last checkup I told my dentist about a problem with one of my teeth. After further examination and some x-rays, I was informed that I needed a root canal. This procedure is where the dentist removes the root from the tooth but leaves the now rootless tooth in the jaw.
However my dentist informed me that he could not do the root canal work because it was too complicated, and I would have to be referred to a specialist in root canal treatment, an Endodontist. If I had it done on the NHS I would have to wait about nine months and travel to another city for the procedure.
This wasn't acceptable so I elected to have it done privately,rather than wait for that length of time. Bear in mind I am a poor starving pensioner, who has to burn books to keep warm, go to bed at 6 pm. in the winter can`t eat or heat house etc.
Codswallop - it's still a lot of money though, and money I could ill afford to throw around.
I was referred to an Endodontist in another town 80 miles away. It appears that there are typically only one Endodontist in any city. Did it hurt? No never felt a thing, almost fell asleep during the procedure after taking Diazepam to calm me down. What did hurt was the cost of the treatment, £660 for about 90 minutes work.
Why is this procedure not available in a decent time frame on the NHS and why do private dentists charge so much? How can anyone justify a cost of £660 for 90 minutes work? That's £440 an hour or if you like £17,600 for a 40 hour week - a very nice salary indeed! I have checked on the Internet and this is a failrly typical charge for root canal work on a rear tooth. Absolute rip-off!
By: Alice
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What is it about NHS dentistry. If you worked out the hourly rate it is insultingly cheap. You pay more to any tradesmen or garage per hour. The only way the NHS works is high quantity, the more the dentist does the more he gets paid. Personally I'd rather pay a bit more and know that the job wasn't rushed. NHS great trade name. But high quality and quantity are often mutually exclusive !
If the system is so good why are decent dentists leaving. Better still why are dentists not rushing to open NHS clinics, no shortage of business. Pay and conditions are maybe an issue !
If the system is so good why are decent dentists leaving. Better still why are dentists not rushing to open NHS clinics, no shortage of business. Pay and conditions are maybe an issue !
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This is because private practices have to cover their costs as some are not
Funded by the government so no it is not entirely their salary an hour. They have staff, rent and stand on their feet all day long with high concentration treating very complexed cases. Let's not forget the 5 years they've spent in university! I'm not in the dental field myself but I get annoyed when they moan about private dentistry. Believe it or not, they have to eat and feed their families too. I'm sure one wouldn't mind spending the money on a holiday however, when it comes to their own health they're quick to moan!
I do agree that nobody should wait that long to have treatment on the NHS though.
A specialist in his field has taken his own time and money to learn more
Funded by the government so no it is not entirely their salary an hour. They have staff, rent and stand on their feet all day long with high concentration treating very complexed cases. Let's not forget the 5 years they've spent in university! I'm not in the dental field myself but I get annoyed when they moan about private dentistry. Believe it or not, they have to eat and feed their families too. I'm sure one wouldn't mind spending the money on a holiday however, when it comes to their own health they're quick to moan!
I do agree that nobody should wait that long to have treatment on the NHS though.
A specialist in his field has taken his own time and money to learn more
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This is because private practices have to cover their costs as some are not
Funded by the government so no it is not entirely their salary an hour. They have staff, rent and stand on their feet all day long with high concentration treating very complexed cases. Let's not forget the 5 years they've spent in university! I'm not in the dental field myself but I get annoyed when they moan about private dentistry. Believe it or not, they have to eat and feed their families too. I'm sure one wouldn't mind spending the money on a holiday however, when it comes to their own health they're quick to moan!
I do agree that nobody should wait that long to have treatment on the NHS though.
A specialist in his field has taken his own time and money to learn more
Funded by the government so no it is not entirely their salary an hour. They have staff, rent and stand on their feet all day long with high concentration treating very complexed cases. Let's not forget the 5 years they've spent in university! I'm not in the dental field myself but I get annoyed when they moan about private dentistry. Believe it or not, they have to eat and feed their families too. I'm sure one wouldn't mind spending the money on a holiday however, when it comes to their own health they're quick to moan!
I do agree that nobody should wait that long to have treatment on the NHS though.
A specialist in his field has taken his own time and money to learn more
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I thought I'd had treatment i.e root canal ,now turns out I haven't.I too have been advised by my NHS dentist to go privately. Ialso take Diasapan for dental visits but couldn't bear parting with £600 or 90 minutes in the dental chair now on anti-biotics !!!
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the tooth fairy - 21-Mar-11 12:53
agreed boblet, most dentists use the system to their best advantage regardless of what is best for the patient. its hardly a scam, just using the flawed system pushed by government, media and public for the good of their business. all above board and legal but in my opinion as in yours completely wrong.
direct your anger towards the people that design the system - we don't like it either!
regards closing treatment lists etc, please remember that some of us weren't working in the 'golden age' of dentists driving around in bmws and jags. makes me bloody sick too. i'm struggling to make minimum wage, don't expect your sympathy - its just a fact.
direct your anger towards the people that design the system - we don't like it either!
regards closing treatment lists etc, please remember that some of us weren't working in the 'golden age' of dentists driving around in bmws and jags. makes me bloody sick too. i'm struggling to make minimum wage, don't expect your sympathy - its just a fact.
