Where To Have A Dental Root Canal?

[Guest siamjourney]

My friend needs a root canal which is always fun! CM Ram can treat her quickly but it's a bit expensive. She can go to a government hospital for a better price but there is a long wait. A clinic called Happy Teeth (seriously) was recommended today in Nong Hoy by Suan Dok Hospital. Another friend recommended Dentaland which provides Nitrous Oxide which some places don't and could make the procedure slightly more tolerable.

Can anyone who has dealt with this recently offer any suggestions?

Thanks.

[CMX]

At the top of our Chiang Mai Forum, there is a pinned topic regarding medical matters including dentistry. This is a report of a survey of members very recently.

Also, once you've found some clinics of interest (or dental doctors), you can use our search function to find exactly what members have said about procedures, including root canals, as they relate to the facility or dentist.

Prices are sometimes discussed as well as the experience. G'luck, and better thee than me.

Edited December 14, 2011 by CMX

[msg362]

I had root canal treatment at Chiang Mai Dental Clinic-on the corner of canal road and the road leading from suan dok hospital( Suthep road) . No pain at all! local injection, lots of asking' does it hurt? to which I replied 'no' The dentists come from the dental school. The owner- Dr Thongard is the Dean I believe. Cheaper too than Grace- the most well known

highly recommended

The receptionists grasp of English leaves a little to be desired, but don't let that put you off, all the dentists speak excellent English

Phone 053 277405

8/1 Moo 10 Suthep road.

[Roamin47]

Had a double-header root canal(s) yesterday at Grace. Pricey, yes -- 7000ThB each -- but no pain during or after. Hearty recomnendations. (PS: they have nitrous, but it is an additional 1500 ThB.)

Edited December 15, 2011 by Roamin47

[kjhbigv]

Exactly the same thing discussed here recently.....

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/516018-dentist-needed/

[uptheos]

After reading a lot of threads and suggestions from people who I think are credible, I decided to make an appointment to see Dr. Joy at Elite Smile. The problem being a very painful lower left 2nd molar with complications. Let me tell you that as someone with a fear of dentists (anyone remember the school dentist in UK circa 50's?), the decision wasn't an easy one to make. I am now post second visit, each visit being over one and half hours. I now have to wait one month to have a post and then a crown. I told Dr. Joy right at the initial consultation that I want her to use the strongest anaesthetic she can and she made a note of everything and gave me a price. That's all I need to say, but I do want to say this as well.

No I didn't fall asleep during treatment and I don't believe those who say they do

I felt a lot of drilling, digging etc.

BUT

At no time during either session did I feel the slightest twinge of pain (although I was expecting it).

I know nothing about what Dr. Joy did or how detailed it was, I know that I kept getting up and having xrays to make sure of something.

No BS, no fancy stories, if you want the cost ask me and I'll post it.

I cannot speak highly enough of the treatment I have had so far.

Dr. Joy is a master of her craft, but only does root canals and crowns.

[hellodolly]

After reading a lot of threads and suggestions from people who I think are credible, I decided to make an appointment to see Dr. Joy at Elite Smile. The problem being a very painful lower left 2nd molar with complications. Let me tell you that as someone with a fear of dentists (anyone remember the school dentist in UK circa 50's?), the decision wasn't an easy one to make. I am now post second visit, each visit being over one and half hours. I now have to wait one month to have a post and then a crown. I told Dr. Joy right at the initial consultation that I want her to use the strongest anaesthetic she can and she made a note of everything and gave me a price. That's all I need to say, but I do want to say this as well.

No I didn't fall asleep during treatment and I don't believe those who say they do

I felt a lot of drilling, digging etc.

BUT

At no time during either session did I feel the slightest twinge of pain (although I was expecting it).

I know nothing about what Dr. Joy did or how detailed it was, I know that I kept getting up and having xrays to make sure of something.

No BS, no fancy stories, if you want the cost ask me and I'll post it.

I cannot speak highly enough of the treatment I have had so far.

Dr. Joy is a master of her craft, but only does root canals and crowns.

Well I agree with you on master of her craft.

But I will add she cleans my teeth 600 baht and has giving me a filling.

She is honest when I had a new cap she gave me the price for the different posts before hand. She has told me that I am going to loose a filling in the near future and she does not know if she can replace it with any assurance that a filling that size will hold. She dosen't push it just for alerts me to the possibility.

[uptheos]

After reading a lot of threads and suggestions from people who I think are credible, I decided to make an appointment to see Dr. Joy at Elite Smile. The problem being a very painful lower left 2nd molar with complications. Let me tell you that as someone with a fear of dentists (anyone remember the school dentist in UK circa 50's?), the decision wasn't an easy one to make. I am now post second visit, each visit being over one and half hours. I now have to wait one month to have a post and then a crown. I told Dr. Joy right at the initial consultation that I want her to use the strongest anaesthetic she can and she made a note of everything and gave me a price. That's all I need to say, but I do want to say this as well.

