Is there a Guarantee on fillings?

Caledonia

I got 4 fillings done on back teeth 6 weeks ago. They were on the expensive side which was fine as were white fillings. Dentist was pleased with them and said they should last for years though two were particularly big. I had some pain after one and it settled.

Had pain over the weekend again and today have been back and dentist did a temporary job on it to take down inflammation which will last 3 weeks and then it needs root canal.
Root canal is €580. The temporary cover today was €65. The filling was €155.

Is that just life?

Sadderday

Wow,

Can you PM me where this was so I know to avoid !?

Thanks,

I'm sure I need a filling and can't get an appointment anywhere this week.

The dentist I finally got want 50euro to examine the sore tooth... 20euro if an x ray is needed and then it's €100 per filling.... and just like yourself... we have to trust what they tell us and believe they know what they are doing.

Did you get your money back for the filling he put in that he will be taking back out again ?

Caledonia

Hi,I will pm you but they are a really reputable place.

I know it was a big job of a filling but he did say they should be fine so I suppose this is the worst possible result. I had a hygienist apt since where they were cleaned really well for €75.
No, there is nothing off the root canal treatment.

Michael D Not Higgins

Did you have an xray done before the filling? What changed in 6 weeks from needing a filling to needing a root canal?

Sadderday

Caledonia wrote: »

Hi,I will pm you but they are a really reputable place.

I know it was a big job of a filling but he did say they should be fine so I suppose this is the worst possible result. I had a hygienist apt since where they were cleaned really well for €75.
No, there is nothing off the root canal treatment.

Thats what scares me!, to be honest - i know you probably don't want to rock the boat but you could ring up and ask about deducting the price of the original filling from the root canal bill - after all he did verbally indicate that it will last you ... and it hasn't.

You could otherwise get your treatment continued in the likes of Smiles or Primacare... they promote affordable treatments.

Its an option.


I found this on the NHS site

No additional charge should be made by your dentist where a restoration has to be repaired or replaced within 12 months.
NHS dental treatment failure

If you were provided a restoration (filling, root filling, inlay, porcelain veneer or crown) as part of your course of treatment, and it fails within 12 months, your dentist should carry out any work needed to repair or replace the restoration free of charge. For example, if you have a filling that falls out after six months, your dentist should replace it for free.

- You could ring citizens advice and ask if there is something similar here.

Dont forget to keep your receipts and claim your tax back at the end of the year for all of this work... you get 20% back.

Caledonia

Yes, I had them all X-rayed at the first apt. (€60)

I'm just reading the info leaflet I was given on root canal here..

'The pulp of your tooth can become easily infected...this infection can be caused by a deep cavity..or a traumatic injury to the tooth..or a previous extensive drilling (preparation) of the tooth. The drilling may have been done to prepare the tooth for a crown or even a large filling.'
So the drilling he needed to do to do the filling has likely caused this.

Sadderday

Caledonia wrote: »

Yes, I had them all X-rayed at the first apt. (€60)

I'm just reading the info leaflet I was given on root canal here..

'The pulp of your tooth can become easily infected...this infection can be caused by a deep cavity..or a traumatic injury to the tooth..or a previous extensive drilling (preparation) of the tooth. The drilling may have been done to prepare the tooth for a crown or even a large filling.'
So the drilling he needed to do to do the filling has likely caused this.

thats bad luck... ya think though he might have mentioned this to you before drilling a crater in your mouth?

If a large filling could cause this he should have told you or may have been able to offer alternatives instead of the quick fix filling

btkm8unsl0w5r4

OP Unfortunately with big filling there is always a chance that the nerve will die and require a root canal or extraction. This is not the dentists fault but you should have been warned. You really should blame whoever put the decay in there that caused you to need the filling in the first place, however there might be some miscommunication/misunderstanding issues going on here.

Caledonia

Thanks for that info Sadderday. It's just as it's such a short time ago.
I meant to put that smilie after the €60 btw, it looks a bit mad at the top of the last post.
I know he told me they were big fillings but definitely didn't mention root canal being a possibility before. 'Posterior composite restoration' as per the treatment plan estimate was supposed to be enough! I have to put it down to bad luck I guess.

