Direct Post and Core after root canal

Butterface

I have two front incisor crowns. I had a root canal done on my left incisor a couple of years back and the tooth was discoloured so I opted to have two matching crowns - very happy with them.

During the summer my right incisor flared up and it turned out I needed a root canal on that one too. The dentist explained this might have something to do with the trauma to the tooth when I was getting the crowns on.

I had the root canal done done through the crown and the dentist spoke about requiring a direct post and core after the root canal to strengthen the crown afterwards. The bill came to 500e for root canal minus a 200e reduction. The direct post and core was to be 400e.

After the root canal the dentist said he wasn't happy with it, that I may have trouble with it in future.. something about a hairline root going off main root (I'm not 100% sure!) He advised me to call in again if I had a problem. I study in England so he gave me my x-rays of the teeth after they root canal. Since then, I can still feel the nerves are alive in this tooth and it often causes me a moment's pain. Compared to the incisor next to it which has no feeling at all.

When I went to pay the 700e, the dentist spoke to receptionist and she only ended up charging me 300e. Now several months later I've received a call for an outstanding bill of 400e for this direct post and core. I have no idea if this post and core was performed. Since the tooth might require further treatment, is it likely the dentist did it??

I would have paid the 700e there and then, but the dentist seemed to imply that I would only have to pay 300 because the treatment wasn't a success.

I will not be returning to Ireland until the New Year so I can't speak to the dentist in person. I just want to know, what would the post and core have consisted of? And should I go see a dentist over here in the UK to find out if one was performed?
I'm a student so the 400e is a lot of money to pay now, especially after Xmas!

Thank you.

btkm8unsl0w5r4

If the dentist gave you X-rays post them up and I can tell you.

Butterface

Thank you. I took pictures with my iphone, so apologies for the quality. These were the final x-rays taken after my root canal treatment.

photo (1).JPG

photo (2).JPG

btkm8unsl0w5r4

Its really hard to tell off those, any chance of getting some in focus and mark which is the tooth in question.

Butterface

Thank you, I'll scan them and upload them in Uni tomorrow - hopefully it will be clearer.

I know you can't tell me without seeing an x-ray, but what would the procedure have consisted of? The root canal took over an hour, and the dentist said that I had particularly deep roots. He took a few x-rays during the work to check if it was going okay.

My bill stated Direct Post and Core "if possible", and this had a date of 2 days after the root canal beside it. I had no follow up appointment, so I didn't attend on this date.
I'm perplexed as to why I was only asked for the 300e at the time of payment, as I was ready to pay the 700e. If I had the treatment, I'll be happy to pay. However, the impression I got off the dentist was that I would probably have trouble with this tooth at a later date and he wasn't charging me the full amount due to this.

btkm8unsl0w5r4

Could be an administrative error, call the surgery and see?

ballsymchugh

probably an admin error. someone clicked to close the treatment plan after they realised that you were not returning since you are studying in the UK. some software auto-completes the treatment when this is done.
that's the only reason as to why it would have a date that you didn't attend on it.
even though the photo is out of focus, i'd be surprised if a post was there, it'd be a very short one.

Butterface

Thanks for the replies. I will email the receptionist and ask her to clarify with the dentist. Should clear things up either way!