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I have removed teeth privately in the pub it is not necessarily a ski11ed job, I never charged once,
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Gronk. I realize this is a groaning site, but it also has its roots in reality. A poor Dentist is not a reality, Bankers, Farmers, Policemen, Mps & Doctors etc, you all have your own scams. Will they be on GOW next looking for sympathy? If so I will list the scams. The credit crunch has not bitten yet you selfish sod. You could have saved some of your easy money when you were closing your treatment list. making those who could take advantage of cheap treatment abroad. do so, but making ordinary folk travel miles on public transport for treatment
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Cynical Boblet - 13-Mar-11 15:53
as a dentist in scotland it costs me £70 to keep my surgery open ie break even after paying staff, materials, bills etc.... we currently get paid £96 for molar root treatment which takes me 1.5hrs to complete properly. yes, thats right. if you do the maths I actually lose money every time I do a nhs root canal! private root canals involve far higher costs for us hence the fee is higher - it is also nice to get paid for going to work.
nhs dentistry is also struggling to cope with the aftermath of people that go abroad for treatment and then expect us to pick up the bill when it all fails.
nhs dentistry is also struggling to cope with the aftermath of people that go abroad for treatment and then expect us to pick up the bill when it all fails.
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lucy uuk , I know a young Pole who works in the catering industry and he recently went home for a holiday combined with getting his teeth fixed. He said it costs about a third of British prices where he goes and that the quality of the work is very good.
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a replacement bridge with 3 teeth on and one implant to secure bridge uk quote 13000 and one week to complete??? How much in poland???? If anyone knows approx estimate let me know please lucy uk
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Eyck, yike! Your US health care is oddly misplaced. I met a guy in Marina del Rey, CA, who told me he had a triple bypass on a co-payment with his insurer. Cost a whopping $400,000 and his share was about $25,000. You break an arm and it costs "an arm and a leg" to reset it. Love this phrase.
I've heard horror stories that make me cringe. How do you survive?
In Canada, you can get any number of bypasses, chemo treatments, heart-liver-lung-kidney transplants at no cost, not a penny. How many Arizonans on the list for major transplants who recently have been delisted, and how many have since passed on since, while waiting?
Ask Michael Moore, even if he's a blowhard to the doubting Thomases of the States who are down on socialized medicine. His SICKO should be watched and believed; and as a Canadian, I can tell you he's not exaggerating.
A close friend of mine had a leaky abdominal aortic aneurysm, was hospitalized the same night and operated on within an hour of its occurrence. He would've died. Another personal friend was flown by helicopter to a hospital for an emergency cardio-treatment that saved his life. A chopper! I couldn't believe my ears.
I love my American cousins and everything American, but I don't think I can safely live with them as a real neighbor. I don't know how I'd cope if anyone falls ill in the family. God forbid if that should happen.
I've heard horror stories that make me cringe. How do you survive?
In Canada, you can get any number of bypasses, chemo treatments, heart-liver-lung-kidney transplants at no cost, not a penny. How many Arizonans on the list for major transplants who recently have been delisted, and how many have since passed on since, while waiting?
Ask Michael Moore, even if he's a blowhard to the doubting Thomases of the States who are down on socialized medicine. His SICKO should be watched and believed; and as a Canadian, I can tell you he's not exaggerating.
A close friend of mine had a leaky abdominal aortic aneurysm, was hospitalized the same night and operated on within an hour of its occurrence. He would've died. Another personal friend was flown by helicopter to a hospital for an emergency cardio-treatment that saved his life. A chopper! I couldn't believe my ears.
I love my American cousins and everything American, but I don't think I can safely live with them as a real neighbor. I don't know how I'd cope if anyone falls ill in the family. God forbid if that should happen.
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Sam, the Tiger - 10-Jan-11 03:13
I had this same conversation with a friend a couple of days ago, about dentists with the mentality of SOME tradesmen who unconscionably charge an arm and a leg.
Years ago, my one-of-a-kind dental surgeon performed an endodontal work on my molar. He spent a month cleaning the canal before he finally consented to fill it permanently. Burned-out, he called it quits at 50 in favor of farming, citing stress. He was too perfect and too honest to last, I thought.
A DDS and an MD bought over the practice. His titles sounded great, except that he wouldn't touch root canal. Referred me once to an endodontist who also typically did it in 90 minutes, billing my insurance 660 pounds equivalent; but the tooth is never the same again. Kickback for my dentist? I wouldn't put it past him.
That wasn't all. The endo put a temporary filling and referred me back to my dentist to have it permanently filled; cost $60.00. I had to sign a waiver to indemnify the endo from future problems and financial liabilities arising out of his superfluous handiwork.
Know what, there are honest and skilful dentists out there; you just have to find them by word of mouth. Mine is monikered Rich People's Dentist, but I'm FAR from rich. I'm looking around and I am asking lots of questions. You should too.
Nice piece of writing, Alice.
