Wisdom teeth removal - NHS hospital vs Private dentist
Discussion
Had a discussion with the consultant (private) at my dentist today as I need both lower wisdom teeth removing. They are close to the nerve which provides a slightly elevated risk to the procedure (potential for permanent numbness on one or both sides of the face and tongue)
He laid out the options are to either fully remove both teeth, or to do a partial removal where they effectively remove the top part of the tooth but leave the roots in place (minimising risk of numbness) - the risk of this approach is that if the roots cause problems in future they may need removal too. He did say that sometimes in the intervening period the roots have actually started to rise out of the jaw a little so it's less risky than if done at first.
I didn't realise that this was a private procedure at my dentist, and the charge will be £350 per tooth.
He said my alternative is to go to get referred to the dental hospital who will do it for free.
I'm not going to lie, a £700 saving is a not inconsiderable amount of money so that's definitely swaying my decision making, but wanted to throw it out to the PH community to see if there's something I'm missing? I presume that the standard of work in a dental hospital is usually on a par with any other private dentist?
He did mention that a general anaesthetic is an option at the hospital, unlike the local one that he would have to give, so that's also a bit of a plus as I'm not a fan of having fillings, never mind extractions.
He laid out the options are to either fully remove both teeth, or to do a partial removal where they effectively remove the top part of the tooth but leave the roots in place (minimising risk of numbness) - the risk of this approach is that if the roots cause problems in future they may need removal too. He did say that sometimes in the intervening period the roots have actually started to rise out of the jaw a little so it's less risky than if done at first.
I didn't realise that this was a private procedure at my dentist, and the charge will be £350 per tooth.
He said my alternative is to go to get referred to the dental hospital who will do it for free.
I'm not going to lie, a £700 saving is a not inconsiderable amount of money so that's definitely swaying my decision making, but wanted to throw it out to the PH community to see if there's something I'm missing? I presume that the standard of work in a dental hospital is usually on a par with any other private dentist?
He did mention that a general anaesthetic is an option at the hospital, unlike the local one that he would have to give, so that's also a bit of a plus as I'm not a fan of having fillings, never mind extractions.
The advice is sound and the cost seems reasonably for a more qualified dentist to do it.
Only think he could have done if not done so is to take a,
CBCT scan of that area to check exactly where the nerve canal is in relation to the roots.
Any of them give you issues? I would have it done privately just because it would be quicker but perhaps do one at a time if cost an issue.
You can also have IV sedation which it’s nice on more complex extractions.
No harm with a referral but it will take time and you may have not really choice on venue if it matters to you.
Disclaimer: I work in a similar role to that consultant.
Only think he could have done if not done so is to take a,
CBCT scan of that area to check exactly where the nerve canal is in relation to the roots.
Any of them give you issues? I would have it done privately just because it would be quicker but perhaps do one at a time if cost an issue.
You can also have IV sedation which it’s nice on more complex extractions.
No harm with a referral but it will take time and you may have not really choice on venue if it matters to you.
Disclaimer: I work in a similar role to that consultant.
The risk of nerve damage is real. I had an unerupted wisdom tooth removed to allow access to drain a benign cyst in my jaw. (Jaw would otherwise have broken eventually) I needed the general anaesthetic due to that further complication. However I'd recommend the NHS referral if possible as you will then be operated on by a Consultant doctor, much more experienced in manipulating around nerves. Probably doing something similar every day.
My lower jaw was totally numb immediately after the operation and the nerves (there are two) took nearly 6mths to regenerate. But my surgeon was confident that I would recover. If your wisdom teeth can wait until you can go on the NHS - IMHO that is the clinically best option.
My lower jaw was totally numb immediately after the operation and the nerves (there are two) took nearly 6mths to regenerate. But my surgeon was confident that I would recover. If your wisdom teeth can wait until you can go on the NHS - IMHO that is the clinically best option.
I'd go the NHS route at the dental hospital as this won't be anything new to them, epscially if there's no rush. If there's a long wait then weigh up whether you want to spend the money. At least your NHS dentist has given you the option.
I'd be interested in hearing the 'resident expert' view on filing the tooth and leaving the roots in place. That does not sound right unless the suggestion is as the root dies the tooth sequestra (fragments) are naturally expelled from the body, but they can cause infection.
I'd be interested in hearing the 'resident expert' view on filing the tooth and leaving the roots in place. That does not sound right unless the suggestion is as the root dies the tooth sequestra (fragments) are naturally expelled from the body, but they can cause infection.
Armitage.Shanks said:
I'd be interested in hearing the 'resident expert' view on filing the tooth and leaving the roots in place. That does not sound right unless the suggestion is as the root dies the tooth sequestra (fragments) are naturally expelled from the body, but they can cause infection.
My wife has been having treatment for exactly that for over 12 months now. NHS dentist left some roots behind, which became infected quite badly. They didn't want to know and wouldn't even refer her to the dental hospital. Luckily, private healthcare insurance covered it and she has now had a couple of ops, but looks like she will be on tablets for life as it has given her some kind of bone disease.Newarch said:
NHS and private practice dentists are often the same people, there isn't a reduction in quality of service because the NHS is free. The main advantage of private healthcare is that you have the work carried out rather quicker.
