RCT... :(

Don't see how it can hurt. I didn't feel a thing when the dentist pulled out 4 of my teeth, with what was practically a pair of pliers.
 
JBuk said:
ive had both those treatments before and they are a doddle

dont worry about it, it sounds worse than it is :)
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One of the most painful experiences of my life was with an NHS dentist having some work done :( The guy was like Genghis Khan. Since going private I've had no worries which makes me a bit angry to be honest but meh...
 
I had one done on a back tooth and the procedure itself was the easiest bit, it's when the anaesthetic wears off and your left with the pain of the nerve ending being killed by the stuff they pack your tooth with that is ******* awful.
 
Solari said:
I just had this done today, and to be honest, it was a non-event. It went like this from what I remember:

- Numbing Gel on gums
- Computerised local anaesthetic thingy put into gum which I didn't feel at all
- Some prodding by dentist
- More local anaesthetic
- Rubber Dam put around tooth (felt a bit uncomfortable on the opposite side of the gum at first but nothing bad)
- Drilling taking out temporary filling
- Drilling down into the molar
- Filing out of the root canals (4 of them!) and removal of nerve, along with anti bacterial rinsing
- Another temporary filling put in ready for crowning at next appt.

Basically, I didn't feel a thing, and now the local anaesthetic has worn off, all I feel is a bit of discomfort where the needle went into the gum. That's about it really. They even put a camera in and showed me what the canals looked like :p

I would definitely recommend the BUPA Wellness dental clinic in Cornhill - they do a great job and make sure you feel absolutely no pain whatsoever (even the hygeinists will use numbing gel and give you LA if you really want it).

I thought I'd post for the benefit of those who are terrified and might have this coming up :)

For the record - I still had live roots/nerve and tooth.
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I've had two Root Canals done, one that needed redoing recently.

I would be very happy with that procedure from your description - sounds professionally done.

I had a re-root canal done recently - basically the same again but a specialist performed this (compared to the original root canal done by the regular GP dentist) because the regular dentist didn't have the right tools..
I could watch all the process on the monitor that displayed what he could see through the binocular scope - right down the roots themselves.

The previous RC left a gap at the bottom of one of the roots that caused a minor infection. So that had to be cleaned and then filled properly.
I loved the way they filled it - almost like a glue/sealer gun when you do your bathroom :D

I have my regular dentist doing the crown in about a week's time.
 
Bit late since the OP has already had the treatment done but if you've been numbed up sufficiently you shouldn't feel a thing for any dental treatment. Although sometimes if a nerve is very inflammed it may be difficult to anaesthetise in which case you can place a steroid down the canal until the nerve settles.

As for people saying that NHS dentists are cowboys; the only difference between nhs/private dentists is the amount you pay. Obviously with private dentists they can afford to take more time with patients, use more advanced equipment etc. since the amount they're earning per hour is effectively more. I've seen some private dentists work that is poor and some NHS that is brilliant, it all depends on the person themselves at the end of the day - not who they're working for.

(Lucky me gets to start for the NHS slave driving Dentistry in a few weeks!)
 
I had mine done almost 2 years ago now, and there was no pain at all the noises were certainly wierd but I hadnt realised the dentist had finished, was very surprised when she said that she was all done.
 
scouse said:
As for people saying that NHS dentists are cowboys;
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I didn't say that - just that my NHS experiences haven't been very good at all.

Perhaps it's to do with being target and budget driven, and not being encouraged to used the more advanced techniques as you say.

To be honest, if I'm going to have someone doing something potentially painful, I'd rather pay the extra to ensure a professional and painless job. I did a *lot* of research before choosing a private dentist and went off a lot of recommendations :)
 
Sorry, when I typed that I didn't intend to suggest all nhs dentists are cowboys. Glad it went ok for you, hopefully it will help to reduce a few peoples fears about the Dentist....we're not so bad you know!
 
