Dentist Forum

12 December 2011

Denied Root Canal Treatment

Dental advice wanted – denied root canal treatment

"I have a tooth with a 5-year-old root canal which is failing (infection underneath). My NHS dentist thinks I should have it redone but he doesn’t provide the service. He forwarded me to the region’s waiting list for treatment… after 4 months wait my dentist got back a letter from the PCT telling him that I did meet all the criteria to join their waiting list but that they are "full to capacity" so can’t even add me to their waiting list. Apparently I am welcome to try again in the next financial year when they might start adding people to their waiting lists again.

How can I be denied access to NHS treatment which my dentist and the authorities agree I need because they claim "the whole region is full to capacity"?

Thanks."

12 December 2011

Damaged tooth

Dental advice wanted – damaged tooth

I’ve just had a road accident and lost about a quarter of one and a third of my other top front teeth (the visible parts). I’ve had a preliminary meeting with my dentist but have to wait for a week now to assess the damage. Is the cost going to be mad or will it be limited by the £204 limit since it’s one course of treatment? For this size damage will it necessarily be crowns, or are there other things to ask for?

7 December 2011

Root Canal Treatment

Dental advice wanted – root canal treatment

"About a year or two ago I got a root canal on one of my first premolars. Everything’s fine, until about a month ago when most of the front side of the tooth chips off, nearly all the way to the gum. The back side of the tooth still firmly in place, no sign of corrosion or chipping. I’m busy with work and college so I don’t get around to booking an appointment. Doesn’t hurt because it’s a root canal. Dead tooth.

So 5 minutes ago the filling for my root canal falls out. I’m freaking the hell out. What’s the likelihood of me keeping my tooth? Will they fill it back up and put a cap/crown on it? I know none of this isn’t life threatening but I really dislike the thought of having my tooth removed."

ANSWER

The tooth was obviously in trouble a year ago because you had to have a root canal filling. And then presumably you had a filling on top of this. It would have been much better at that time to have had a crown put on the tooth after the root canal treatement to stabilise the tooth. However a filling is a cheaper option (although not as good) after root canal work and perhaps you chose to have a filling instead of a crown or perhaps the dentist recommended a filling to keep costs down. When part of the tooth fell off recently you should have gone immediately to the dentist for some kind of remedial work. The longer you leave going to the dentist the more likely is that you will have trouble with the tooth/lose the tooth. It is very probable that infection will occur very soon if not already.

If the tooth is to be saved – and only an xray and a dentist will be able to tell you that – it will need a post and a crown. If the tooth cannot be saved the tooth will have to be extracted because you cannot leave an infected tooth/gum unattended.

30 November 2011

Dental treatment wanted to restore confidence

Dental advice wanted – dental treatment wanted to restore confidence

" i was just wondering if you could help me i recently was with a orthodontist he done my xrays and molds ect.. and went throught my treatment plan with me and i planned to pay for it over the course of 2 years on a monthly payment but had to under go a credit check and they declined me simply for having not much credit history i must say i was dissapointed and upset as this is something i really need done due to my teeth being over crowded and my eye teeth in the wrong place it causes discomfort mostly all the time and has ruined my confidence also over bite is a problem could you tell me if you could help in anyway i would really appricate hearing back from you "

21 November 2011

Request for free dental treatment

Dental advice wanted – Request for free dental treatment

"I am 24 years of age and have a question about my teeth. I live in stoke on trent. I am currently unemployed due to mental health problems. I am not on disability but i am classed as unfit for work and claim the new ESA benefit (employment and support allowance). My to top teeth instead of facing forwards in the 12′oclock position they both point to the left, which is more like 2 to 3′oclock position. I have a bad credit rating due to other reasons and i’m certain i would not obtain credit as i can not even get a mobile phone. So, i don’t work i’m 24 and have a very low income. I would be to scared to even go to a job interview as i’m to embarrassed of my teeth. I hardly go out and do not even dare to smile at anybody and keep my mouth sealed and avoid talking to people as i’m that conscience about them. Is there any way at all i could get my teeth sorted out with a brace for free or through someone who would allow me to pay them off in a bits even with my poor credit history. I seriously loose sleep over this problem and worry about it every day. Are there any dental schools that could use me for training so i could receive treatment for free. I would have had braces as i child but i did not need them at the time. My top teeth are crowded and grow into each other but do not cause me pain. Maybe if they did cause me pain i could then get them through the nhs. I look forward to your reply. I really need your help and advice. Thank you"

1 November 2011

Dental Hygienist not available on the NHS

Dental advice wanted – Hygienist not available on the NHS

I recently joined a NHS dentist and attended my first appointment last week. The appointment took approx 10 minutes and I was advised that I did not require any dental work but had quite a bit of tartar build up and would need to make an appointment with the hygienist.

