Would you go to emergency dental hospital for this?

[OpheIiaBaIIs]

Opinions welcome (particularly from dentists/those in the know).

My tooth broke a couple of months ago (top left molar, a section of the tooth around an old amalgam filling has broken off). I'm usually seen by the students at our local hospital so there's always quite a wait to be seen, no problem as no pain. Had an appointment two weeks ago, they were going to fill it for me last week but the student called in sick and now I can't be seen until after Christmas.

Over the weekend the bloody thing has flared up something bonkers. The hole in the tooth is filled with a plug of solid pus every morning (sorry, gross) and it bleeds when I clean/interdental brush it to get rid of the pus. It stinks and it hurts like mad.

The dental hospital opens at 8am for emergencies - would this count, do you think? Obviously it can't wait until after Christmas. Ideally I'd just like them to whip it out as it's an old and knackered tooth that's about 90% filling anyway. So a quick job I should think, if they'll do it. If I request it, do you think they would? I have trigeminal neuralgia so the less faffing about in there, the better.

I've called a couple of local 'proper' dentists and none of them have any appointments until next week at the earliest, and anyway I'm registered at the hospital so probably couldn't go anywhere else. If I could afford it, which I can't really.

Sorry if I'm not making a lot of sense. Absolute agony over here 😢

They can only say no. I would give it a try for sure!

Headache and toothache are two things that I just can't cope with

As previous poster says worst they can do is say no

Absolutely. It sounds like an infection - that really shouldn't be left.

They won't take it out if it's infected you will need a course of antibiotics first

And if there is so little left of the tooth it’s likely to have to be removed anyway.

Thanks all.

@Floofffs tell me about it! It's daft but I feel panicky and horrible when I get either (I have migraines as well as the TN so my whole head area is often a festival of agony).

@foamrolling it's definitely infected - I think it's inside the tooth as opposed to the gum. It's annoying because if I'd been seen last week it wouldn't have got to this, most likely. Not that sickness is anyone's fault of course! I just hope they'll be able to take it out rather than drag on for another week with antibiotics and no booze

6.45am bus to town it is then!

After the infection has cleared up

@Jodie77 NHS site on dental abscesses says they don't prescribed antibiotics for abscesses - I thought this was odd as I've had them in the past before treatment, I wonder if it's changed? I hope so and they can just take it out straight away!

If you are keen to get the tooth out. Emergency dentist will be happy to oblige. That is their bread and butter and exactly what they are there for. They will ideally extract it without any need for antibiotics. It sounds like the infection is draining out the middle of the tooth so that is good. Sometimes it can be hard for local anesthetic to work if there is a big build up of infection round the tooth so in that situation they may prescribe abs first but it does not sound like that's the case with your tooth.

Christ yes! Just go, check in, take a book and be prepared for a long wait. good luck,OP.

@OpheIiaBaIIs

I'm not sure, but when I went with a friend about a year ago they were given a prescription for antibiotics told to take them and regular saline rinse and come back when the infection had settled down to have the tooth taken out.

Quick update to say I got to the hospital for 7.30am and they were indeed only too happy to remove the tooth. It was infected - I know not just because they told me, but also because they gave me the tooth and the tips of the roots are grim! Back home now, very sore and bloody, waiting for cocodamol to kick in. No idea what to eat later that's not hot, not cold, not chewy and not spicy!

Thanks again all

Fantastic! Great news OP, toothache is the worst.

Anyone else want to see a picture of these dead tooth roots? sees self out

I'd like to see a pic of the dead tooth roots! The relief when a bad tooth is removed is wonderful. Glad you got it sorted.

If you really want to see a pic I can take one! It's actually fascinating to see the hole in the tooth and the MASSIVE roots with the pinky infected blobs at their tips! Take that as my final warning before I post pics

You were warned! The bulbous red bits at the ends of the roots are the infection, and you can see the original filling where the tooth has broken off around it and the hole/decay in the centre. It's a bit blurry because the inside of the pot has condensation on it - probably some grim decomposition by-product. Gross but kind of cool too!

DD thinks I should hang it on the Christmas tree. I'm going to see if I get any joy from the tooth fairy.

The socket is still bleeding a bit (3 hours on) - I take it this is normal? Off my tits on codeine so don't really mind either way right now, I'm perfectly serene!

That's amazing, thanks OP - I'm a bit of a weirdo

That’s a cracker OP glad you got it sorted.

Wow!! That's one nasty tooth - when I had a big molar out a couple of years ago it dripped blood for a good 24 hours - not bleeding as such but just a steady drip.

Glad you all enjoyed it! Forgot to say, it's a touch over 3cm long from root to tip. A monster indeed.

Felt like I'd been hit by a truck yesterday and craving crispy roast potatoes but making do with buttery mashed ones instead, but so far so good!