Dublin Travel Forum

Hi all

I had root canal therapy done by an NHS dentist in London late last year. Unfortunately they didn't do a very good job - the crown is wearing away and a recent x-ray has shown that there is still a bit of infection (nerve?) at the bottom of the nerve filling.

Since I am moving from London to Dublin very shortly, I was wondering whether or not to risk going to another NHS dentist in London or visiting one in Dublin. Can anyone please provide me with a rough cost for root canal in Ireland? On the NHS system I'd pay between 43 - 194 pounds. If I was to get the tooth fixed in Australia (where I'm originally from) it costs 1500 - 2500 pounds!! It seems like you get what you paid for considering the NHS dentist did such a bad job last time, but I'm not sure if this was just a one-off or if it's fairly common!

Any advice or stories of your own experiences on the NHS would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

hi

I have had a few Root Canal treatments on different teeth with diferent dentists over the years and not had a problem with any of them - and also have a crown which was fitted nearly 30years ago which is still good

it sounds like you had a bit of bad luck with this dentist - but go back and ask him/her to review the work and try to come to some sort of arrangement as to resolving the problem - NHS dentists are few and far between at hte moment and you may not be able to get onto another list so easily - you could also try an private dentist in London or wait until you get to Dublin - If it was me i would be going back with the information you have given here and asking the original dentist to help - after all if it was any other workman you would complain about shoddy workmanship wouldn't you?

It's a one-off, and you should go back to the original dentist to complain/request further treatment. The infection might have occurred with any dentist, but the crown should not be wearing away so soon.

It is most definitely not a case of getting what you pay for, although private dentists will always offer a range of other treatments not available on the NHS (which is funded from taxes and cannot/should not therefore offer new/cosmetic treatments to the same level).

NHS dentistry is usually very good indeed: it is highly regulated. If you don't want to go back then you might find another London dentist (if you can; NHS dentists who can take new patients are like gold dust).

I was an NHS patient all my life until they ceased to exist in my area a decade or so ago. I would still be one if there was a local practice taking on new patients.

You are likely to pay substantially more in Ireland as I think you will probably be a private patient.

NHS dentists are hard to find, most are private. You could try the London Dental Hospital, which is next to London Bridge station.

When I first went to Ireland, quite a few years ago now, one of the things that first struck me was how bad Irish teeth generally were. (But for really bad teeth and uncorrected poor dentition, come to China!)

Ask your friends where they go. Dare I say "word of mouth"?

Try ringing the NHS direct helpline. If the dentist didn't use rubber dam while doing the root canal, then you should be able to get it all done again for free.No use going to some other dentist and maybe have it all fall apart again in the future. With a formal complaint in place, the original dentist will make damn sure he does it right the second time around.

Thanks everyone. My problem is I've only just discovered that there is still infection and I've only got about 2 days left in London. I've obviously noticed the erosion of the crown for awhile but I was prepared to let that go and just get it redone at another dentist (as I didn't particularly warm to my NHS one). So it's now a matter of deciding whether it's worth flying back to London up to 4 times (once for a consultation, another 3 for the root canal work) or whether the combined costs will just about equal that of getting it done in Ireland! Ahhhh, the hassle of it all!

I can highly recommend my dentist, Thomas Nemcik(pronounced Nemcheck) at Smiles Dental Spa in Sth Anne St (just off Grafton Street, tel.01 672 8938)I had a root canal done in November, it cost €350.
Dental treatment in Ireland is generally very expensive and many people travel to Northern Ireland or various eastern or central European countries for treatment because the prices are cheaper and the service better.

Wow, Anne-Marie, that's really cheap. May I enquire as to whether it was a complicated root canal or whether you receive any type of health benefits? If it's going to cost me under €500 (as a private patient with no benefits) then I might try there.

The root canal was straightforward, no complications, the price included several x-rays. I've had a series of procedures with this clinic and find them excellent, I expect the other dentists there are equally good but Thomas Nemcik is my recommendation. I was paying in full for private treatment and will be claiming some refund back in tax, but that only applies to people working here.

Meant to include this in last reply: www.smiles.ie
Good info there but couldn't see price for root canal!
Dublin 2 is the clinic I go to.