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?

Lie and say you have a fever. It’s not what anyone would want to do but it’s going to get you seen and you absolutely need to be seen.

Please just go to A and E. If this was any other body part you’d be there like a shot. A rotting hole in your mouth needs attention. You could get sepsis.

I honestly think you should try another practice. That's not great service tbh, you defo need to speak to a dentist.

Don't be embarrassed, I'm pretty amazed that you managed to extract any of it! Like I said, happy to dm specifics if you like.

It won't be a dentist on 111 unfortunately. I used to run an OOH service that was accessed via 111 and the referrals were... variable.

Always incredibly frustrating were the liars though. Stopping people with actual potentially life threatening temperatures, bleeding or swelling being able to access the scarce resources...

Try this OP

www.itv.com/news/westcountry/2020-04-15/14-new-emergency-dental-surgeries-open-across-west-country/

thebristoldentist.co.uk/covid-19-practice-update/ - a number in here to call if you are anywhere near Bristol

It's totally rubbish that you can't be seen op. I agree with phoning back and telling them your symptoms have worsened.

Sounds grim OP. Go to A and E. You should get seen fairly quickly.

@wowfudge who do you think will see OP in A&E? Where I worked, we had to send patients 60miles if they needed emergency head and neck treatment. Even then, it was ENT cross cover, not a specialist or even anyone with a dental qualification. It's simply not that easy.

mrsmorton I haven’t directly spoken to any practices as yet. My normal one just has an answerphone saying call 111. I called the others in my nearest town and they had the same. I’m really not keen on making out that’s it’s worse than it is - they wouldn’t see me when I was in genuine pain so I’d have to say I’ve got swelling or a temperature which they would immediately realise was a lie when I arrived.

Thanks for the link brakeback. It says there’s a practice in Torquay which would be closest to me. I’m now going to phone all the practices in Torquay to try and work out which one it is. Hopefully I can get an appointment for tomorrow and save myself a trip to Exeter.

I'm not the only poster to advise the same. Would you put up with this? There's clearly something wrong. I'd speak to our GP's OOH service rather than 111, but her own GP has failed her so far. It's simply shit not to be able to get any treatment in these circumstances.

I'm going to ask the dental net of there's anyone down there who can help you. Will
Dm if I get any joy.

I’ve tried A and E before for teeth (long history of tooth problems). My face had swollen up so much that my eye had shut over the course of about 3 hours. I’d called Dentaline as it was the middle of the night, driven 2.5 hours to Bristol for a dentist to say that it was too swollen to put any anaesthetic in and for me to go straight to A and E. waited at A and E for hours for a doctor to examine me, ask me why I’d come to A and E and give me the number for Dentaline. At that point I started sobbing because I genuinely thought I was going to die from sepsis. I then got told to go to another hospital with a ENT department, they gave me a GA and removed tooth. I don’t want to do that again unless I’m at deaths door which I don’t think I am at this point. I’m just stinking.

Sorry for typos. My phone is a cunt

You may have retained roots which will need removing so I'd do everything you can to get an appointment. This happened with me. If you get clear liquid running out your nose and a hideous taste in your mouth, it could also be a fistula, which is a hole into your sinus. This also happened to me. Good luck!

That sounds terrible. I do think infection is a serious risk and you need to talk to an actual human to explain, phoning round all the dentists sounds like a good plan. Good luck!

How far are you from the dental hospital in London?
You need to be seen by someone. Dentist or A&E

I have been to the dentist during lockdown and not for something as urgent as this!

I’d try a and e sinus trouble is worrying me, you must get this looked at appalled you can’t get help from dentist.

Another dentist here. If there was only one root and it was a back tooth my guess is the tooth had split and that is what became loose and you've now pulled out. It sounds like you've got an infection and it will need antibiotics and removal of the root eventually. I don't think you need to go to A+E at this stage and a call to your dentist tomorrow first thing should get them to prescribe antibiotics which will manage the infection.
I agree with Mrs Morton that there may have been a grumbling infection that could have caused bone loss around the roots and occasionally this can connect with your sinuses. If you hold your nose and blow air against your nose can you feel air in your mouth?

Thanks millymolly. I can’t speak to my dentist as it’s just an answerphone message telling me to call 111. All other local dentists seem to be the same. It looks like there’s one that still open in a town about 30 minutes away so hopefully I’ll be able to speak to someone there tomorrow.

You poor thing. I really hope you get it sorted.

I've got moderate intermittent toothache but just know that I won't get seen so I haven't bothered seeking help yet.

Another dentist here.

If there was only one root you havent removed all the tooth. Its possible you have created a connection between your mouth and your sinus, or one of the roots has been pushed into your sinus.

If you had an abscess, and some of the tooth is still remaining you will have created a way for the abscess to drain thereby relieving the pressure and pain. However you have left the source of infection thereby still getting the build up of pus. It sounds to me like your abscess is draining into your mouth and into your sinus.

Please post a picture of the tooth. I promise you we wont judge, it would help to know if it was all out or not.

If your temperature isnt raised you arent septic. However you do need treated and you need antibiotics.

I dont think this is A&E worthy yet, however it may need sorting by maxfacs. Your best bet is to talk to an actual dentist tomorrow who can refer you to someone who can treat you. This might be in hospital but its better if a dentist refers you to the department rather than turning up in a&e.

If you have a drink does water come through your nose?

Sounds awful. For the time being I'd be doing warm salt washes to keep any infection minimal x

I can't believe 111 is refusing to refer you or give you antibiotics