No I didn't fall asleep during treatment and I don't believe those who say they do

I felt a lot of drilling, digging etc.

BUT

At no time during either session did I feel the slightest twinge of pain (although I was expecting it).

I know nothing about what Dr. Joy did or how detailed it was, I know that I kept getting up and having xrays to make sure of something.

No BS, no fancy stories, if you want the cost ask me and I'll post it.

I cannot speak highly enough of the treatment I have had so far.

Dr. Joy is a master of her craft, but only does root canals and crowns.

Well I agree with you on master of her craft.

But I will add she cleans my teeth 600 baht and has giving me a filling.

She is honest when I had a new cap she gave me the price for the different posts before hand. She has told me that I am going to loose a filling in the near future and she does not know if she can replace it with any assurance that a filling that size will hold. She dosen't push it just for alerts me to the possibility.

Yes she will do a filling as obviously she doesn't have constant root canals, which is her speciality and preference.

She will also do a normal clean, but she won't do deep cleaning.

[mesquite]

I told Dr. Joy right at the initial consultation that I want her to use the strongest anaesthetic she can

Yes, this is the only way to go. Let them know.

Or, as I always put it, and have posted before, "Determine how much anesthetic it will take to kill me, then back it off a just little bit."

[rene123]

Grace clinic did an excellent job for me and my friends. They were very professional and thorough.

[elektrified]

Thanks for that uptheos. I trust your recommendation. I'll know where to go next. The pain issue is a real problem here. Two of the most painful dental procedures I've had in my lifetime were right here in C.M. The last guy I went to assured me at the initial appointment that he was prepared for the procedure. But on the day of the procedure after I experienced unbelievable pain, he informed me that he only stocked one anesthetic which was not very strong and went on to tell me that most Thais don't even use anesthetic for routine dental work except for extractions. (I had a dentist in Europe tell me something similar, but at least she stocked a number of different anesthetics and when I demanded them, she provided them).

[cloudhopper]

FYI local anesthetic agents do not vary by ability to achieve profound anesthesia. Different types are used due to allergies or have epinephrine to control bleeding or achieve anesthesia for a longer time period. Most anesthetic failures are due to improper administration.

[circusman]

Wonder where people get the idea that a root canal is painful or at least frightening. I have had at least 4 in my lifetime and after the novacaine injection there is NO pain. All they are doing is scraping out the nerve)s) in that tooth. Never again will you have pain from that tooth. I would question anyone charging more than 5 or 6 thousand baht per tooth. Had one 2 years ago for 4,000.

[cloudhopper]

Wonder where people get the idea that a root canal is painful or at least frightening. I have had at least 4 in my lifetime and after the novacaine injection there is NO pain. All they are doing is scraping out the nerve)s) in that tooth. Never again will you have pain from that tooth. I would question anyone charging more than 5 or 6 thousand baht per tooth. Had one 2 years ago for 4,000.

I wonder why you think that other people must have the same experiences and outcomes you had. Your statement that no pain will ever be experienced after the treatment is totally false, as is your assumption that all teeth are equally complex and costly to treat.

[hellodolly]

Wonder where people get the idea that a root canal is painful or at least frightening. I have had at least 4 in my lifetime and after the Novocaine injection there is NO pain. All they are doing is scraping out the nerve)s) in that tooth. Never again will you have pain from that tooth. I would question anyone charging more than 5 or 6 thousand baht per tooth. Had one 2 years ago for 4,000.

I wonder why you think that other people must have the same experiences and outcomes you had. Your statement that no pain will ever be experienced after the treatment is totally false, as is your assumption that all teeth are equally complex and costly to treat.

Agreed We all have different pain levels and fears. I used to sleep while they were doing fillings. In those days they put a wire frame with rubber stretched across it so your mouth just stayed open. The only pain I ever experienced was under Novocaine and he drilled right into the nerve to see if it was alive it was very much alive.

[elektrified]

Novocaine has not been used in many years now.

[Mestizo]

Grace clinic did an excellent job for me and my friends. They were very professional and thorough.

I am not sure why so many people recommend Grace.. I've gone there about 4 times. Each time it was a horrible, horrible experience. The dentists were incredibly rough and painful.

I've also tried Elite Smile. The one girl everybody talks about is really pretty good. However, the junior level dentists are also as bad as Grace. While getting a couple cavities filled, I ended up cutting the procedure short. I let her complete the first one and said no more.

So, after 5 years, I'm still looking for a Chiang Mai dentist that doesn't beat my teeth and mouth up like a shade tree car mechanic swapping engines on a '52 Ford.

