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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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This is exactly the moral case as put forward by Cronin in his novel The Citadel.
Having the impressions done was uncomfortable; my mouth was cranked open and all these weird tasting soft plastics in holders shoved in and held in place till they set!
Anyway, glad to help.
Thanks for that. I can get the factual stuff on a website but personal experience counts for a lot. It does not sound too bad then, except that it's quite a jaw achingly long time in the chair. Worth it though to have something that looks and feels real and should last a lifetime. I detest the thought of false teeth with a plate.
Thanks.
It wasn't as bad as I expected it to be. After a consultation (lots of x-rays and impressions) I went in on a Saturday morning so the gom could drive me home. The dentist explained it all and gave me the anaesthetic injections. He had 2 nurses in attendance and they all looked after me very well. After cutting the gum he started drilling, and it honestly felt like he was drilling a tooth; just that feeling of pressure.
He put in the implant with temporary stopper (with an Allen key hole in the top) and screwed it in. That had to stay there for about 3 months while the implant and the bone grew together, then the stopper came out, a peg for the crown was screwed in and the crown fitted. It's just like a real tooth.
Sometimes the gum has to be stitched over the implant to allow it to integrate, but mine went in well and as I don't smoke that part could be left out.
There was some pain after the injections wore off, but no worse than moderate toothache, and I was able to take painkillers. I had to be careful what I ate for a few days; soup, mashed potato and scrambled egg were on the menu!
You have my sympathy regarding the dental work but I am also curious regarding what the work was like. Aftert thinking my teeth were going to last me for life, I lost a tooth last year and, as I can't afford an implant at the moment, I had a bridge made. Bridges don't last forever and I will probably have an implant evenutally.
If you don't mind my asking what was the work like? Did it take a long time and was there much pain after? I am a bit of a coward regading the dentist.
I agree with you regarding the pointless offensiveness of some of the posters. Like many others I rarely bother to post lately. That is, of course, what trolls are about - making a site not worth the bother to use. Admin should consider some kind of log in with e-mail but not with Facebook or Twitter.
Cut 'em down to size