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  1. #1
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    Default Dentists and Root Canal treatments

    I have started my 2nd root canal in recent years which is costly, by the time its finished of with a crown, it comes to more than $2k

    Its struck me now that on neither occasion i was presented with the cheaper option of just pulling the bastard out. I dunno why but i never questioned dentists, they just do it and then pay bill. Maybe because we hate going to the dentist and want to get it over with.

    What do you guys do? Just pull it and look cool like a pirate or fork out more money than you would spend on new drivers for a couple years.

    Then there is also the alternative holistic view that root canal treatments cobtribute to poor health.

  2. #2
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    It depends on the Dentist. I have had root canal a few times, but have yet to have a Crown made . My Dentist has just rebuilt the tooth, and so far they have stood up, touch wood!

  3. #3
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    How long they lasted without the Crown?
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  4. #4
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    Quote Originally Posted by markTHEblake View Post
    How long they lasted without the Crown?
    The oldest one would be at least 15 years ago, if not more. The more recent was at least 5 years ago.

  5. #5
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    My dentist started a root canal and then said my roots were too small. Needed to go to an endodontist for specialist treatment.
    $5000 all up by the time it finished (including the initial and post visits to the dentist).
    Couple years ago I was having trouble in the same area. Different dentist now and he said that all of the roots were not gone after x rays.
    Another $130 dollars later and the tooth was gone and ripped out. What I really wanted in the first place but was told it couldn't be done.

    All just a scam to me and I was burnt.

    Anyway, I do their signs for several different surgeries. I will get my own back.
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  6. #6
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    I had a root canal about 20 years ago and the dentist just reshaped/filled the tooth. I had a touch up about 5 years ago when a piece of the filling broke off. They said next time they might have to put a crown on it, but as far as I’m concerned they can just keep fixing it every 10 or 15 years.

  7. #7
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    I had a root canal done in high school, and touch wood it is still going ok.


  8. #8
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    Had one pulled as $240 was cheaper than the root canal.





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  9. #9
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    I'd had at least 6 by the time I had to get dentures, and there would have been two more but the emergency dentist I saw when two erupted the day before Rob's cesarean ended up making such a mess of them that the proper dentist I was going to couldn't save them and they were pulled. Had my first few when I was 16 and a couple of teeth were smashed off playing squash, then a third eventually died from the shock. Luckily, they were dad's problem. I know they're expensive, especially now days, as Rob's been getting one done in Brissie and had already maxed out our phc with a crown she had at the start of the year. Luckily she can wait till next year for the crown. My issues weren't due to poor dental health, but a severe grinding issue during high school and uni which left my teeth small and near the gums. Had two full reconstructions done (at 19 and 34) but third time they all had to come out. Prior I'd had 3 pulled in the dentist chair, one even with his knee on my chest (seriously funny, though not when the clot fell out over the weekend). So I've had pretty much anything done that could be, I think. My personal opinion, as someone who is in a lower family income bracket; try and save your teeth! Honestly, it's a shit when they're crap. Lucky the two I had to have pulled early were upper back teeth so you couldn't really tell, and I was without them for over 10 years until I got my dentures. Maybe missing just one is less of a problem, but it was a bit of a pain missing second and third back ones, left a big hole.

    With Rob's current RC, she was told her options, but I was all for trying to save it. Her issue is the medications she's on leaving her with a dry mouth, which is a real problem for teeth. I know they're expensive, but I will always say try and save when you can, as I honestly believe it's worth it. I certainly wish dentist back in the day were more like they are today, as I was grinding from an early age and the concept of sleeping with a mouth guard was never entertained, until I had a reconstruction and by then I wasn't grinding any more.

