Which? Dentist

[Chris Beard]

Hi team,

I find myself in need a root canal and I understand from my dentist the NHS option is extraction.

They also tell me that this particular tooth accounts for 60% of my chewing function (I guess the implication is that extraction may be a bad idea).

Dentist tells me they have someone who will do the root canal privately for something like £950.

I'm looking at what I want to do, perhaps I might even look at an implant.

Anyway, my question of the forum is how do you select a good private dentist when the NHS fails you? Can't seem to find very much by way of who's a charlatan and who knows what they are doing.

 

[moon man]

Mine is just by experience in the past, it's a Bupa dentist £803 for a back root canal but I am booked in for an NHS one in October, they always try and save and restore rather than pull

 

[Lopéz]

Hi team,

I find myself in need a root canal and I understand from my dentist the NHS option is extraction.

They also tell me that this particular tooth accounts for 60% of my chewing function (I guess the implication is that extraction may be a bad idea).

Dentist tells me they have someone who will do the root canal privately for something like £950.

I'm looking at what I want to do, perhaps I might even look at an implant.

Anyway, my question of the forum is how do you select a good private dentist when the NHS fails you? Can't seem to find very much by way of who's a charlatan and who knows what they are doing.

The NHS option should not be extraction, it is either a band 2 or 3 root canal treatment (£65 or £280 ish, molars fall into the upper band)

 

[Chris Beard]

The NHS option should not be extraction, it is either a band 2 or 3 root canal treatment (£65 or £280 ish, molars fall into the upper band)

Agreed - and that's what I thought. Then I read this: https://dentalchoices.org/root-canal-treatment/ and other similar sources.

Seems that the NHS deal for dentists is so poor that they just don't bother with root canals on back teeth.

Sure I can complain, but that still won't get me a root canal and will just really annoy my NHS dentist.

 

[darael]

Ask for a second opinion from another dentist. It sounds to me your dentist just doesn't want to do the root canal and just wants to do a nice and easy extraction.

 

[mattyfez]

That sounds really expensive even for a private dentist... Sure I only paid about 300 for root treatment and crown.
That's going back about 5 years though.

 

[Chris Beard]

That sounds really expensive even for a private dentist... Sure I only paid about 300 for root treatment and crown.
That's going back about 5 years though.

I'm in Hampshire and need a molar done.

From a bit of reading I'm in an expensive area and also need an expensive tooth sorted.

How did your choose your dentist if you don't mind my asking?

 

[LiE]

My wife needs 2 crowns doing at £750 a pop for ceramic.

 

[Chris Beard]

My wife needs 2 crowns doing at £750 a pop for ceramic.

Just your normal NHS dentist, or did you choose a private dentist? If so, can I ask how you selected your private dentist please?

 

[LiE]

Just your normal NHS dentist, or did you choose a private dentist? If so, can I ask how you selected your private dentist please?

Private dentist. These guys are very well regarded in our area and the specific dentist we use is really good with nervous patients like my wife.

 

[Diddums x]

Check your company perks. I pay £15 a month for dental cover which will cover the first £1500 of any dental surgery I might need. Many companies do this, but are a bit shy to offer it as every claim ups their costs.

 

[Chris Beard]

Check your company perks. I pay £15 a month for dental cover which will cover the first £1500 of any dental surgery I might need. Many companies do this, but are a bit shy to offer it as every claim ups their costs.

Thank you, great advice. I had checked and despite paying for private medical it doesn't cover dentistry and there is no other dental offer through work

 

[Diddums x]

Thank you, great advice. I had checked and despite paying for private medical it doesn't cover dentistry and there is no other dental offer through work

Exhaust all your options, I have private medical too which doesn't cover dentistry, my dental cover was a separate thing I had to actively seek out for the reason mentioned above.

 

[mattyfez]

I'm in Hampshire and need a molar done.

From a bit of reading I'm in an expensive area and also need an expensive tooth sorted.

How did your choose your dentist if you don't mind my asking?

Kinda by chance really, was googling local ones that made an effort to reassure nervous patients on thier websites and read some testimonials.

 

[gingergundog]

Ill be honest I thought this thread was going to be which is the best dentist but I only get a little taster and need to subscribe to see the results.

 

[jpaul]

( subscribe - can't remember to look at a thread ?)

A lot of cambridge private dentists are part of bigger companies with fixed rates mines '{my}dentist'. - private prices aren't a lottery;
I'd ask neighbours which specific dentist they see, or say which town in unlikely event someone lives there.

 

[n111ck]

If the £950 also includes a crown then thats a good price for private but if its just the root canal I would go elsewhere.