Years ago, my one-of-a-kind dental surgeon performed an endodontal work on my molar. He spent a month cleaning the canal before he finally consented to fill it permanently. Burned-out, he called it quits at 50 in favor of farming, citing stress. He was too perfect and too honest to last, I thought.
A DDS and an MD bought over the practice. His titles sounded great, except that he wouldn't touch root canal. Referred me once to an endodontist who also typically did it in 90 minutes, billing my insurance 660 pounds equivalent; but the tooth is never the same again. Kickback for my dentist? I wouldn't put it past him.
That wasn't all. The endo put a temporary filling and referred me back to my dentist to have it permanently filled; cost $60.00. I had to sign a waiver to indemnify the endo from future problems and financial liabilities arising out of his superfluous handiwork.
Know what, there are honest and skilful dentists out there; you just have to find them by word of mouth. Mine is monikered Rich People's Dentist, but I'm FAR from rich. I'm looking around and I am asking lots of questions. You should too.
Nice piece of writing, Alice.
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Sam, the Tiger - 10-Jan-11 02:37
Yes, the prices are terribly high, but no more so than for a highly trained professional. What I object to is the fact that you used to be able to get reasonably-priced and decent work on the NHS. I believe that the quality of work/crowns etc is not very good nowadays - but unfortunately as my teeth are deteriorating and my income dropping, it looks like I will have to move to an NHS dentist... asssuming I can get one of course.
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All the dentists, and 70% of the people, in the Balkans speak English. Stop paying over priced UK dentists. Solicitors are overpaid too. These services are a bad bad deal in the UK.
Travel to the Balkans via Easyjet £40 each way
Save loads of money and have holiday at the same time.
Well worth it if you need bridges etc..
Dentists in the UK always fudge their prices.
Travel to the Balkans via Easyjet £40 each way
Save loads of money and have holiday at the same time.
Well worth it if you need bridges etc..
Dentists in the UK always fudge their prices.
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How much does it cost though to travel to the Balkans? Plus if you're paid by the hour like myself, then that has to be amortised in as well. Plus, if you are salaried, the time off you have had to take, plus if something goes wrong you are in a foreign country where you don't speak the language. When you compare what private dentists charge to solicitors' fees, or garages, it doesn't seem such a bad deal.
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Dental price in Balkans. €300 for a 3 tooth bridge, back teeth, plus €10 for x-ray, plus €10 for hygienic clean of all teeth beforehand. All done by professor of dentistry.
How much more is your dentist charging?
How much more is your dentist charging?
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Price Comparison Dec 2010 - 26-Dec-10 08:40
Dear Alice,
If you thought endodontists in the UK are overpaid, try this: $ 604.80 US for an x-ray, quick exam and a hole drilled in a molar, then being told the tooth must be extracted. It all took
about 30 minutes. OK, the guy has a fancy office, an attractive assistant and two ladies in
the office to take care of reception and billing. He even had the nerve to tell me he's not interested in the billing phase. Yes, right ...!
Let's see, the US president, who supposedly deals with matters of war and peace, gets about
$ 400,000 in salary, but an endodontist who does root canals gets an extrapolated $ 2.3 million per annum (if he should work 40 hours per week and 48 weeks), but then he has to pay for his rental and the hired help... And you thought things in the UK were bad ?
If you thought endodontists in the UK are overpaid, try this: $ 604.80 US for an x-ray, quick exam and a hole drilled in a molar, then being told the tooth must be extracted. It all took
about 30 minutes. OK, the guy has a fancy office, an attractive assistant and two ladies in
the office to take care of reception and billing. He even had the nerve to tell me he's not interested in the billing phase. Yes, right ...!
Let's see, the US president, who supposedly deals with matters of war and peace, gets about
$ 400,000 in salary, but an endodontist who does root canals gets an extrapolated $ 2.3 million per annum (if he should work 40 hours per week and 48 weeks), but then he has to pay for his rental and the hired help... And you thought things in the UK were bad ?
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Eyck Bernardy, Woodland WA USA - 20-Nov-10 05:57
When compared to the price of a car service, or a solicitor, I think dentists are actually on the whole not too expensive. Take a root canal - that is extremely delicate and tricky, removing the nerve from a tooth and filling the root cavity, without hurting your patient. Having had root canal treatment, during which I never felt a thing, I felt the £150 I paid for this about 25 years ago well worth the money. The skill in cleaning the plaque off your teeth with one of those high pressure squirty things is also considerable. In the wrong hands, these pieces of kit can take all the enamel off your teeth if not used properly. £90 to strengthen and repair a chipped tooth does not sound out of order at all.
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I have just visited my dentist because I have a chipped wisdom tooth.He said he could strengthen it and the cost would be £90.I pay £10:45 per month also on the care plan.How can they be allowed to charge that amount and get away with it,it is pure daylight robbery in my opinion.How does that encourage people to take care of their teeth.I am a nurse and I dont receive that kind of pay.
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Dentists are the biggest rip off ever. Me and my patner always have to ensure we have at least £100 spare when we have check ups just incase we need jobs doing. You can see doctors and have operations for free on the NHS so why do we have to pay for dentists?
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