Dental costs -- Root canal treatment - Page 4

poppy07 · #61 20.03.2011, 13:06

Hi Captain Greybeard

Just to say: great that you did clarify some important points re root canal treatment which I'm sure was much appreciated all round.
I was already aware of much of what you said but it needed someone to explain it to the forum in the way you did - let's have more of that, especially when it is obvious that so many people are troubled and confused about a certain issue.
Cheers
Poppy
P.S. The Tibetan dog looks cute in your photo !

	Quote:	Captain Greybeard
	I think it's time to make a few things clear. A root canal is not a treatment. It is a normal anatomical feature of every tooth. A tooth has one or several root canals. Incisors and canines normally have only one root canal. Premolars have one or two root canals. Molars can have up to four, rarely even more. What you folks talk about is not a root canal but a root canal treatment. Asking, "How much does a root canal treatment cost?" is about the same as asking, "How much does a car cost?" Are you talking about a Fiat Uno or a Rolls Royce? A simple, straight-forward treatment of a one-canal tooth (1 session, pulp was dead anyway, so no anesthetics needed, no deep infection with pretty resistant bacteria) may be as cheap as CHF 160.00 without the examination, X-rays, filling etc. (Swiss dental tariff). A simple glass-ionomer cement filling will cost around CHF 85.00. The entire procedure may cost 275.00 incl. examination and said filling, an x-ray will add some 18 francs. On the other hand, a complicated root canal treatment of a four-canal tooth with a heavy and very stubborn infection of the deeper parts, needing, say, five sessions, two of them with anesthetics, several x-rays to determine the length of the canals etc., four temporary fillings, but still without the final filling or whatever, may easily set you back CHF 1350.00 or so, in very difficult cases even up to 1700.00, and that without any additional work like screw posts in three canals, core build-up plus crown, which will be somewhere in the 2k range or above, depending on many, many details. So you see, it's totally useless if you ask, "I had a root canal [!], it cost me 750, did I get ripped off?" One of the early posters, years back, suggested to have your teethies examined in Switzerland and then go to Germany with the result. Yeah, sure. First of all, you'll never ever find two dentists, no matter where on this globe, who will find the same things in your mouth. Please don't expect any German dentist to do what the Swiss guy suggested. And then, please know that, if everybody in Switzerland followed that advice, in just a few years you'd have a hard time finding a dentist in Switzerland to take care of your acute tooth troubles. You'd find that practically all dental practices in Switzerland have gone out of business. The reason is very simple: Basic measures such as examination, x-rays, simple fillings, etc., are way too cheap to keep a dentist afloat. The reason why they are so cheap is a political matter. It is meant to make sure that even people who do not know how it feels to drive a Mercedes can afford basic dental care. The dentist has to do other, more profitable work too. A full-ceramic crown is overpaid, so to speak, because it is not a medical necessity but an object of luxury. The difference pays many examinations, x-rays etc.. It's a matter of social thinking and solidarity. Ok, now you may say that in other nations, the same fundamental social objective has been realized in a completely different manner, for instance by using tax money or insurance premiums to pay the dentist. Sounds nice. But honestly, do you like to pay the dental treatment of those who do not brush their teeth?

Captain Greybeard · #62 21.03.2011, 11:11

	Quote:	poppy07
	Hi Captain Greybeard Just to say: great that you did clarify some important points re root canal treatment which I'm sure was much appreciated all round. I was already aware of much of what you said but it needed someone to explain it to the forum in the way you did - let's have more of that, especially when it is obvious that so many people are troubled and confused about a certain issue. Cheers Poppy P.S. The Tibetan dog looks cute in your photo !

Poppy, thank you very much.

Ok, now I'm going off topic, but Dirty Harry is an Old English Sheepdog, which means he was "Old" already as a puppy. The gander was Jacob. He died last year. Harry and Jacob were close friends. Jacob was allowed to peck around in Harry's mouth, and they often wrestled like pros, just for fun. Sometimes it looked like they were going to kill each other, but in many years nothing bad ever happened.

ecb · #63 23.09.2011, 14:39

Captain Greybeard

Having just returned from the first of what I am told will be 3 visits for root canal treatment (a molar), and feeling rather tender (not just in the mouth .. but also about how much its going to cost ..) I was very interested to read your post on this thread.

I knew I was in for quite a bill, but after your informative post, I at least understand what the treatment is all about.

Thanks

angelbutler · #64 05.10.2011, 11:03

Travel to Germany and do it there...costs are cut by a third...and work is just as good. I had a root canal, and it was more then 3 visits...had to do some after procedure visits as well, not sure maybe I had more problems..anyways, costs here are craaaazzzy.

nnnn7674 · #65 20.11.2011, 18:55

Hi,

well the price depends what tooth it is and as well how much canals the tooth have! If it is more at the front then it could cost approx. 500 CHF with a permanent filling to close the hole after rootcanal-treatment. But a totth more back, like molars, are more expensive to treat and could cost up to 1500 CHF depending on how much from toth has to be build up after the root canal treatment.

circe · #66 20.11.2011, 19:46

	Quote:	nnnn7674
	Hi, well the price depends what tooth it is and as well how much canals the tooth have! If it is more at the front then it could cost approx. 500 CHF with a permanent filling to close the hole after rootcanal-treatment. But a totth more back, like molars, are more expensive to treat and could cost up to 1500 CHF depending on how much from toth has to be build up after the root canal treatment.

I can unfortunately confirm this

I've had two of three visits for a root canal of a back molar. 4 roots in total, I'm already up to 1250CHF. However I can say the Swiss dentists are professional, friendly and very attentive to patient comfort.

Captain Greybeard · #67 20.11.2011, 20:17

	Quote:	nnnn7674
	Hi, well the price depends what tooth it is and as well how much canals the tooth have! If it is more at the front then it could cost approx. 500 CHF with a permanent filling to close the hole after rootcanal-treatment. But a totth more back, like molars, are more expensive to treat and could cost up to 1500 CHF depending on how much from toth has to be build up after the root canal treatment.

Wasn't this covered in detail already?

Hint for Newbies: First read, then post, and even that only if necessary. Otherwise you'll attract the ire and malice of the self-anointed guardians of forum etiquette.

Besides that, of course you're right.

randolph · #68 04.12.2011, 17:04

	Quote:	telandy
	Recently I has some work done on some decay that was under some existing fillings. Basically two one hour sessions cost CHF1000, with a root canal I think that you would get of lightly if it was CHF500, more in the direction of CHF1000. It also depends upon how easy the roots are to fill, which they willn't know until they start the proceedure. Germany or overseas would be your best bet. See the BBC report http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/help/3681938.stm

I am presently not living in CH, root canal tretments are a very dedious job, endo.specialists have the needed training and experience..... even here in North America rootcanals start at 1200 Dollar plus the post and crown