Dental problems

I have had root canal treatment at my local dentist which has not been successful. I have been back to the dentist on and off as there have been problems with it since last June. After paying for the full treatment there, she has now referred me onto a specialist in this area.

Am I entitled to get a refund for the cost of the treatment which I initially paid for at my own dentists, or should I expect the cost of the specialist to be covered by my own dentist?

I would think you are not entitled to a refund nor the dentist to cover any further bills ie. visits to a specialist.

Am I entitled to get a refund for the cost of the treatment which I initially paid for at my own dentists, or should I expect the cost of the specialist to be covered by my own dentist?[/quote]


If you manage to get a dentist to give you a refund well fair play to you, that will be a first!

A second. A friend of mine managed it.

The problem would be evidence, and professional solidarity makes it difficult. What do you think are the chances that a specialist chosen for you by your dentist would be prepared to testify that your dentist messed up (if indeed she did)?

You may be entitled to a part refund if the job wasn't done properly. If all of the nerve tissue was not removed from the canal then it is possible that this is what is causing problems now. A simple x-ray would show this up. I think this is why alot of dentists are now sending their patients to endodontists who have more sophisticated technology which gives a more reliable outcome. But I suppose some treatments sometimes just don't 'take' and the tooth needs to be redone (if that is possible). Ask the specialist if all the tissue was removed. When I had a root canal he also placed a chemical, for 10 minutes, in the canal after clearing it out; the purpose of this was to remove even the most minute quantity of tissue which maybe he didn't get. Perhaps you should choose to go to an independent endodontist who has no affiliations with your dentist.

A simple x-ray would show this up

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sadly untrue.

I think this is why alot of dentists are now sending their patients to endodontists who have more sophisticated technology which gives a more reliable outcome.

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Fair point.

When I had a root canal he also placed a chemical, for 10 minutes, in the canal after clearing it out; the purpose of this was to remove even the most minute quantity of tissue which maybe he didn't get

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nobody gets everything out and 10mins most definitely insufficient.
In cases that fail the patient gets a full refund......period.

Oh, I didn't realise that the x-ray wouldn't show up any tissue left behind. He showed me the x-rays and they looked really well filled. How long should the chemical or whatever it is be left in the canal? I find the whole process really interesting - and I never thought I would say that about dentistry (especially when it is happening in my mouth)!

min 30mins but in all likelihood the liquid was in the canals whilst your dentist was shaping the canals etc.

So Markowitzman, is it worth asking for an independent endontist's advice over the one my dentist has referred me onto?

by all means look for a second opinion.

Just thought that it was worth an update. My own dentist is giving me a full refund for the original root canal cost, so it pays to ask. Endodontist is going to charge twice the cost of the original bill, but I guess it will be worth the hassle. Thanks for the advice.

This is the same problem that i am having.My root canal has failed but i got it 5 years ago. I went to a dentist 2 years ago and she said it failed and sent to a profesional. The professional said i could get the root canal done again ir get a fake tooth. The fake tooth he said would cost €5000 for the operation. I went to a dentist in athlone recently and he said he would charge me €3500.

Could i get my money back for the root canal that failed so long ago.That would would brillant cause it would go to the cost of my operation.

The dentist said that who ever did the operation did the root canal a 1mm too short and now there is bacteria in my tooth.

I think it is destiny i found this post.

thanks for any help.

I would say that if you had 5 years of pain free experience and had no need to complain until now then it hardly 'failed' as such...

agree