-Mestizo

-Mestizo

[jacktrip]

Grace clinic did an excellent job for me and my friends. They were very professional and thorough.

I am not sure why so many people recommend Grace.. I've gone there about 4 times. Each time it was a horrible, horrible experience. The dentists were incredibly rough and painful.

I've also tried Elite Smile. The one girl everybody talks about is really pretty good. However, the junior level dentists are also as bad as Grace. While getting a couple cavities filled, I ended up cutting the procedure short. I let her complete the first one and said no more.

So, after 5 years, I'm still looking for a Chiang Mai dentist that doesn't beat my teeth and mouth up like a shade tree car mechanic swapping engines on a '52 Ford.

-Mestizo

i dont recommend grace. my dentist there was singing to background music during a procedure. strange focus on sunglasses for the light, lip balm and other such spa-like things which are overkill and strange in a dental environment imho.

also, strangely no xrays, even on my first visit. guess they thought i was just passing through. also, a request for my passport before a cleaning procedure. needed to see if my visa was valid i guess.

Edited December 17, 2012 by jacktrip

[circusman]

Wonder where people get the idea that a root canal is painful or at least frightening. I have had at least 4 in my lifetime and after the novacaine injection there is NO pain. All they are doing is scraping out the nerve)s) in that tooth. Never again will you have pain from that tooth. I would question anyone charging more than 5 or 6 thousand baht per tooth. Had one 2 years ago for 4,000.

I wonder why you think that other people must have the same experiences and outcomes you had. Your statement that no pain will ever be experienced after the treatment is totally false, as is your assumption that all teeth are equally complex and costly to treat.

Read carefully please. After the procedure and the next day there will be NO pain forever from that tooth. They are killing the nerve. So nothing there to give pain. I didn't say immediately after the procedure.

[uptheos]

I've also tried Elite Smile. The one girl everybody talks about is really pretty good. However, the junior level dentists are also as bad as Grace. While getting a couple cavities filled, I ended up cutting the procedure short. I let her complete the first one and said no more.

My policy is to search out a dentist for a particular procedure, the same as I would a doctor and once I feel reasonably confident in making a decision I will go wherever they practice. I have read (and spoke) enough about Dr. Joy's root canal work that I felt comfortable giving her a try and as I said, I think she was very good for me. I don't know about other dentist's there and not sure if I would go there for other work, I haven't researched much about them, although Dr. Benjaporn has been recommended for deep cleaning http://www.elitesmilecm.com/dentist/dentist_benjaporn.html. Dr Jarunee at Empress is excellent for deep cleaning but I wouldn't let her male colleague that she recommended near my teeth again. So as they say, horses for courses and I know sometimes in a dire emergency the options are limited.

[Robbogeordie]

Before anyone gets a root canal done inform yourself of the dangers of this procedure to your health and immune system.

If you have already had the root canal procedure then consider getting the dead tooth/teeth removed. It is important to ensure that the extraction procedure includes removal of the periodonatal ligament and infected bone underneath the tooth.

The dangers of root canals have been extensively researched by Dr Weston Price,Hal Huggins,George Meinig amongst others and linked to degenerative autoimmune illnesses.

http://www.westonapr...t-canal-dangers

[circusman]

Before anyone gets a root canal done inform yourself of the dangers of this procedure to your health and immune system.

If you have already had the root canal procedure then consider getting the dead tooth/teeth removed. It is important to ensure that the extraction procedure includes removal of the periodonatal ligament and infected bone underneath the tooth.

The dangers of root canals have been extensively researched by Dr Weston Price,Hal Huggins,George Meinig amongst others and linked to degenerative autoimmune illnesses.

http://www.westonapr...t-canal-dangers

Not following your reasoning for getting teeth pulled after root canal. Why get the root canal then? If I had all my teeth that have undergone root canal I would need false teeth as many original would be gone. Please explain.

[elektrified]

FYI local anesthetic agents do not vary by ability to achieve profound anesthesia. Different types are used due to allergies or have epinephrine to control bleeding or achieve anesthesia for a longer time period. Most anesthetic failures are due to improper administration.

True but a skilled dental surgeon will know which ones to mix together for the situation at hand and for the specific patient's needs.

"Most anesthetic failures are due to improper administration." So true. However I felt that the dentist I went to a couple of months ago knew what he was doing in terms of administering the anesthesia. He had a very steady hand, was confident, and had about 10 years experience. He even showed me the diagram of the nerve he was injecting and how it branched out. I blame the (lack of) anesthetics available. He should have more in stock. He made no offer to get more and have me come back. Therefore I would not return again in the future even though I felt he was competent.

I went once! to the young guy at Empress that uptheos mentioned. He had a very shaky hand and I don't think he hit the nerve at all in about 4 injections. He seemed a little unhappy with me from the onset that I demanded the injections. He too, gave me the line that most Thais don't use anesthetics to replace fillings.

