I have a hole in my tooth the size of a pea and an abscess in my gum, and I can't afford to go to the dentist.

[TheMolarBear]

I know I'm going to need a root canal treatment or (more likely) an extraction.
I've been unemployed since September but haven't been on JSA as my DH has been helping me, and I have no money of my own. Even if I had gone on JSA it would have been contributions based, so I wouldn't have qualified for free NHS treatment.
I just started a new job this week but I don't expect to be paid until the end of January, and my DH can't afford to pay for me as even on the NHS it runs into hundreds of pounds.
The free emergency dental clinics at Kings College Hospital and Guys Hospital don't operate over the Christmas holidays (as they are run by students) and even if they did I'd have to take at least one day off for them which I can't really do a week into a new job.
Am I literally going to have to leave it until it bloody rots and falls out? It's not especially painful at the moment but it is bleeding.

Op, if you can try and get to kings first thing in the morning and you will be seen.
If that's not possible call nhs direct or present yourself to the a&e department in the evening, as they have an emergency dentist onsite. I've used them before for my ds.

Please don't leave it as it will only get worse.

It’s £21.70 for an extraction with the emergency dentist. I had one a couple of months ago. The dentist was fantastic.

I’m not saying not to pay it - just buying a bit of time, by the Time she gets the invoice she will be able to pay it better than potential septis etc.
There’s no other option for her is there unfortunately and it needs to be sorted.
She could also be upfront and explain her financial situation but maybe she would feel embarrassed to do this and so would put her off seeking much needed treatment.
And no I have never ‘forgot’ my purse when shopping, (or visiting the dentist) but wouldn’t judge anyone that genuinely needed to do so.

I'm in London. I've used King's College Dental Institute before for free treatment (another RCT & crown) but you have to get there at 7 am and if they accept you for ongoing treatment you have to go every other week for a whole afternoon. Not a chance I can do that with a new job.
I have literally no upfront money, and neither does DH.

Is it leaking pus? Has your face started to swell?

You really don't want it getting into your bloodstream. I'm terrified of the dentist, refused to go when I had an abscess and ended up in hospital with sepsis.
I was very very poorly, being pumped with strong antibiotics around the clock. My tooth nearly cost me my life.

Emergency treatment is £20, can you not borrow that from someone and let them yank the tooth out?
I really wouldn't play around with an abscess, it's so dangerous.

www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/help-with-health-costs/get-help-with-dental-costs/

Also info here on how to find emergency treatment. As someone has already posted the cost should be £21.60.

Plus, it's the Christmas holidays so I'm not sure the KCH clinic is even open

If you can afford £21.70, ring up a local nhs practice, explain the situation. Chances are the tooth will be too infected to take out or start root treatment on in the first appointment. Initial nhs assessment appointment is £21.60, they can give you a prescription included in that. That can put you on for a few weeks till you can afford the next £35 to either have it extracted or start root treatment. It may need a crown - but not until it’s settled. And that may be months anyway. Ring and explain your situation.

What area are you in?

It's not leaky or painful, I only noticed it this evening, feels like it popped up out of nowhere!

Do you not have any family or friends that you can borrow money from? Although if you're definite that you can't take any time for treatment then I guess it doesn't matter about the money.

Look at it this way. If it really is that bad then you will quite possibly end up in hospital which means more time off work

Posters are suggesting every possible avenue. You won't go to the hospital and can't pay for emergency treatment - there is no other options unfortunately.

This isn't something you can treat at home.

If the pain becomes unbearable or you start showing signs of infection/sepsis then go to A&E.

Should say 'there are no other options'

You need antibiotics. Go to GP/walk-in clinic and get them. Not sure what anyone can suggest beyond what has already been said. You say you cannot go to the dentist, but obviously if you don't go, you run the risk of it worsening. If you choose to wait for the tooth to fall out, that's up to you, but it's obviously a risk.

Have you asked about a weeks advance on wages? We used to give this out sometimes to new workers to help then in their first months transition. Your employer may well agree if you explain what it's for.

Has you dh got twenty quid he can give you?

Maybe google teeth remineralisation?

A family member ended up with sepsis from ignoring an abscess as didn’t like dentists, heart stopped twice iirc.

Sorry I don’t have any helpful advice though.

Hello everyone

We've had a number of reports from people concerned about this thread so, as we usually do in these circs, we're putting our heads round the door with some important reminders.

Right now we can't see any evidence to indicate that the OP isn't above board – if we did, we'd remove the thread straight away. But the truth is that, sadly, we at MNHQ can't know with 100% certainty that any poster is genuine, no matter who they are or how long they have been here. As frustrating as it is, we're not able to vouch for anyone here.

So we always ask everyone to remember that not everyone on the internet is who they say they are – and remind folk not to give more to another poster, either financially (in cash or gifts) or emotionally (in time or care and support) than they'd be prepared to lose if things went wrong.

Sorry to hijack your thread briefly there, OP – we really hope you get it all sorted soon.

The thing is the job I've started is on shaky ground. At the moment I'm sort of temping there (I started last week) my contract won't start til January and hasn't even been sorted yet. If I suddenly have to take a load of time off (especially at short notice) they might decide not to employ me at all. This is the first sniff of a job I've had in nearly 3 months!
My only hope is to find somewhere open between this Saturday and the 7th Jan, although even if I manage that I have no way of paying for it.

You cannot leave it. Beg borrow or steal it beeds seeing to absesses are very dangerous. Ask about payment plans or borrow off someone. It needs seeing to.

I’m not sure what other suggestions you’re looking for in addition to the many already offered.
Phone your dentist.
Explain the situation and see what they say. Go from there.
My sister ignored a situation like yours, ended up in hospital having tooth/abcess removed under a GA.

HAPPY TO SUPPLY A PHOTO OF MY TOOTH TO ANYONE WHO THINKS I'M A TROLL.

OP please seek medical advice asap. An abscess can become sepsis and there is no way a dentist would fill a tooth with such a big hole.
It will be £55 for an extraction, I know it's a lot if you have no money, but not a huge amount to ask to borrow.
I would lend it you if you were friend or family.