I might ask if they can take something off the rc but I doubt they will. Might get some feedback from dentists if this is the done thing.

Michael D Not Higgins

I had a white filling in one of my back teeth done about 10 years ago. It had begun to decay around the filling in recent times and I had it redone earlier this year. The dentist showed me on the xray that the decay was still near the surface and wouldn't need a root canal.

I would definitely be annoyed if the dentist was not explaining to me about the level of decay and potential for further work.

btkm8unsl0w5r4

The question is if the dentist had warned you about the possibility of a root canal would you have done anything differently. You you have had the tooth removed or root canaled? More than likely you would have done the same thing you did, give it a shot. And adverse outcome is a pain for everyone involved, but they do happen.

The dentist might do some good will gesture if you were not properly informed, but they are under no obligation IMHO.

Sadderday

Caledonia wrote: »

Thanks for that info Sadderday. It's just as it's such a short time ago.
I meant to put that smilie after the €60 btw, it looks a bit mad at the top of the last post.
I know he told me they were big fillings but definitely didn't mention root canal being a possibility before. 'Posterior composite restoration' as per the treatment plan estimate was supposed to be enough! I have to put it down to bad luck I guess.

I might ask if they can take something off the rc but I doubt they will. Might get some feedback from dentists if this is the done thing.

I'm sure you can work out a payment plan - thats alot in one go.

And I don't know if it is a done thing to get a second opinion but I always do because its your mouth, your teeth that you want to keep for as many years as you can ya know. Most places offer a free exam to new patients.

Caledonia

Simon Raspy Rubble wrote: »

OP Unfortunately with big filling there is always a chance that the nerve will die and require a root canal or extraction. This is not the dentists fault but you should have been warned. You really should blame whoever put the decay in there that caused you to need the filling in the first place, however there might be some miscommunication/misunderstanding issues going on here.

I'm not interested in the blame game.
The dentist is a super positive guy, as in 'So what are you up to for the rest of the evening?' when it's a 5pm on a Monday and you're about to get treatment. So maybe he wanted to cross that..bridge..when he came to it.

I suppose I think it would be good policy wise if there was maybe 50 quid off the 580 for rc. Or if I hadn't been charged today, considering I've been downing the paracetamol and neurofen since the Friday of a BH weekend and I'll be doling out for rc.

Oh well, at least they have a Nespresso machine I suppose..

Caledonia

Simon Raspy Rubble wrote: »

The question is if the dentist had warned you about the possibility of a root canal would you have done anything differently. You you have had the tooth removed or root canaled? More than likely you would have done the same thing you did, give it a shot. And adverse outcome is a pain for everyone involved, but they do happen.

The dentist might do some good will gesture if you were not properly informed, but they are under no obligation IMHO.

IMHO I don't see how this is a pain for the dentist.

Do you not think as well that sometimes questions of science don't speak as loud as the heart. I feel slightly swizzed this afternoon and I think the owner of the practice has discretion and could have used it to good effect.

The same way it's a bit more complex than 'blame whoever put the decay in your mouth.' Surely you know that. And it's going to be something you see more of. A bit of bedside/dentist chair manner wouldn't go astray.

Sadderday

Caledonia wrote: »

IMHO I don't see how this is a pain for the dentist.

Do you not think as well that sometimes questions of science don't speak as loud as the heart. I feel slightly swizzed this afternoon and I think the owner of the practice has discretion and could have used it to good effect.

The same way it's a bit more complex than 'blame whoever put the decay in your mouth.' Surely you know that. And it's going to be something you see more of. A bit of bedside/dentist chair manner wouldn't go astray.

Sometimes though it pays to be upfront with any issues. Not all businesses will be eager to give you money off whether you are entitled to it or not. If your straight up - even just with the receptionist you might get some compo - might be better than hoping for the best and saying nothing.

btkm8unsl0w5r4

Its a pain for the dentist because he/she has to deal with an unhappy patient. Dentists like everyone else like to avoid conflict. Dentists like to do treatment that works. There is also cost implications for the dentist because it costs time/money (staff, rent, light, heat, electricity, materials and opportunity cost) to fix these problems.