When I tried to make the appointment I was advised that the charge would be £50 as the hygienist comes under cosmetic work and therefore not covered under the NHS. I stated that I didn’t see how removing a tartar build up counted as cosmetic work but was advised that they would remove any stains so therefore it is cosmetic work. They were very polite but are refusing to provide me with any hygienist work under the NHS .. is this correct?

What do I do now?

27 October 2011

Extractions and Immediate Dentures

Dental advice wanted – Extractions and Immediate Dentures

My teeth are in a dreadful state and I am booked into a Maximo clinic via my NHS dentist for 21 extractions under general anaesthetic.

Now, I thought that I was going to get a set of temporary immediate dentures to tide me over until the gums heal properly and I can be fitted for a permanent pair. However, my dentist informed me yesterday that because of the state of my mouth he will not treat me if I insist on doing things this way. He argued that because of the way my teeth are there is no way to tell how the gums may heal (I have bits to extract where the gum has grown over I think) and that aesthetically I am practically down to the gums now, so what difference will it make. He wouldn’t even commit to giving an answer to the question of how long I will be without dentures. He really was quite insistent.

I argued that at least now I can eat and talk properly. I can’t bear the idea of being without dentures for weeks/months. It is my worst nightmare. It is going to make work impossible and if I have any more time off I am out.

I have a couple of friends who have had an immediate denture, there are plenty of similar stories on the Internet and from what I had researched I was under the impression that getting an immediate denture would be pretty much a given. What’s so different about my circumstances? I am fully aware that the gums will probably take longer to heal with an immediate denture, gum shrinkage, about the need for regular re-linings etc. and that it would count as two NHS procedures if things were done that way. Like I said, I thought I had researched this.

Under what circumstances/for what reasons will a Dentist not allow an immediate denture? I certainly hope he has my best interests at heart, but, is it possible he is taking this line because it means more work for him under the same price band procedure? I am finding this all rather traumatic and any advice and opinions would be much appreciated.

27 October 2011

NHS versus Private Dentistry

Dental advice wanted – NHS versus Private Dentistry

I was originally under an NHS dentist who changed to private. A few years later the dentist retired and the practice was taken over. The "new" practice has put prices up considerably, and I have felt that I have had more work done on my teeth than required, and not been totally happy with the service or results.

Where do I stand if I want to move to a NHS dentist at this stage?

14 October 2011

Ill-fitting dentures

Dental advice wanted – Ill-fitting dentures

Last year I had most of my upper teeth removed and eventually had dentures which initially fitted quite well but within weeks I couldn’t speak properly or eat with them. I came to the conclusion that my gums had shrunk a little more,hence the problem. On my return to the practice I discovered that my dentist had been killed in a car crash and her position taken over by another. She was quite reluctant to do anything about the teeth although there was quite a large gap between them and my palate but eventually did.

On my return she fitted the teeth. Tne gap was less but the teeth slanted. When I clenched my teeth the right hand side teeth were touching but there was a gap on the left hand side. She said that there was nothing wrong with them but if I wasn’t happy then she would make me new teeth but I would have to pay for them again.

I have been without upper teeth for about a year what with having to wait at least a month for each appointment and the problems which have arisen.

I don’t know what to do. The teeth definitely slant having had several ‘second opinions’. They are unwearable and if the dentist starts again I could finish up with the same problems. I could go the local dental technician but why should I when I have paid good money. I am a senior citizen and can’t afford to keep paying out. Plus why should I accept substandard workmanship simply because it’s the NHS?

Any advice please would be helpful.

4 October 2011

Tooth Extraction – root and amalgam left inside gum

Dental advice wanted – Tooth extraction

In February 2010 I had a right premolar extracted and before the procedure I did tell the dentist that my teeth did not come out easily. However, he assured me that all would be well and then gave me the local anaesthetic. While extracting the tooth I told him he was hurting me but he just said I was doing well and I thought the tooth had come out. I returned a week later to tell him I was still in pain but he said to leave things alone and it would settle down. As he didn’t seem at all interested, I then went to a private practice where the site of the extraction was X-rayed. The X-ray showed a root and a piece of dental amalgam lodge in the gum. I was referred to a maxillo/facia surgeon at the local hospital where the root was removed and the fragments. However, after several weeks, I was still in pain and so was referred back to hospital as a second X-Ray revealed that the amalgam remained in situ. On my second hospital visit the surgeon said that he did not want to go poking around to get the amalgam as it is sitting on a big nerve. He opened my gum and smoothed part of my jawbone that was sensitive but, five weeks after, I am still in pain and cannot wear the partial bottom denture I had made. I am not litigious but I feel that the first dentist made a complete hash of the extraction and I have been left with pain for life. Do you think that the extraction was badly done or that it is just a case of a tooth which was bad to remove.

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