    I think dental work should be covered by medicare, but that's what low income people always think. I would say we've spent near on $28k on my teeth over the last 6 years, with my phc covering about $5k of it, plus they covered the hospital stays too. And I could have had it done under the public system too, but neither of us wanted to go near that.
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  10. #10
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    I have had only one done and it was a rough process with some nerves twisted and hard to remove. The cost (only about $2k in this instance), pain and 4 visits put me off any more. That was about 15 years ago and the crown is still fine....but....since then I have just had 3 others just pulled out. Depends on your age and which teeth they are I suppose if they were all next to each other that could cause a problem. Good luck anyway!!!
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  11. #11
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    See, that's what I don't get? All the ones I had, even the botched ones, were plain sailing! Maybe it's because I was in pretty bad pain prior to having them done, so maybe anything else was just nothing by comparison. But each of mine, by the time the anaesthetic kicked in, I was feeling much better. Also, after the roots were out, I never had a needle in my followups. And because of my grinding, the nerves in my teeth were receding. My 3 extractions were much much rougher. Especially when the clot falls out.

  12. #12
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    I've had just the one. I spoke to my dentist beforehand about the reputation root canals have for being overly painful and he said it shouldn't be painful if the pain management is done correctly. This proved to be true in my case. Even though the anaesthetic hadn't worn off I had 2 panadol before I got out of the chair and never needed anything beyond that.
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  13. #13
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    I've had one (or more) of everything.

    For me the only issue of root canals and eventual crowns is the cost. None of them have gone bad, and I think my oldest one might be 30 years old.

    My last big adventure was a major infection in a 3rd from front tooth. Half my face blew up like the Elephant Man. The dentist was actually most distressed that the tooth couldn't be saved. After a month of jibes that the meth addiction didn't suit me, I had to agree with the dentist that a replacement was necessary, so I got a bridge, which is essentially crowns on three teeth in a line, but in this case covering the missing one.

    It cost a lot, but frankly it is way better than the actual teeth it replaced.

    I'm interested in Goughy's view that having real teeth is better than the denture replacement. Back in the olden days it tended to be the default position to rip out all the teeth. Both my parents were denture wearers, and always maintained it was horrible, but I've never actually met anyone else to confirm their views. Now Goughy has done so. So I guess the cost of root canals and crowns and the like might be worth it in the long run.
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  14. #14
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    My view is absolutely try and save your teeth. Maybe the odd one pulled, especially a back one, is ok. Remembering that your teeth also hold the shape of your jaw etc, so pulling lots out will allow for more resorption over time. I'll be expecting that over time. I did have the option of having all mine done via public health, and instead traveled to brissie and had it all done by the best. As I said, out of pocket would be over 20k by now. And it's not like my dentures will last forever, they'll have to be replaced at least a few times at 7k a pop (at the moment, that'll go up). I also doubt anyone would know I have dentures to look at me, they're top quality. Plus when my teeth were pulled, the surgeon also did reshaping of the bone in my jaw etc to help with their fit, and not leave me feeling like I had a mouth full of big teeth. While my top is suction retained, we did spend 10k extra to have implants put in to hold my lower, and it is a game changer when it comes to dentures. The bottom denture is always the problem as it can't have a full plate for grip. Since my last reline of my upper ($700 itself) I've only used adhesive for it once in the last two years, and not of of necessity.

    But I still have to go to my oral health specialist and denture specialist once a year (should be more often but they're happy with how I'm going and they're 2 hours away). The health specialist is looking after my implants, and they get a thorough clean etc. Even with adhesive I can't eat an apple without cutting it up. Biting into a timtam (I refrigerate mine) will sometimes pop the top one out. Most decent hamburgers (homemade or gourmet) I have to eat with a knife and fork as opening my mouth that wide often loosens the top. They sit in their cleaning solution each night, and every day I still have to clean my implants, plus brush the dentures, so it's more work than looking after my own teeth was. While it still sux (and I hated being 45 with full dentures), my experience would be much better than your parents, or my dad's. The implant retained bottom was with every cent. Rob insisted we spend the extra since I was going to have them for so long.

    Absolutely do everything you can to save as many of your own teeth as you can. They are seriously like gold. And it's been shown that the health of your mouth can have an effect on your while health, and your mental health. That's one of the reasons I believe dental health should fall under Medicare.
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  15. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by goughy View Post
    Had my first few when I was 16 and a couple of teeth were smashed off playing squash,
    Rough game sqaush. why didnt you play something safer like ice hockey.
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  16. #16
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    If I wanted to play I've hockey, I'd have taken up boxing!

    On a side note, the match where I had my teeth smashed, I won 27 - 0.
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