It is common for patients to blame the last person to touch the tooth with their problems and I understand this, its post hoc logic. However its not the drill that caused the problem, its the reason the drill was needed that caused it

Caledonia

I think you misunderstand me. I answered a q from a poster -how has it gone from a filling to root canal in 6 weeks when the X-Ray showed the pulp was ok? The info leaflet from the dentist explains that an extensive preparation (in my case drilling for a large filling) can cause this. As I said the dentist had to drill to do the filling. No blame or post hoc logic/other fallacy involved.
I've said they are a reputable surgery and they wouldn't have known today I was unhappy.
Will the endotontic therapy much longer to fix due to taking out the filling? I didn't realise that.
In fairness it was worth the €65 today to get rid of that pain.

btkm8unsl0w5r4

X-rays only show the pulp exists, they tell you nothing about its health.I am a dentist and can tell you that there are many teeth out there that need root canals that have never been touched by a drill.

Its like saying that trees die from a tree surgeon cutting them down, there is some truth in that, but the reason the tree surgeon had to cut them down it what caused the problem.

I warn all patients that any filling of reasonable size could lead to nerve death and root canal or extraction. If i put a filling in to try salvage the tooth it may cause an already stressed tooth to die sooner, but that tooth is going to die regardless in time.

Caledonia

I know that ^. That's why I said the dentist had to drill the tooth. There was a reason for it. It was a large filling. It was done in good faith and the dentist felt it had been a success.

I didn't realise (before reading the leaflet I got today) that it could expedite the need for root canal and I think you'd agree €215 plus 3 days of pain for a filling that lasted 6 weeks is a disappointing result.

Dianthus

*Not* filling the tooth at all could have expedited the need for root canal also.
It really is one of those scenarios where you're caught between a rock and a hard place, damned if you do& damned if you don't. No dentist would be happy with a patient who has been suffering post-treatment, and your dentist sounds like he cares about his patients. Communicate with him, explain that you were unprepared for the procedure, explain that it's an unexpected cost, see where that conversation leads you.
Technically, the filling itself is still in situ & functional. It is the nerve of the tooth that is the issue. I would seek to clarify what the treatment plan is regarding the restoration of the tooth following the root canal treatment; filling/crown? Pros, cons, cost, ect.

Caledonia

Thanks Dianthus.
I have the Treatment Plan estimate print out.
It's Initial Root Canal Treatment then Root Canal Filling-they both have €291 beside them and underneath Posterior Composite Restoration it has 'advised crown long term' -the dentist said today it would be best to get a crown. I can look up the cost of that. I need to get the rc done within 3 weeks to avoid pain.
I don't know if the initial dentist would have much say as he doesn't own the practice.
I'm only hoping now my upper left one doesn't go as well as from looking at the X-rays before I went in that was the one she assumed I was in with!

Dianthus

Neslea wrote: »

Sounds like you need a new dentist. I got a filling like 5 years ago and i don't even remember half the time that it's there...

Crazy. The OP had 4 fillings in total, 3 of which are fine- the one that is giving trouble is obviously the largest& the deepest. You can't compare peoples' experience with fillings any more than you can compare peoples' experiences with childbirth.

Magenta

Caledonia wrote: »

I got 4 fillings done on back teeth 6 weeks ago. They were on the expensive side which was fine as were white fillings. Dentist was pleased with them and said they should last for years though two were particularly big. I had some pain after one and it settled.

Had pain over the weekend again and today have been back and dentist did a temporary job on it to take down inflammation which will last 3 weeks and then it needs root canal.
Root canal is €580. The temporary cover today was €65. The filling was €155.

Is that just life?

Can you PM me the dentist too please? Thanks!

Dianthus

Magenta wrote: »

Can you PM me the dentist too please? Thanks!

That'll be a very long PM....every dentist in Ireland will have had this issue at some point
The only control you as a patient have in lowering your risk is flossing daily & attending for regular 6monthly checkups, so that decay is caught early& the resultant filling is small & problem-free.

Caledonia

Ah, it's great what a couple of good pain-free nights sleep can do.

Was telling my mother earlier and she said if something went wrong (her dentist) "Anthony would never do that."
I still think it was bad form to charge 65 quid when I was in on Tuesday and will ask if they can take that off the root canal charge.