D
Dillinger
Junior member
- Joined
- Dec 15, 2009
- Messages
- 17
- Location
- UK
Hello, its been a good while since Ive been on here but have found this site very helpful so here I am again! I wondered if anyone could help answer some questions/queries I have.
I had a root canal done around 9/10 years ago. I had to change dentists after this but found a great nhs one who has been brilliant and knows how nervous I get about dental work. He crowned the treated tooth and its been fine for around 5 years, until a couple of months ago I started feeling that familiar twingy/hot/almost 'itchy' feeling in the area I imagine to be the base of the tooth.
I couldn't see my lovely dentist straight away so saw a different one at an emergency appointment. She took xrays and gave me antibiotics. I was gutted to be told that the root canal was failing and my choices were extraction or re-treatment, though she said she'd be surprised if I could get an nhs dentist that was willing to do that, as many advise removing the tooth (especially seeing as it'd been treated previously.) She gave me the name of a root canal specialist (sorry the correct term escapes me) but said that it isn't covered on the nhs. I looked into it and Im looking at around £800 for the re-treatment, not including the initial appointment, xrays etc. This isn't possible for me at all.
I saw my dentist a week or 2 later, by which time the antibiotics had worked and things seemed to have settled down. I was able to have a good chat with him about my fears, and we decided that a) as my tooth seemed okay at this point we could play it by ear but to come back if it started to niggle again, and b) that if I had to come back he was happy to have a go at re-treatment if I was happy. I said I was, he explained that the success rate wouldn't be as high as with the specialist but that if it meant I had a chance of saving the tooth then it was worth the attempt, rather than just extracting it straight away.
Still with me? Sorry for the rambling!
Ok so for the past week or so Ive been feeling those familiar twinges etc... Ive made an appointment to see my dentist next week but in all honesty I think Im going to have to phone for an emergency appointment tomorrow and get in asap.
1. Should I be as worried about the pain during treatment as I was the first time around? Im under the impression that it shouldn't be painful as the root has already been removed but am I wrong in thinking this?! Im worried that I'll feel pain, even though I know Id be able to have a top up etc. Im telling myself 'its just a big filling' but still... Even though Ive already been through it! Such is the way of the phobia I guess.
2. With a re-treatment - would it be carried out during 2 appointments or all in one go?
3. Would you say a re-treatment was easier to do than the initial treatment?
4. What is likely to happen at tomorrows appointment?
Its funny - writing all of this down brings some clarity, like I don't quite know why Im so worried. My dentist is worth his weight in gold, is aware Im anxious, and I know deep down I could go through allsorts to not feel the pain of toothache! It all stems from some truly awful experiences at the dentist as a child but that's by the by.
Any help gratefully received!
I had a root canal done around 9/10 years ago. I had to change dentists after this but found a great nhs one who has been brilliant and knows how nervous I get about dental work. He crowned the treated tooth and its been fine for around 5 years, until a couple of months ago I started feeling that familiar twingy/hot/almost 'itchy' feeling in the area I imagine to be the base of the tooth.
I couldn't see my lovely dentist straight away so saw a different one at an emergency appointment. She took xrays and gave me antibiotics. I was gutted to be told that the root canal was failing and my choices were extraction or re-treatment, though she said she'd be surprised if I could get an nhs dentist that was willing to do that, as many advise removing the tooth (especially seeing as it'd been treated previously.) She gave me the name of a root canal specialist (sorry the correct term escapes me) but said that it isn't covered on the nhs. I looked into it and Im looking at around £800 for the re-treatment, not including the initial appointment, xrays etc. This isn't possible for me at all.
I saw my dentist a week or 2 later, by which time the antibiotics had worked and things seemed to have settled down. I was able to have a good chat with him about my fears, and we decided that a) as my tooth seemed okay at this point we could play it by ear but to come back if it started to niggle again, and b) that if I had to come back he was happy to have a go at re-treatment if I was happy. I said I was, he explained that the success rate wouldn't be as high as with the specialist but that if it meant I had a chance of saving the tooth then it was worth the attempt, rather than just extracting it straight away.
Still with me? Sorry for the rambling!
Ok so for the past week or so Ive been feeling those familiar twinges etc... Ive made an appointment to see my dentist next week but in all honesty I think Im going to have to phone for an emergency appointment tomorrow and get in asap.
1. Should I be as worried about the pain during treatment as I was the first time around? Im under the impression that it shouldn't be painful as the root has already been removed but am I wrong in thinking this?! Im worried that I'll feel pain, even though I know Id be able to have a top up etc. Im telling myself 'its just a big filling' but still... Even though Ive already been through it! Such is the way of the phobia I guess.
2. With a re-treatment - would it be carried out during 2 appointments or all in one go?
3. Would you say a re-treatment was easier to do than the initial treatment?
4. What is likely to happen at tomorrows appointment?
Its funny - writing all of this down brings some clarity, like I don't quite know why Im so worried. My dentist is worth his weight in gold, is aware Im anxious, and I know deep down I could go through allsorts to not feel the pain of toothache! It all stems from some truly awful experiences at the dentist as a child but that's by the by.
Any help gratefully received!