Would you consider this urgent?

[FlopsyDoodle]

For the last couple of weeks I’ve had a painful and increasingly wobbly tooth. It’s a tooth that’s previously had a root canal filling done on it so I knew there was a chance that I’d lose it. The pain was manageable but I called 111 as advised by my usual dental surgery but was told I could only have an appointment if I was in unbearable pain so I’ve just muddled on.

On Thursday my tooth got very wobbly and very painful, I still couldn’t sleep due to pain after covering the area in Oragel and taking Nurofen Plus. I decided to pull it out which I did with dental floss and gin for courage. It seemed to come out relatively easily, pain immediately stopped and it looked like it came out cleanly although a fair bit of blood.

When I woke up on Friday morning I had the most disgusting taste ever in my mouth (and I’ve had some grim things in my mouth over the years). I gave my mouth a really good clean and thoroughly used my water flosser and gargled with Corsydyl several times. Taste didn’t go away. As soon as I walked into same room as Dh he asked me if I’d had a bad tummy as the house stank . I called 111, explained I’d pulled my tooth out and was concerned I had given myself an infection. As I didn’t have a temperature it was considered not urgent and they wouldn’t refer me to the dentist (the nearest is an hour drive away and you can only go if you have been referred). I then thought I could maybe see my GP and phoned them up but was told they wouldn’t be able to give antibiotics if I didn’t have a temperature and it was more likely to be an infected bit of root that I’ve left in which would need to be removed by a dentist. They said under normal circumstances if the dentist couldn’t do it then they’d refer me to ENT at the hospital but not allowed to do that at the moment.

So now I’m sitting here smelling like a rubbish dump. I’ve been blowing my nose constantly and grey, absolutely unbelievably stinky snot is coming out. I’m constantly sucking mints to just try and cover up the smell but I don’t know what to do. I can’t feel anything in my mouth that shouldn’t be there. It almost feels like whatever is rotting in my face is more in my nose than anywhere else.

Am I just going to have to stay here with my face rotting? I’m genuinely considering trying to find a flight to another country where I can get medical treatment. I don’t feel ill at all but I stink and a bit of me is rotting away. I feel like I’m in the Middle Ages rather than in one of the richest countries on the planet. Any advice from anyone?

That sounds horrific? Is it full of pus? Can you Google emergency dentists in your area? Maybe someone would be able to look??

www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/dental-health/how-can-i-access-an-nhs-dentist-in-an-emergency-or-out-of-hours/

Got a bit about covid19 at top.

Sorry I can't help but oh my god I really feel for you 💐

I don’t know if it’s full of puss. Where I’ve pulled tooth out it actually looks fairly clean and healing well. I suspect there’s something sinister going on behind it though which is what’s causing the stinky grey snot .

All the dentists in my town are closed with answerphone messages saying call 111. 111 tells me it’s not urgent enough to be seen by the emergency dentist which you can only access via 111. There are only 2 emergency dentists in my county - both over an hour drive away and both only accessible if referred there by 111. Has anyone seen any emergency dentists in other parts of the country that are accepting patients directly? I assumed it was the same everywhere. I’m happy to drive anywhere in the SW if it means I’m not walking around with my face rotting off.

If this is for real, it is absolutely shocking.

There is clearly something very very wrong. I would think you are at risk of sepsis. You should go to A and E. If you have a mask, wear it. I would be very surprised if you were not given intravenous antibiotics at the very least.

How can it be that someone in one of the richest countries in the world (I’m guessing you are in the UK) is removing their own tooth with pliers and gin?! This is outrageous.

Why isn’t anyone angrier at the government for letting things get to this point?

I believe there are some dentists about in MN who might advise (@MrsMorton I think was one?)
I’m tremendously impressed that you pulled your own tooth!

Was it an upper tooth? I think there is a possible complication of sinus cavity with upper tooth removal.
Do you have pain in your face/along cheekbones?
Do you still have the tooth you removed and does it look complete?

I must say I would be inclined to try to get seen somehow, either by emergency dentist or medical. Or even if you can speak to someone (qualified! Not a call handler/receptionist!) to discuss best next steps or warning signs.