You also aren't as rushed going private. I have also found the aftercare much better.Red9zero said:
Good luck getting referred to the dental hospital. There is a 12-18 months waiting list here (Bristol) for an NHS referral, as I need sedation. Ended up going private, which will be done in October - at a cost of £900.
My (adult) daughter is having a general and wisdom teeth removal at the Bristol Dental hospital in September. She was referred by her dentist in about April.Scrump said:
Red9zero said:
Good luck getting referred to the dental hospital. There is a 12-18 months waiting list here (Bristol) for an NHS referral, as I need sedation. Ended up going private, which will be done in October - at a cost of £900.
My (adult) daughter is having a general and wisdom teeth removal at the Bristol Dental hospital in September. She was referred by her dentist in about April.I had a tooth out a few years ago. NHS dentist referred me to another one who specialised in it. Had about a three month wait. Quick injection, whacked it with a hammer chisel type thing, picked three bits out with a hoof pick shaped tool and then gave me a wound pack to bite down on for the rest of the day. All painless and quick. You do have to stay there for around half hour after but it all went well.
Thanks all for the replies, pretty much as I suspected then that the biggest issue with NHS may be the wait time. I'm fortunate that currently they're not giving me any issues, but it's taken my private dentist 10 months to be able to fit me in for the panoramic x-ray so who knows how much longer it will be before they start.
I suppose I can always refer on the NHS and then go private if I have to.
I think I'll get started on the referral anyway, as it sounds as though from what people are saying above, I'm likely to get a very similar level of expertise in an NHS hospital as I am with my private consultant, just saving £700 into the bargain if I can get the referral through before they cause me problems.
Location not too much of a concern as I'm based in Brighton and I believe it's the Royal Sussex County Hospital that carry out these surgeries, which is about as handy for me as it's possible to get. If not there, then I should be ok finding a friend to get me to Haywards Heath too.
I suppose I can always refer on the NHS and then go private if I have to.
CrgT16 said:
The advice is sound and the cost seems reasonably for a more qualified dentist to do it.
Only think he could have done if not done so is to take a,
CBCT scan of that area to check exactly where the nerve canal is in relation to the roots.
Any of them give you issues? I would have it done privately just because it would be quicker but perhaps do one at a time if cost an issue.
You can also have IV sedation which it’s nice on more complex extractions.
No harm with a referral but it will take time and you may have not really choice on venue if it matters to you.
Disclaimer: I work in a similar role to that consultant.
Thanks for this, do you mean that IV sedation is possible in the dentist or is that also a hospital only thing? I guess it may depend on what the dentist is prepared to do.Only think he could have done if not done so is to take a,
CBCT scan of that area to check exactly where the nerve canal is in relation to the roots.
Any of them give you issues? I would have it done privately just because it would be quicker but perhaps do one at a time if cost an issue.
You can also have IV sedation which it’s nice on more complex extractions.
No harm with a referral but it will take time and you may have not really choice on venue if it matters to you.
Disclaimer: I work in a similar role to that consultant.
I think I'll get started on the referral anyway, as it sounds as though from what people are saying above, I'm likely to get a very similar level of expertise in an NHS hospital as I am with my private consultant, just saving £700 into the bargain if I can get the referral through before they cause me problems.
Location not too much of a concern as I'm based in Brighton and I believe it's the Royal Sussex County Hospital that carry out these surgeries, which is about as handy for me as it's possible to get. If not there, then I should be ok finding a friend to get me to Haywards Heath too.
I have a private dental plan but my dentist advised having my top wisdom teeth extracted at our local NHS hospital on the basis that they were better equipped to deal with any problems if not all went well during the extraction, particularly if a general anesthetic was required.
This was a few years ago and waiting times were much shorter.
This was a few years ago and waiting times were much shorter.
Monkeylegend said:
I have a private dental plan but my dentist advised having my top wisdom teeth extracted at our local NHS hospital on the basis that they were better equipped to deal with any problems if not all went well during the extraction, particularly if a general anesthetic was required.
This was a few years ago and waiting times were much shorter.
That's somewhat refreshing offering an honest opinion and alternative solution. This was a few years ago and waiting times were much shorter.
I can't understand from the above why it took 10 months to wait for a 180 Deg panoramic x-ray? It's 30 seconds of a job and anyone operating in the private sector should have immediate access to what I see as an essential piece of kit.
I had tp be referred by my NHS dentist to the dental hospital last year because I had a cracked tooth that needed removal and she wasn't confident it would come out in one piece and may be complicated. Long story short the NHS dental hospital referred me to another private dentist on the NHS and I ended up getting it done at a private dentist at NHS costs which was a great result.
The dentist I saw had a quick look and pulled it out before I knew what was happening, it did split so he just went back in and pulled out the broken part, all done in less than 30 minutes, I was very impressed.
I'm not saying you will get the same OP but it may work in your favour
The dentist I saw had a quick look and pulled it out before I knew what was happening, it did split so he just went back in and pulled out the broken part, all done in less than 30 minutes, I was very impressed.
I'm not saying you will get the same OP but it may work in your favour
Gassing Station | Health Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff