I’m private, not nhs, need (supposedly) root canal done, and options are specialist or in-house.

Specialist has two options, one cheaper but 3 months wait potentially(!) so that’s ruled out, the other is fancy one in London at twice the price, probably within a week or two.

Or in-house, dentist does it, with maybe 10% less chance of success (roughly 70% success rate supposedly they say with root canals anyway).

Booked the in-house at the moment as it’s next week and not as pricey as the fancy specialist.

Worth the extra money (and trip into London) going for the specialist anyway? From what I gather it could still fail a few years down the line anyway, so I’m not keen on spending even more for a small increase of chance & quality.

I keep thinking of third option which is just get the tooth pulled. Dentist is strongly against that due to the tooth location and issues it may cause. But then if the root canal fails they’ll probably have to pull it anyway.

Also… pain killers? Really getting extreme pain now. Ibuprofen and/or Paracetamol doesn’t always cut it. Depends what sets the thing off (and the dentist today poking around has set it off big time).

This is for suspected dying nerve.

Go to Budapest and get it on the cheap.

Probably better to get the root canal, as then at least the tooth remains, otherwise, if you pull the tooth, over time the others will start to shift like gravestones above the zombie tunnels and no one wants a mouth that looks like a graveyard.

Pain killer wise, clove oil and hard liquor can provide immediate relief, and a cocktail of Ibuprofen and Co-codamol should give you some comfort.

Got a cupboard full of codeine / Tramadol and Co-codamol, though they’re past their expiry between three to one year (all provided at different times in recent years for various bike injuries 😀 ).

prior to having my last one done (i’ve had two), I found that ice cold water provided immediate relief. Only lasts a few minutes but keep it on hand and have a regular swill with it.
Think the pain was pressure within the tooth from the infection, the cold water cooled it enough to ‘shrink’ the contents of the tooth enough to ease the pressure. (thats my theory)

Got a cupboard full of codeine / Tramadol and Co-codamol, though they’re past their expiry between three to one year (all provided at different times in recent years for various bike injuries )

Aye, same, mine were 3 years out and they did a grand job a few days back. Get em down ya 😉

My local dentist did mine privately, she seemed very competent.

No issues so far, about 3 months.

It was about £500 all-in. I could have gone to a super-dooper specialist in the centre of Cambridge for about £2k, but that’s a mad amount of money.

I’m mid-treatment for root canal at the moment.

I normally see an NHS dentist but I went private for this on his advice – mainly as the microscope widget they use at the private place is much more powerful so he can see what the hell he’s doing better – useful when you see where they’re drilling through. Having laid thru surgery number 1 last friday (drill out, clean out) I’m glad I went private for it. He had a keen interest in root canal work and does quite a bit of it. It was slick.

Next round is this Friday which is the finishing bit of the root canal (dunno what it involves, I assume fill the holes and seal).

Then I’m back to the NHS dentist to have a crown.

All in cost is around 420 for the private bit and 225 or something for the NHS crown.

From initial ‘diagnosis’ at the NHS dentist to first round of work was 4 weeks.

Ref. the pain… mine has been brewing for a while. It came to a head whilst on holiday back in June – it was agony for a few days and then just stopped one morning. It was weird. Since then it’s just been a sensation in the gum rather than outright pain, but there is definite infection in there hence the canal work.

why do they want you to go to a specialist? Root canal work should be routine for any high street dentist. Have you got very complex roots which require the attentions of an entodontist?

If it makes you feel any better, I once had an emergency root canal (removing the nerves) done by a dentist in a seaside town in Costa Rica and due to the language barrier, didn’t really know anything much about what was going on and was left with some wooden splints sticking out of my tooth.

It was only later when I went to a dentist in the capital to get it reinstated that I got a run down of what the procedure entailed. The dentist in San Jose was a cool dude with good banter and well into his mountain biking.