Because it could be that a good flush up your nose would help, but that might make it worse.

farquar I promise I’m not making this up, (although I would say that wouldn’t I?). I’m not sure if there’s a huge sepsis risk - I don’t have a temperature or any swelling or pain which is why 111 won’t refer me. I could just lie on the phone and say I have one of those things but it seems unnecessary. I’m 99% certain if I turned up at A and E that I’d just be sent home again so not keen on doing that.

coldhands it was one at the top right at the back, the next one in from my wisdom tooth. I was impressed I managed to pull it out too, I’m pretty sure that it was mostly dead already and some of the nerve had already been removed due to a previous root canal or I’d never have been able to do it. The tooth came out whole although the filling part of it fell off later as I was giving it a good examine with a pair of tweezers. It looked like the root came out too, it only had a root on one side which assuming was the one that didn’t have the root canal bit done. I don’t know if the but that had the root canal should have come out too, I just assumed it was already dead. Maybe that’s still in my mouth and what’s causing the stench. I had my wisdom tooth removed on the other side several years ago and ended up having a nose bleed as a result so maybe I have long tooth roots? Bloody nightmare.

Oh my days! Surely somebody could prescribe you some antibiotics over the phone.

Thank goodness you've pulled it out, at least it may drain away, just think all that nast was trapped in by the tooth before.

I would alternate hot salt mouthwashes and TCP mouthwashes ... no science behind it, I just know TCP 'cured' really nasty tonsillitis once for me!

Good luck and I really hope you get sorted.

Ps - my cats tooth fell out and he STANK ... it was fine after 48hrs

Oh it sounds awful OP.

Honestly, many A&Es are so quiet at the moment if I were you I'd go for it.

Goodness OP I feel for you. I honestly think this dentist situation is shocking. Vets are open, local cafes are open for take aways but we can’t get dental treatment? I hope you get seen to soon.

Neither a dentist nor a doctor but yes that sounds urgent to me. I know GPs are understandably very reluctant to prescribe antibiotics for dental infections though.

I had an abscess inside my cheek once, it was revolting. The smell like rotten meat.

At least if you do rock up at A&E stinking like a midin they'll have you in and out quickly 🤣🤣

I think it’s absolutely appalling that we’re “not allowed” to have medical consultations for anything unless we are on our death beds or have COVID.
The whole point of this lockdown is to save the nhs, but it doesn’t seem like it’s here for us at all at the moment

Also after extraction I think you need to avoid too much rinsing/flushing of the cavity in case you disturb the clot.

This is appalling. I'm furious on your behalf OP. I would definitely go to A and E, they are very quiet at the moment. You are entitled to treatment for goodness sake.

Honestly, I would say I was in pain to 111 and get emergency treatment. That sounds horrific.

Don't suppose you've got a picture of the tooth have you?

You might have a small hole in the bottom of the sinus, if the tooth was loose that's a sign of a really long-standing infection which could have caused bone resorption.

Either way, doesnt sound great OP. Forgive me, have you said where you are? Have you actually spoken to a dentist? NHS ones are contractually bound to be offering telephone advice at the moment along with referrals to specialist hubs if appropriate.

Whilst it definitely needs attention, it's not "A&E" worthy IMO, the red flags are temperature and swelling. Dm me if you like and I can try to help, I'm quite well connected in the dental world although I don't practise anymore.

OP can you afford to go private? Private dentists in my area are still open, for people in pain and you don't need a referral

Op you could try calling 111 back and just lie and say that you have developed a fever now and feel very unwell with it. That might be enough to get you access to your local emergency dentist and save you from travelling further away? I don't normally advocate lying but I do think you need to be seen. Otherwise, head for a&e.

From what you've said, you've not got all the roots out. Even root filled ones need to come out. That wouldn't necessarily cause these symptoms though.

Don't lie to 111 to try and get seen. It's really not fair. Phone the dentists directly. Pick any practice out of the yellow pages/google and call them.

You clearly need to be seen even if it’s not an emergency.

Can you get a phone consultation with a private dentist? Failing that go to A&E.

mrsmorton I do have a photo of the tooth but I’m too embarrassed to post it - it’s so rank, it looks like an old bit of popcorn. I had HG with both my pregnancies and 18 months of vomiting 5+ times a day absolutely destroyed my back teeth.

My usual dentist is private and I’m perfectly happy to pay. Even the private ones are referring you to 111 though. I don’t know if the person I spoke to on 111 was an actual dentist or not. I was certainly referred through to them from the original call handler. I’m assuming not as I told him that I’d removed my own tooth and he then just kept asking me questions like ‘have you fallen from a height of 10 feet or more?’ 🤦‍♀️.