Any dentists around? Need advice!

[overweightcat]

Sorry posting on AIBU for traffic hoping there's some dentist on here!

Was FaceTiming my parents today and my DM was having some dinner, she bit down on some chicken/bone bit I assume and her tooth cracked and a big piece broke off. She's horrified and no dentists that we googled are open or taking appts.

Half of her tooth broke off vertically rather than horizontally at the front having a quick google it looks like it's her first premolar, her gum is now exposed too, she's not in pain but can definitely feel it's not there and she's very conscious and upset about it.

What are the options of fixing it and what can be done now in the current lockdown?
Is it an urgent situation since her gum is partially exposed?

I don't know if it's relevant but she's not elderly barely 50s.
Can it be fixed/covered up? You can see it if she smiles so she's really upset.

[LivingThatLockdownLife]

Great question. Half of my tooth cracked off at the start of lockdown and it's getting worse.

I rang 111 just now and they said contact your normal dentist on Tuesday. Last time I did that they are not offering any treatment. A Google shows dentists are currently not permitted to do basic care.

It sounds like extraction is the only "care" on offer. Unless you count antibiotics and painkillers.

Even worse is there seems not to be a plan to bring dental care back.

You can still buy temporary repair kits. I've just ordered another off Ebay. I've used up all of the one I got in March.

What a joke it all is.

Still. I guess it's better to have a tooth out than end up with an abscess or sepsis or whatever?

[Candyapple49]

The same happened to me before lockdown , so I hope I can reassure . If there is no pain then the nerve isn’t exposed and it can be filled up and a crown put over . I was expecting that the dentist would want to fill it as a matter of urgency , but he said it was fine until my crown was ready so ineffective hopefully your mum has time .
Mine want visible but you can buy a putty in Boots to build it up x

[Likethebattle]

I broke a massive piece of tooth if and it turned out I had dr at hidden by a filling so she does need to get it checked I’d say in case her tooth is damaged and weak. It’s terrible that dental care can not be completed, I understand the reasoning but it’s going to lead to a lot of people having trouble later. I hope your dm is ok!

[Weedsnseeds1]

There is a temporary repair kit, called Toofypegs, which is the only effective one I have found.
It contains a dental cement, so she can glue back the broken piece if she has it, or build up the corner of the tooth using the temporary filling material also included.
Clean the area scrupulously first ( brushing, mouthwash / salt water) then dry using cotton wool or tissue.
Chipped teeth / lost fillings always feel huge in your mouth, so if using the temporary filling, use a small amount, not the whole stick as it sets FAST and she won't be able to close her bite if she uses too much!
Not a dentist, but a dentist's daughter, so some knowledge.

[Weedsnseeds1]

Obviously, this is a temporary measure and dental treatment should be obtained as soon as practicable, but having used it myself previously, the filling had to be drilled out, so it's fairly solid!

[Saturns]

The same thing has happened to me. No dentists open. NHS 111 say I need to see a dentist within 24 hours but due to covid it's not possible. So I, like many others, are just waiting on limbo.