During the course of the treatment, my eyes sealed shut with gunge and I went blind in one eye for a few days due to viral conjunctivitis leading to a corneal ulcer where I’d been sleeping with my contact lenses in when pissed.

Ah, fun times…

then just stopped one morning. It was weird.

Probably the nerve dying.

Probably the nerve dying.

Good riddance!

nickc – Member
why do they want you to go to a specialist? Root canal work should be routine for any high street dentist. Have you got very complex roots which require the attentions of an entodontist?

It’s routine, but mine doesn’t have the microscope equipment that the specialist would have, so it’s a bit more trial and error and apparently if there’s twists in the canal then it may get complicated. They don’t think it’s complex though from the x-rays. It’s just they presented specialist as an option.

it was agony for a few days and then just stopped one morning. It was weird. Since then it’s just been a sensation in the gum rather than outright pain, but there is definite infection in there hence the canal work.

I’ve read that about abscesses where they can go pop and the pain is relieved. That’s my bigger worry that it’s an abscess as left untreated it can cause other problems and even be fatal. Dentist doesn’t see evidence of an abscess though.

Good riddance!

Bad design anyway. Who decided that nerves in teeth that don’t require any feeling was a good idea?

If it helps, I’m in the middle of having one done on the NHS.
It started at the beginning of the year.

So far I’ve had:
Initial severe pain in already filled and previously badly crowned tooth.
Referral to special dental hospital in Brum
Told that it wasn’t appropriate for them, dentist should be able to do it, as there was no complexity.
3 different sessions at usually very good dentist. 3rd one he said he couldn’t find the 3rd root and couldn’t properly get to the bottom of one of the other ones due to the shape, so referral to Special dental hospital. Given option of removal but I want to try and keep it. Given temporary filling.
Since the referral (July, I think) I’ve had zero contact from the hospital, just told I’m in the queue.
I’ve also had two horrendously painful tooth infections which left me feeling rough as for a few days.
I really should have gone private, but it’s far from cheap and I can’t really afford it.

Hmm, looks like I’m in for fun then. Also as private, going to cost £££(£).

Ice water isn’t an option as that’ll cause extreme shooting pain, however an ice pack on the face helps a bit. Calms it down for 15 mins anyway. Also, continually munching something. Peanuts seems to work. Otherwise it starts radiating out and spreads to lower jaw (affected tooth is an upper rear molar), ear and even neck now.

Really is the worst pain I’ve ever had. Broken bones (including back) are nothing compared to tooth pain.

Just had my 25 year old RC cleaned out and redone by my dentist. He re-did the other 27 year old one 18 months ago and remarked at the time that the other was a “ticking time bomb”. Any way he said he could do it with a 70-80% success rate and both went well (phew).

He thinks he can get another clean out and plug out of each tooth when they fail again (hoping for another 20+ years). Apparently the new style plugs are much better than what they used to use and should resist degrading for longer.

He didn’t recommend removal and implants due to both of them being my front top teeth (accidents with a pair of pliers and the metal hose of an industrial Hoover), and me mountain biking.

Had root canal at a private dentist done a few year ago, cost about £300.

I opted to have the whole thing done in one sitting as I couldn’t be bothered going twice.

Took just over an hour, no pain during , only a little bit of discomfort from having my mouth open for so long and no pain afterwards.

The dentist did say that she found the root canals really easily and that is why it was so quick.

OK, what’s their relationship with the endontist that they’re pushing you towards, and how much have they suggested it will cost?

it needs an apex locator, some burrs and some filler (basically) It really shouldn’t be “trial and error” for a competent dentist.

Had mine done private a couple of years ago by Stephen the best dentist in Woodlesford (!). Very competent, very slick, slightly expensive, but immeasurably better than the NHS I had before in Rothwell (on Butcher Lane as if that should not have been sufficient warning!). You only have one set of teeth so don’t scrimp too much!

Had infected roots while travelling years ago. Found holding a mouthful of whisky in my mouth as long as possible took the pain away.

Whether you spit or swallow is up to you!

I had a root canal done on the NHS a few years ago, I had a big abscess and it was off-the-scale painful before. Had no problems since, but the tooth is starting to discolour as it now dead… Since it’s at the front and I don’t want to look like a pirate that’s more ££ for bleaching.

I hope you get it sorted soon, I don’t wish the pain on anyone.

nickc – Member
OK, what’s their relationship with the endontist that they’re pushing you towards, and how much have they suggested it will cost?

One they suggested is £700, the posh one is £1200. In house I think it will end up £900ish depending on the crown required, maybe a little less for a cheaper one given it’s a back molar so out of sight. Just the canal work on the molar itself is around £500 on their example prices.

I’d go with the £700 guy, but it’s about a 3 month wait, so no chance. I’m going to struggle even waiting a week.

it needs an apex locator, some burrs and some filler (basically) It really shouldn’t be “trial and error” for a competent dentist.

I think they were just referring to specialists having the fancy microscope stuff making it more accurate (maybe).

Had root canal earlier this year on the NHS and it seems to be fine.
Really feel for you pain-wise though. I could not believe the pain I was going through when it was playing up.

Where are you in the country?

My dentist specialises in it and charged me about £300 if I remember rightly. No pain at all during the process, or after.

His practice is;

Mike Siswick, Lindley, Huddersfield.

Yeah, bit far. Surrey, so Surrey prices 😀

Was that charge including a crown? I don’t know if they’re always required.

I’m a dentist …

So providing you have no medical reason why not…(asthma, stomach problems..), a combination of 1 g paracetamol and 400 – 600mg ibuprofen taken 8 hourly will give you the best pain relief. Opioid work differently and are rarely useful for toothache.

If the wait is an issue, your own dentist could open the tooth and ‘extirpate’ remove the dying nerve. It’s the initial stage of endodontic treatment (aka root canal treatment, aka microsurgery…), and would not prevent the specialist from completing the treatment.

Like medicine, dentistry has specialities, of which endodontics is one. We are all trained to undertake the procedure, and most of us do so on a regular basis, but a GDC registered specialist will have a MSc (about three yrs of additional study), and access to an operating microscope. These make halo bikes look cheap. (The few hundred grand in study fees, and lost of income to get the qualifications just being the start….). My 3.5x top of the line loupes and coaxial light are around £5000, and Zeiss or Global microscope would be about £25,000 – £30,000…… But provide up to x20. Root canal treatment is basically undertaking microsurgery (instruments down to the diameter of a couple of human hairs), though a small dark hole, at the back of a larger, moving hole…..in the region of the human body the highest density of neurons outside the brain. To an accuracy of less than a mm. Simple? Err… It may appear so, but that’s because the person doing it is really really good at what they do.

Cost…. Well the NHS contract fees are actually the same for an extraction (20-30 mins), or root treatment (60-120minutes depending on which tooth), which then requires a whole load of expensive tech (an apex locator is about £1000, add as much again for the specialist micro motor, and then same again for the thermal GP to fill the canal…), and NiTi files (the ones which go in the drill are about £20-35 each and single use, you need anything from 1 to 5, plus 3 or 4 other instruments), so if you want to do a good job, with the correct upto date kit, and take enough time to do it correctly…. And expect it in the NHS (3 UDAs are worth about £70 on average….), you are relying on your dentist to do the right thing, and essentially take a loss. Which we do.

I would say about £250-450, is a reasonable fee for a non specialist. The specialist I refer to would cost £500-650. 90% success rate … Which will be better than my’n on the same tooth. If it’s a molar, you will usually need a crown as well. This makes a statistically significant difference in the long term, as it makes fractures less likely.

Hope you get sorted out…

I had 2 root canals on the NHS, one emergency and one standard if I recall. Both have failed and had the teeth removed a couple of years down the line, damn. Though I also recall them costing something like £50 each.
What is the price difference between an expensive root canal and just having a fake tooth implant (which I assume would be fully permanent)

Grateful for the details from dms01 by the way, thanks

Cool, thanks for that also. Explains a lot. Yeah, molar so crown as well, hence the extra cost.

Pain level has gone through the roof this week, so it’s whatever I can get booked quick basically so going with the non specialist. Pain is vaguely manageable. Pain killers aren’t doing much now, but relaxation techniques, lying down for a while on the opposite side, and avoiding anything that triggers it may just about last me a week.

I’ve had three. Two molars failed, one during the job I think and one after a few years. I had them both out and haven’t missed them at all. Wished I hadn’t bothered. My other one is a front tooth. That’s been fine for many years (10+ maybe) except for turning grey. So my statically insignificant one man sample falls somewhat short of the quoted success rates. Make of that what you will!

So, the pain just stopped totally, and the dentist thinks putting off the root canal is best and come back for a check in a month. They’re still thinking sinus now.

Just as it stopped I did get really bad congested nose. I normally don’t get bunged up like this unless I have a cold. That went, but now comes and goes with some days stuffed, some clear. No pain though.

Thinking this is all fine, then I wake up yesterday with odd smell/taste. Hard to describe. Not foul, just maybe metallic or bitter or something. It’s mostly smell than taste, and eating is fine.

Now my thoughts are on abscess as that’s one of the symptoms (gone pop and/or root has died, hence no pain?). Though I didn’t have the smell thing during all the pain, and I’ve had pretty much none of the other symptoms except extreme pain. No swelling, gums fine, x-rays don’t show anything and no decay.

The saga goes on (the initial, “what is this?”).

Nerve has died.

10p it’s a cracked tooth somewhere.

Had one last year, by the time I got to see the (nhs) dentist, the nerve had died.

I was told that when the pain stops it
Is more than likely due to the nerve dying and it needs sorting before it moves to the main nerve. Have they done an X-ray?

Go get it sorted.
The pain stopping is the nerve dying off – its only going to get worse from here.

I just had a root canal and crown – £250 on the NHS.

They took a laser scan of my mouth and 3d milled me a colour matched crown, and fitted it there and then. Making the crown took 15 mins, and is indistinguishable from my actual teeth. Absolutely amazing.

Literally just home from having one done from local dentist. Pain free so far (1hr) so good…

gingerbllr – Member
Go get it sorted.
The pain stopping is the nerve dying off – its only going to get worse from here.

I just had a root canal and crown – £250 on the NHS.

They took a laser scan of my mouth and 3d milled me a colour matched crown, and fitted it there and then. Making the crown took 15 mins, and is indistinguishable from my actual teeth. Absolutely amazing.

Really? They did you a colour matched crown on the NHS?

Really? They did you a colour matched crown on the NHS?

Yeah. The machine matched the colour and just made me one that was bang on.

I had root canal work done a couple of years ago by a specialist, recommended by my regular dentist. It was just over £300 for the root canal work done over 2 sessions, (and another £300 ish for a crown done by my regular dentist). My sister has been quoted £1000 for root canal work in London!

jsync – Member
Have they done an X-ray?

Loads (so I’m probably looking at cancer years later). Every time nothing shows up. Only things of note is the root of the teeth there are fairly deep into the sinus and the tooth that was a problem has a deep filling, together with a comment from the dentist that sometimes this can lead to a dying nerve.

Just don’t know. Today really very stuffy again (as said I never usually get like this). The other day it was like this and a lot of head pressure and twinges of head ache. The taste/smell has gone now though, but just had slight twinge from lower jaw (the problem tooth is upper) then goes away.

The test the dentist gives me of touching my toes for a minute does sometimes give a little ache. They say that suggest sinus. However often it doesn’t ache when I try this.

Generally though I’m pretty much pain free, just on and off stuffed up.

If it at least stays like this but somehow can work out it does need root canal, then I’m more likely to go with a specialist now. It’s just when in extreme pain and own dentist can do it quick then that’s the option I’ll go with.