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Have Abcess and waiting weeks for Dentist to purchase new equipment

M

mike42

Junior member
Joined
Nov 28, 2013
Messages
2
Hi

Firstly, just to say I've long been reading this site because I do suffer from depression and anxiety and often find it particularly difficult lying on my back at the dentists. What makes it worse is I'm now not sure whether my dentist is a genuine professional or whether I should get better treatment elsewhere.

I had a root canal on an upper molar performed by my regular dentist about 6 months ago. Around 3 months ago I went back due to a clearly visible abscess on the gum above that tooth (well in between that tooth and the tooth in front). My dentist isn't sure which of the two teeth is causing the problem. He first prescribed me a week's course of amoxycilin and asked me to book an appointment 4 weeks later.

At that subsequent appointment, he still didn't know which tooth it was and said he will buy some equipment that (I think he said) would help determine if a tooth is alive or dead. I last checked 2 weeks ago (during a routine hygenist appointment) and he said it still hasn't arrived.

The abscess isn't painful unless I touch it and it shrinks/grows regularly. The dentist said it is safe since it is "draining ok". If I rock the root-canal tooth to/fro it feels sensitive - if I do the same with the other tooth I feel nothing.

So my question really is should I expect better than this? I mean, I'm thinking if there is any question at all of his root-canal failing shouldn't he just refer me immediately to an endodontist? Or even if he doesn't know which tooth it is, perhaps a specialist would have a better idea than him?

A side note is the first part of the root-canal was performed without a rubber damn - the second part with one (after I mentioned it at the first). No loupe was used and certainly no microscope.

Thanks for reading and any advice gratefully received.
 
Last edited:
Hi :welcome: to the forum.

You don't need your dentist to refer you to an endodontist you can find one yourself and make an appointment.

Sometimes it is hard for them to tell where the infection is, did he x ray it?
 
Hi

Just to update, the dentist called me in last week so say he's finally got the equipment that can test if the nerve is present in the tooth or not. Anyway, we established which tooth it was and it was the tooth that he previously root-canaled. On that basis he has referred me to an endodontist.

My issue now is that the endodontist is not a member of the British Endodontic Society despite my dentist saying he "virtually founded it". The chap I will see (when they get round to calling me) is this chap Brian Davies at Robinspool Dental Practice. I know (perhaps) it shouldn't matter much, but going to a 3 bed house for specialist dental work doesn't inspire a huge amount of confidence.

Perhaps I shouldn't worry and simply pay up the £800 - £1200 that will no doubt be charged? (I don't mind paying but only if I'm sure I'll get good treatment. I have a feeling that those fortunate enough to have insurance in America don't normally wait 3 months to have an abscess treated)

Any thoughts on this endodontist and in general most gratefully received.

Thanks

Michael.
 
I'm sure a dentist (or someone with more brains than me!) will reply to let you know how important or not it is for them to be a member.. I don't know much about that side of things.

But upon googling him it seems all positive "The GDP centre provides a unique experience. The opportunity to be treated by the latest generation of dentists at the world renowned Kings’ College Dental Institute, Which was recently ranked the number one university for Dentistry according to the Guardians’ University Guide Table, scoring 100/100 for Teaching excellence" the other bits and pieces on him seem positive.


I've been in all sorts of practises over the years and one of the best dentists I saw was in a really old 3 storey semi detached house (with nightmare parking! Lol).. I still use websites and google maps and make judgement from the photos of the practises, but sometimes you really can't tell from the outside, it's who's inside and the cleanliness etc that counts.. I can appreciate the photos don't always reflect the quality of the practises and dentists inside, but I'm pretty sure there's some swanky new private practises that don't deliver also.
 
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