Solari said:
To be honest, if I'm going to have someone doing something potentially painful, I'd rather pay the extra to ensure a professional and painless job.
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I'm amazed that you really believe that because you pay more to a private dentist the pain is going to be less.
If I take the pain factor that I've experienced over the last 50 years, then the most I've had is with a private dentist but it was because I'd got live nerves and he couldn't give me anymore injections.
 
Mr Dentist, how much would it cost to have all your teeth out?
I could do a really painless job by putting you to sleep but it will cost £2000
Have you got anything less?
Well for £250 I can give you loads of injections and just pull them but there will be a bit of pain.
Too much, have you got something really really cheap?
Well for £20 I'll go straight in with pliers and pull them out but the pain will be excruciating.
That'll do, I'll send the wife in tomorrow.
 
I've seen butchers, indifference and kindness personified - all within the NHS over the years. My current gentleman is fully aware of the extra care that has to be taken with any patients taking antidepressants, plus the extra problems caused by the depression itself. Couldn't praise him highly enough and I'm sure that I wouldn't get better treatment privately.
 
I dont quite understand the NHS/Private dentist difference. Ive been to 3 dentists in London and all of them do NHS and Private work.

Generally, the NHS work is done using slightly cheaper materials (eg. no white fillings, only silver amalgams), but the anaesthetic is the same...and thats what counts when dealing with pain.

I had 3 RCTs, all done within weeks of eachother. After the anaesthetic takes hold, it doesnt hurt at all. All you have to do (regardless of whether it is NHS or Private), is ensure that you get proper doses of anaesthetic. For my first RCT, I needed 5 injections, but in later dental session, my dentist gave me 2 BIG injections, which worked fine.

Once the anaesthetic takes hold, you will feel a light/cold sensation in your mouth, while you are being operated on. Thats all. If you feel pain, then there isnt enough anaesthetic and you can insist that you be hit with another injection.

The anaesthetic injection is the most painful part of it all.

And dont believe that Private is always better than NHS. Most of the time, the dentist is the same person who does both. In some cases the Private dentist might actually be less gentle. All because you get paid more doesnt mean that you are better at the job.

After the RCT, you will have some painkillers, but I didnt experience much pain.
 
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I believe that at least one of them had a live nerve.

On the first RCT, I went in and the dentist was trying to give me a filling instead of an RCT. However, after 1 injection, she started drilling and when she touched the nerve I jolted hard. She almost drilled into my tongue.

At this point, the dental nurse thought that I was imagining the pain. The dentist knew that the shocking reflex reaction that I had just given, wasnt a response to my imagination.

Anyway, in response to my jolt, the dentist gave me 2 more injections and then tried to drill for a filling again, however, the tooth fell apart. At this point we took the decision to go the RCT route.

Another injection was given and she started drilling quite deep and just before she drilled the nerve out, she gave a 5th injection.

I can tell you, that that was definitely a live nerve. Without the anaesthetic, it was like an electric shock to my brain.
 
scouse said:
Look a bit like this? http://www.edent.co.kr/shop/upfiles/d070513_big.gif
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Yup close.

I asked about the filling after the final xrays to check the fills.

Inside - I believe the root was filled with a liquid rubber with something added to ghost xrays. It set quickly. Theres a different material for the main fill of the tooth which looked like epoxy resin (but wasn't - it harded in about 5-10 seconds).
 
sunama said:
I can tell you, that that was definitely a live nerve. Without the anaesthetic, it was like an electric shock to my brain.
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Certainly sounds like it.
One that I had was so bad that he couldn't give me anymore injections and told me I'd have to put up with it.
After a few more minutes he decided to give me an anaesthetic filling and told me to come back a week later.
I then started exactly where I left off with intense pain until he finally got rid of it.
The next 2 I had were completely painless and the 4th I had a RCT with no anaesthetic at all because I'd got an infection and it was so painful that when he drilled in to my nerve the pain reduced.
 
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