I hate dental work but it has to be done. If I'm paying for the work, I want to feel absolutely no pain at all. I don't care what people in certain countries customarily do. I don't know why dentists feel the need to tell the patient that. My dentist in Europe would always say "You are sure you want another injection? It's Euros 10 per injection."

Edited December 18, 2012 by elektrified

[cloudhopper]

Wonder where people get the idea that a root canal is painful or at least frightening. I have had at least 4 in my lifetime and after the novacaine injection there is NO pain. All they are doing is scraping out the nerve)s) in that tooth. Never again will you have pain from that tooth. I would question anyone charging more than 5 or 6 thousand baht per tooth. Had one 2 years ago for 4,000.

I wonder why you think that other people must have the same experiences and outcomes you had. Your statement that no pain will ever be experienced after the treatment is totally false, as is your assumption that all teeth are equally complex and costly to treat.

Read carefully please. After the procedure and the next day there will be NO pain forever from that tooth. They are killing the nerve. So nothing there to give pain. I didn't say immediately after the procedure.

I didn't say immediately after either. The anatomy of a root canal is very complex, branching like a river delta near the apex and making it difficult in many cases to completely remove the nerve or (more likely) the dead and infected remnants, leading to chronic inflammation and pain from the ligament sheathing the root. This can often be treated successfully by surgically removing the root tip but is a risky proceedure on lower back teeth due to proximity of the main nerve branch. Also a vertical fracture of the root is an occasional and untreatable complication.

[cloudhopper]

Before anyone gets a root canal done inform yourself of the dangers of this procedure to your health and immune system.

If you have already had the root canal procedure then consider getting the dead tooth/teeth removed. It is important to ensure that the extraction procedure includes removal of the periodonatal ligament and infected bone underneath the tooth.

The dangers of root canals have been extensively researched by Dr Weston Price,Hal Huggins,George Meinig amongst others and linked to degenerative autoimmune illnesses.

http://www.westonapr...t-canal-dangers

Utter rubbish.

[uptheos]

I hate dental work but it has to be done. If I'm paying for the work, I want to feel absolutely no pain at all. I don't care what people in certain countries customarily do.

Can't disagree with that.

[uptheos]

Slightly off topic.

Also had some deep cleaning done by Dr Benjaporn at Elite Smile.

She's pretty good, though I would say Dr. Jarunee is better (if not rushing).

The one thing I liked about Dr Benjaporn is that she will be guided by you, regarding anasthaesia. I had two very sensitive areas and there was no problem stopping and giving a little more juice.

[Foxman888]

Had one done today at Siree Dentist on Chang Mai-Lamphun Road, directly opposite Antique House Coffee, its quite small so easily missed.

4500 baht for the root canal plus crown (which i am going back to have done next week).

Once he started cleaning the root it was painful, so he injected inside which was even more painful, but once he did that i didn't feel a thing.

He speaks good english, it was my first root canal so cannot compare to anyone else.

I was a big brave boy but didn't get a lollipop

[ThaiHerbs]

I have an appointment in a couple hours at Elite Smile for a root canal. There is some infection plus I have a history of freezing not always taking and the need of extra injections. Root Canals are a controversial topic (not easy) and must be done right. I would like to get rid of the infection first then do the root canal. Reseach I have done on this indicates that anti-biotics do not always work on infected teeth/nerves so I was going to have a discussion with the dentist about a 2 stage process. 1st to do what he has to to get rid of the infection, then a 2nd appointment to finish the job. I do not mind paying more as this is a tricky job requiring a real professional.

I thought I would do some research on the guy doing my root canal, disappointed that he is not listed on their website http://elitesmilecm.com/dentist.html so I googed him (Attapon Saelo) and found out he is a student at CMU "Studying Master Degree in Endodontology CMU" https://www.facebook.com/attapon.saelo which answers the question as to why his appointments do not start until 4PM - he is in school!!!

Dr. Joy has been mentioned several times by people here as an excellent pro at root canals. Anyone know where she is working now?

I am not going to let a student work on an infected molar for a root canal, just not happening. I just called in and cancelled and told them why, now I have to look around.

Other recommended root canal pros would be appreciated, price is not an issue.

Thanks!

Doug

[ThaiHerbs]

UPDATE:

Elite Smile called me back and offered me Dr. Joy as my dentist for the root canal? Apparently she only works Sunday all day and Thursday evenings. I thanked them and due to the high regard many on TV have for Dr. Joy I happily booked for 1PM tomorrow (Sunday). I apologized for my concern and they seemed not disturbed at all (friendly) but did mention that Attapon Saelo is not just a student, he is an experienced dentist but is taking more courses.

Doug