All About Dental

[sparks]

ChiefKiasu:

So the question is whether you should pay about $1300 now vs $3000 later.

wah, that's for one tooth only...

I've a better idea now. you've advised more precisely than the dentist I saw. Thanks Chief! :salute:

[sparks]

I just had RCT this morning... didn't manage to see Dr Sim as another endodontist is avail at earlier date.


My problematic tooth turns out to be a molar. Was quoted $1,500 for 1st treatment, 2nd visit in 2 weeks time to fill up the canals (additional $350) & 3rd one to do crowning ($800 for normal one & $1,100 for better quality crown). Totalling $2650 - $2950 to save only 1 tooth :faint:.

To add to my heartache, the endodontist said that I may be grinding my teeth while sleeping, hence a few cracks on some of the teeth (I didn't even know that!) He recommended a mouthguard or may risk having to do a few more RCTs.

BTW, he said an implant wld cost abt $5k.

[mum02]

that is far too expensive.

If you want to save cost, my suggestion is, go to a GP dentist to do a temp root fill.
Probably around $100.This will alleviate the pain. Then go to Dr Timothy Sim for RCT. He is good and does not charge sky-high prices. His staff are also very professional and well-trained. You might have been ripped off at that endo clinic.

[ChiefKiasu]

mum02:

that is far too expensive.

If you want to save cost, my suggestion is, go to a GP dentist to do a temp root fill.
Probably around $100.This will alleviate the pain. Then go to Dr Timothy Sim for RCT. He is good and does not charge sky-high prices. His staff are also very professional and well-trained. You might have been ripped off at that endo clinic.

I agree with mum02. I have done many RCTs, and none came close to the kind of prices you mentioned. Is it too late now for you to switch? I hope you have not been bullied just because you are a RCT newbie

[Jennifer]

sparks:

I had pain in my teeth when drinking cold drinks. so, paid dentist a visit & she claimed that my old filling had worn out. She redid the filling & thereafter, I've been feeling more pain on the right side of my mouth everytime I consume hot or cold drinks.

Suppose you consume room temperature food, does the pain persist?

[Jennifer]

ChiefKiasu:

I hope you have not been bullied just because you are a RCT newbie

What causes tooth to require RCT? Is it a natural ageing issue or poor dental habits issue?

[BigDevil]

sparks:

BTW, he said an implant wld cost abt $5k.

:yikes:

While I haven't had any RCT done, I did have an implant.
And it didn't cost me more than $3k!

You want to let us know which clinic you went to so we can all avoid it?

[kwcllf]

Try Radiance. They have a few branches. You can also claim medisave up to a certain amount. I have done my implant with them.

[mum02]

RCT is required when the nerve in the root canal of the tooth is infected.

This can happen when the tooth is cracked.
You may not be able to see the crack. The endodontist can see it through the microscope at the clinic.
Tooth cracks for several reasons: biting on hard food like ice (I’m guilty of it), crab shells, nuts. Tooth usually doesn’t crack due to one time "misuse". The "abuse" of the tooth over many years results in the cracks. That’s why it is important to visit the dentist once in 6 months to check if there are early signs of cracks, decay, etc.
RCT is done to remove the nerve in the root so that you will not feel pain in that tooth ever again.
If you do RCT without crowning it, then the tooth may crack further resulting in having to extract the tooth cos it can’t be saved anymore. That would waste your money on RCT as you might as well extract it in the first place.

If you extract it, there will be a missing tooth. Over years, the teeth will move slightly due to the gap. Then it can cause biting problems. That’s why an implant should be placed to prevent that problem. Don’t know if you realize that most "older" folks who extract their tooth soon have to extract more teeth and soon become "bo gay" (toothless) because other surrounding teeth are weakened due to the gap.

(I am not a dentist by the way)

[Jennifer]

mum02:

RCT is required when the nerve in the root canal of the tooth is infected.

This can happen when the tooth is cracked.
You may not be able to see the crack. The endodontist can see it through the microscope at the clinic.
Tooth cracks for several reasons: biting on hard food like ice (I'm guilty of it), crab shells, nuts. Tooth usually doesn't crack due to one time \"misuse\". The \"abuse\" of the tooth over many years results in the cracks. That's why it is important to visit the dentist once in 6 months to check if there are early signs of cracks, decay, etc.
RCT is done to remove the nerve in the root so that you will not feel pain in that tooth ever again.
If you do RCT without crowning it, then the tooth may crack further resulting in having to extract the tooth cos it can't be saved anymore. That would waste your money on RCT as you might as well extract it in the first place.

If you extract it, there will be a missing tooth. Over years, the teeth will move slightly due to the gap. Then it can cause biting problems. That's why an implant should be placed to prevent that problem. Don't know if you realize that most \"older\" folks who extract their tooth soon have to extract more teeth and soon become \"bo gay\" (toothless) because other surrounding teeth are weakened due to the gap.

(I am not a dentist by the way)

Thank you for the information.