Root canal

[Royal Oak]

Had the first of my two sessions for a root canal procedure today. The irony is, the tooth didn't hurt when it had a big hole in it. Now, after the treatment it hurts like a mother.

Here in the UK, a root canal procedure costs only 45 pounds on the NHS.

[Larry Kart]

I've had several. Kinds and duration of pain have varied. The first one, the pain was excruciating beforehand (maybe the worst I've felt this side of a broken leg, and even then) but was instantly relieved by the procedure. Other times it's been more like what you're feeling. It's been my impression overall that mouth-jaw-nerve-tooth pain is very tricky/volatile, at least potentially, because we're talking about swelling and pressure among other things, and when things are swelling and pressing on other stuff, it can be a real daisy chain. Dentistry is not the same as laboratory science; assuming skill on the part of the oral surgeon, the specific human material involved plays a big role. In my case(s), everything worked out OK in the end.

[kinuta]

I've had three maybe four, as part of a major dental treatment programme that lasted over a year. I didn't find the procedure very painful, just unpleasant.

I had to go several times for each tooth but the cost wasn't so much. I can't be sure but I think I paid about 8000-9000 yen (80-90 US) per tooth.That's using Japanese health insurance.

[Harold_Z]

I've had a lot of them. imho I think the skill of the Dr. performing the procedure make a big difference. The guy I go to believes in "no pain" and for the most part that has been the case. Boredom, because it's a long procedure involving repeat visits, has been the biggest drag about the whole thing.

[Alexander]

Never had one, hope I never will. My mother has had several and tells horror stories about them!

[Dan Gould]

Got a root canal on my two front teeth when I was young as a result of a malicious act by a snot-nosed "friend" - it was a rainy day, so recess was indoors in the auditorium. I was chasing the other kids, or something, and one of them came up behind me, grabbed my ankles, and yanked. My face came down, mouth open, on the hardwood floor, and broke my front two teeth.

My recollection of the procedure was no big deal. Can't comment on the price as I was a kid and on Dad's insurance policy. The settlement of our lawsuit eventually paid for about two and a half years of college.

[Tim McG]

I have gotten four crowns but [knock on wood] no root canal as yet.

My wife has had two done and the recovery time is a bit of time, I'm afraid.

[AllenLowe]

my root canal - about 2 months ago - cost $2500, as I recall - I paid about 20% -

I see it costs about $90 in the UK -

SINGLE PAYER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Tim McG]

If you can afford the insurance to pay for it.

Affordable health care!!!

Edited September 8, 2009 by GoodSpeak

[AndrewHill]

Had one done in my early 20's and it was a nightmare. The pain was so bad that the dentist was pouring novacaine directly on the tooth. I was scheduled for a second visit the following week and he put a temporary bond on top of the tooth. Well somehow, my tooth got infected and I wasn't even aware of this until I bit down on a banana, which felt like someone slammed a hammer down on my tooth. The pain was absolutely excruciating, which prompted an emergency visit. Since it was a wisdom tooth, I decided to have all four wisdom teeth extracted instead of continuing with the root canal. I pray that I never have to go through that again.

[JohnS]

I had one about ten years ago. I don't recall it being particularly painful or needing repeat visits. On the UK NHS so cost was minimal, relatively much cheaper then than now as the charges dentists can make to NHS patients has increased steadily over the year.

[sidewinder]

I had a new gold crown fitted the other week and it cost £190 on the NHS. They have sliding charges by treatment band now so for crowns it's considerably more expensive than it used to be. £45 for root canal looks a bargain.

Had a root canal around 10 years ago - into a crown. I remember at the time it was pretty painful at the time it was done. To be honest though the temporary fix they do on crowns is probably the most annoyingly uncomfortable, when the occasional twinge of pain hits (caused by adjacent teeth touching it). Alleviated when the permanent crown goes in.

The biggest work I got done was an extraction and titanium implant into the jaw and funnily enough that was the least pain of the lot (and required over 10 visits, including quite a few X-rays). That one was private (fortunately my dentist is a specialist in this area) and the end results have been at least as good as the real thing. So far, I haven't set off any metal detectors.

Edited September 8, 2009 by sidewinder

[Royal Oak]

I suppose I've been lucky to get to 40 without needing anything particularly big, dentistry-wise.

The pain has subsided today. I just hope the temporary bond prevents infection until I go back to have it completed in 2 weeks! I could do with the treatment working; an extraction would be a grim prospect, as it's a wisdom tooth. I have bad memories of my sister having wisdom teeth extracted years ago, when she ended up with a face which resembled a green football.

The 45 quid does seem a bargain, considering the work involved.

[Chalupa]

I had two done about 15 years ago. The endodontist's name who performed both procedures was - Dr. Craig Hurtt. Despite his name I don't remember the root canals being all that painful but like others have posted they were incredibly boring. My root canals were on the bottom molars all the way in the back of my mouth. I've always found that dental work done on teeth in my lower jaw is less intense then work done on teeth in the upper jaw so take that into account. I paid nothing because the procedures were done via the dental school at the university where I work. Oh and if you think you might need a root canal make sure that the dentist that performs the procedure is an endodontist and not a general dentist. Just sayin'.

[catesta]

I've had two. Very little pain associated with the procedure itself as the Doctor that did them was a real pro. Lots of pain before the procedure though.

I paid about $800 for each one about four years ago. A friend of a friend of a friend, so that may have been factored into the price.

[carnivore]

I had one a few months ago - I've bought decent used cars for less than the cost of this one.

[AllenLowe]

I also figured out that it would have been cheaper for me to fly over to the UK to get it done - even if the round trip plane fair cost $1000 and the hotel $1000 -

damn, I coulda had a nice vacation -

[Royal Oak]

I also figured out that it would have been cheaper for me to fly over to the UK to get it done - even if the round trip plane fair cost $1000 and the hotel $1000 -

damn, I coulda had a nice vacation -

You may have had quite a wait to find a spot on an NHS dentist's list Allen; a lot of them gave up NHS work as it doesn't pay well.

Edited September 8, 2009 by rdavenport

[B. Clugston]

I've had at least four. Not as bad as extensive bridge work. Two got infected, which was no fun.

[sidewinder]

I also figured out that it would have been cheaper for me to fly over to the UK to get it done - even if the round trip plane fair cost $1000 and the hotel $1000 -

damn, I coulda had a nice vacation -

You may have had quite a wait to find a spot on an NHS dentist's list Allen; a lot of them gave up NHS work as it doesn't pay well.

Yeah, my dentist is no longer taking on new NHS patients too. I guess you need a valid NI (National Insurance) number to be even in the frame.