Root Canal

What they quoted you is for the tin crown, yes - that's the NHS rate.  IIRC, the white porcelain was £500, and gold was £550. 

  - How much!!!!!!!! omg..best go check the bank account before I go!

also maybe I should have got a gold tooth, because if I'm ever stranded at sea - then I've always got my gold tooth to pay for my burial at sea arrrrrr)

lol! 

If its a tooth that is not seen when laughing etc...would you still have root canal? or would you just have it whipped out?

If its a tooth that is not seen when laughing etc...would you still have root canal? or would you just have it whipped out?

On the NHS you wouldn't necissarily have that choice, I'm afraid. If it's not a clinically necessary tooth (ie. a tooth you could live without because it wouldn't affect your bite) and it's a complicated root canal, they might give you the choice of having it filled (a root canal is really a root filling) privately or extracted on the NHS. I personally would pay to have it saved in that situation as I suffered through far too many years of orthodontic torture to have teeth taken out unless absolutely necessary.

If its a tooth that is not seen when laughing etc...would you still have root canal? or would you just have it whipped out?

Not sure.  My US dentist gave me the choice of what I wanted, but I was worried about losing it since it was one of my molars.  But my crown irritates me to no end (stuff getting stuck under it), so I often wonder if I should have just had it pulled. 

On the NHS you wouldn't necissarily have that choice, I'm afraid. If it's not a clinically necessary tooth (ie. a tooth you could live without because it wouldn't affect your bite) and it's a complicated root canal, they might give you the choice of having it filled (a root canal is really a root filling) privately or extracted on the NHS. I personally would pay to have it saved in that situation as I suffered through far too many years of orthodontic torture to have teeth taken out unless absolutely necessary.

Yes and another reason for trying to save teeth is that creating a gap may cause the other teeth to shift around.

Yes and another reason for trying to save teeth is that creating a gap may cause the other teeth to shift around.

Hmmn..good point.  I already have "typically british stonehenge" teeth....so I best keep them safe.

Anywho...I best dash to my appointment...Its gonna be like the green mile 

omg..best go check the bank account before I go!

After the root canal was done (in the US), I had several appointments before the crown was finally sited (here in the UK) - over a period that stretched two months:  once for the NHS dentist to look at what the US dentist did & authorise another appointment for the actual work to begin, once for them to make the mold & put on a temporary, I had to go back again because the temporary fell off in the meantime, then I went back again because they decided they needed to make another mold, then back for the final siting of the final crown.  And I didn't have to pay until it was all done, so you might have time to save up a bit.  Also, I have a small private insurance through work that reimbursed for some of the crown cost.

If a lot of food is getting stuck it might not be fitted correctly.  I haven't had any extra food debris caught in the crown. 

Yes and another reason for trying to save teeth is that creating a gap may cause the other teeth to shift around.

Yes, that's what I meant.

Well its been confirmed. I do have to have root canal 

I had to see the emergency dentist as my dentist was on holiday.  The man was lovely, really sympathetic to my pain.  I informed him I wasn't suffering with any sensitivity to hot or cold or sweet foods, I just couldn't bite down hard.

I also informed him it did not seem that painful today.  Of which he jokily replied "That is the fear my dear, Adrenalin is a natural painkiller"....I liked this guy.

Anywho, he started to tap on my current filling and I juddered and jolted in pain. He confirmed I needed root canal and said that I have a infection in one of my roots and perscribed me some Amoxacillin. He informed me to continue taking painkillers over the next few days along with the antibiotics and it should clear up and be pain free in a few days.

I asked him how painful a root canal is and he did say if its a infected tooth it can be quite bad so hence the antibiotics as it should be pain free then - I hope so 

I asked him to confirm the price of a crown and he said tin 198 quid or white 495 quid.  Of which I replied, I think I will rather have it taken out as you can not see it when I smile and I didn't want a silver tooth plus I can not justify 495 quid right now.  I think he took pity on me and said no lady under the age of 60 should have missing teeth and that he will do me a white one for 198 quid  Happy days!

So - I am at home now, woofing down painkillers and burning my face on a hot water bottle again as I am in excruciating pain where it has been poked about today  :\\\'(

Thank you everyone for all your advice and stories.  I was actually confident talking to the dentist rather than a shaking timid shrew I normally am!  So cheers everyone, I really appreciate it 

Aw, LC - I've been wondering about you since tooth hurty this afternoon!

I'm glad you can save the tooth and get the white crown for the same price as tin.  Sorry to hear about the infection and pain caused.

Get better soon (I hope you are having a bit of a tonic now as well as the hot water bottle!)

Big hug! 

Thanks LBA! 

I think I need some pirate rum! 40% proof should numb the pain   

Ah, I wish I could send you some Captain Morgan's Spiced Rum!  Ahoy, matey!

If a lot of food is getting stuck it might not be fitted correctly.  I haven't had any extra food debris caught in the crown. 

Yeah, I'm going to ask when I go to the dentist again for a checkup here shortly.  The problem she had was there wasn't much tooth left above the gum to glue the crown onto, and for that reason it was a difficult crown for them to construct - why they had to take two different molds for it.  When I fractured my molar, it really sheared off most of the tooth, but I can't really afford an implant. 

Glad to hear they're getting you sorted out, LC, and that a nice crown won't cost you so much!  What a nice dentist!

LuckyCuz you are so lucky (ha!)!  I wish my dentist would give me a white crown for the cost of a silver one! 

I had a root canal done over 10 years ago, and it really didn't hurt much at all.  Of course I was given novacaine, but I think it hurt less than getting a filling after a novacaine shot.  Like others have said, the pain (from the infection) was so bad before, that getting the root canal was a huge relief!

The problem now is that I am experiencing some pain off and on from the same tooth and my dentist took x-rays.  She may have to remove the crown to see what's going on, but I'll then need to get a new crown.  I'm pretty sure she only quoted me about 300 pounds, not 500 pounds though for a white one.

The problem now is that I am experiencing some pain off and on from the same tooth and my dentist took x-rays.  She may have to remove the crown to see what's going on, but I'll then need to get a new crown.  I'm pretty sure she only quoted me about 300 pounds, not 500 pounds though for a white one.

When I needed my crown replaced I was in quite a bit of discomfort. Turns out the crown was leaking. If yours was over 10 years ago, it probably needs to be replaced. Mine lasted about 15.