root canal treatment

[AGW3]

I'm a bit of a wimp and so rarely go to dentists. Have any of you had this and been happy with the treatment with no recurrent problems and if so could you recommend a dentist on the NHS please?

[intexasatthe moment]

I've tried many dentists but bless the day a friend recommended Chris Tremaine at Dulwich Dental Clinic ,next to the post office . 020 8299 1334.

Terrific dentist .The Best . All the other dentists are fake dentists .

[AGW3]

That's wonderful, thanks a lot intex. I know what you mean about other dentists, I've had such terrible esxperiences in the past which is why I hardly ever go unless in absolute agony.

[JohnL]

intexasatthe moment Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I've tried many dentists but bless the day a

> friend recommended Chris Tremaine at Dulwich

> Dental Clinic ,next to the post office . 020 8299

> 1334.

>

> Terrific dentist .The Best . All the other

> dentists are fake dentists .

I remember a rather small lady (but great dentist)

- left now) at the Gardens pulling my tooth out

and me thinking maybe I need a huge rugby player

dentist for this :)

You'd think if they were dead they'd come out easily

- no this tooth was for staying.

[intexasatthe moment]

AG - he really is good .

He uses cotton wool ( or something ) with a numbing gel and then does the injection more slowly than I have ever experienced so you feel absolutely nothing . And he has always used enough so I have never had to ask him to stop and request more pain relief .

Honestly ,I have a mouthful of fillings and crowns and he is the best dentist I've come across .Transformed my life .

And available on NHS .

[AGW3]

Have you had root canal treatment, intex? I've heard it's horrible.

[Nigello]

It is not horrible if done well, and that is the main concern about choosing a "GP" of the dentist world to do it. I would ask straight up whether the dentist in question had lots of experience and whether your particular problem was one extra tricky or just routine. If not, consider asking for a referral or forking out to go private.

You get a couple of injections, a lie down for about half an hour or more and the rest of the day off work: not bad, really!

[intexasatthe moment]

AG - I've had a number of root fillings . Even with not very good dentists they are not that bad . With a good dentist they are no different from a normal filling though may take longer . There is NO NEED for there to be any pain .You might get tired keeping your mouth open .

They seem to have acquired some kind of mythical status - often referred to in American shows in jokey/horrific tones . And people saying you can have the rest of the day off work - by all means do ,but I don't think you need to .

I think they can vary depending on the position and the root .My penultimate ( private ) dentist said he didn't do root fillings they were specialist work and he'd prefer to refer me to someone else .

You'll be safe with Chris ,I guarantee it .

[intexasatthe moment]

And AG ,if it's any comfort here's a true tale which I'm telling to reassure you that dental work need not be painful - the dentist before my penultimate dentist was lovely .

He had to drill through an existing gold crown/cap to do a root filling .I was so worried about the process that he offered to put a ?100 on the side cupboard which I could keep if I felt any pain .He kept his money !

I only stopped going to him because the receptionists were a pain and ,hard to explain ,but he had to do a lot of work just before I started chemo and going back brings back disturbing memories .

And don't feel that you're a wimp - of course lying prostrate while someone comes at your mouth with power tools requires enormous trust in the person who's wielding said tools . And it's hard to trust someone you don't know .

But take it from someone who has a lot of experience with dentists - you'll be fine with Chris .

[mynamehere]

I tried them all in ED and my family only uses Dulwich Dental and Chris as well as the others there. They all have German standard and Swedish standard training

[Phlox]

That's good to know about Chris. I need one root canal and also a crown afterwards. My current dentist wanted to refer me elsewhere for the root canal.

[Phlox]

intexasatthe moment Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I've tried many dentists but bless the day a

> friend recommended Chris Tremaine at Dulwich

> Dental Clinic ,next to the post office . 020 8299

> 1334.

>

> Terrific dentist .The Best . All the other

> dentists are fake dentists .

Did you mean the other dentists at this practice!

[malumbu]

It is really not as bad as you think. Had it three times now. PM me if you want my NHS dentist recommendation. I have a big crush on them too - in a platonic way I hasten to add.

Sadly if you are my age NHS dentistry was very interventionist in the 60s and 70s, not helped by sugar (it was just as bad then, even worse remembering Ribena) and lack of flouride in the toothpaste and water.

[intexasatthe moment]

Ah Malumbu , I suspect I'm in the same category as you ,henceable to speak with experience .So Sad .

[rendelharris]

I'd second Dulwich Dental Clinic but my vote goes for Nicola Hendy in that practice - I was a total odontophobe before she started looking after me, now the prospect of a visit doesn't bother me at all.

[JohnL]

malumbu Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> It is really not as bad as you think. Had it

> three times now. PM me if you want my NHS dentist

> recommendation. I have a big crush on them too -

> in a platonic way I hasten to add.

>

> Sadly if you are my age NHS dentistry was very

> interventionist in the 60s and 70s, not helped by

> sugar (it was just as bad then, even worse

> remembering Ribena) and lack of flouride in the

> toothpaste and water.

Yes, my dentist drilled like there was no tomorrow

when I was young.

Then in my 30s the old metal fillings began to fall out.

[Beej]

Just FYI, I go to East Dulwich Dental Care and my NHS dentist is Bunmi and she is amazing, but even they will refer you to a specialist private clinic for root canal. They referred me to Birbeck Dentistry in Sidcup, I was confused at first why they would refer me, but after the A class treatment with a dentist who lectures in it, well it was the best ?725 I've ever spent, and no reoccurring issues. Yes ?725!!! Ouch, but so worth it.

[jaywalker]

Beej is right: a specialist is only really necessary for non-central teeth. I have had central root canals by ordinary dentist (no problem) but referrals to specialists for difficult to access ones (again, nothing to worry about). Dentistry is not like it was in my childhood: my dentist then was a maniac.

[Phlox]

jaywalker Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Beej is right: a specialist is only really

> necessary for non-central teeth. I have had

> central root canals by ordinary dentist (no

> problem) but referrals to specialists for

> difficult to access ones (again, nothing to worry

> about). Dentistry is not like it was in my

> childhood: my dentist then was a maniac.

Non central? Front teeth?

[intexasatthe moment]

Yes ,I've heard that about root canals to difficult to access back teeth . Front teeth are easier apparently .

[Mick Mac]

intexasatthe moment Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Yes ,I've heard that about root canals to

> difficult to access back teeth . Front teeth are

> easier apparently .

Breaking news ! who knew.

;0

[jaywalker]

well I didn't until I was referred for a back one and it cost me 900 quid.

Apart from the rather strange position I was levered into, it was not an unpleasant experience: he was a bit of an artist my ordinary dentist said.

[Elphinstone's Army]

Sometimes you gotta be brave little Noddy, take 2 kalms or some painkillers afore you venture into the chair -I have had dentist from Harley Steeet (when I was single and high earner ) to local, and now I have one out of town I am not going to share with any of you - she is European and I firmly believe that the training is more intense - femail dentists are empathetic and have smaller fingers, to reach molars and spaces fat fingers cannot This is not meant to be an easy ride but consider the alternatives. I visited a local dentist and vowed I would never return, attitude can often override skill? or reputation when one is vulnerable in pain, helpless, dependent and exhibiting a low pain threshold.

What I would suggest to anyone is that they have a fairly youngish dentist and not an older one, for obvious reasons, loyalty does not equate to up to date methods/machinery/mechanics, and an electric toothbrush!, good oral health y'all.