Any dentists about?

[IfYouCantSeeMyMirrors]

Just looking for some advice (and obviously aware that you can't tell without looking). My DS14 suddenly has a wobbly tooth and pain when eating. It seems unlikely to be a baby tooth (I'm sure they've all come out). I've had a look. It might be slightly red in the gums, but not very much. My dentist is very good, but....we're about to depart for a two-week holiday. Just in the UK, so could come back if we get an appointment. But what is likely to happen? if it's an infection, will they just give antibiotics for a week or so anyway? Because in that case, we might as well go away as planned and deal with it by phone and prescription.

post a photo as it's easy to tell if it's a baby tooth as that's the most likley reason. 14 is late for baby teeth but not that uncommon.

likely and Post- haven't had a coffee yet.

But with pain? Will take a photo when the person in question wakes up!!

Yeah. Email them a photo and ask for a phone consultation
That’s what a lot of dentists are doing at the moment

I've tried to take a photo, but failed - I can't get it from any angle that would tell anyone anything. It really doesn't look like a baby tooth - obviously the dentist will be able to check that from his records anyway (I do remember that he had two left when he was 13, but I'm pretty sure they were on the top and have since fallen out.)

My understanding is that a tooth becomes loose when an infection gets pretty bad. However, there has been no sign of infection before now - could it become loose with pain really quickly? The pain is very slight and only when eating on that side, which is easily avoided.

The complicating factor is the holiday (which is 6 hours from home and involves other family members). If it is possible to put off visiting a dentist until we return, then that is my preference. If we'd gone abroad and this had happened, we would have to do that anyway. However, having had an abscess myself last year, I'm not going to do anything that could make things really bad.

If the tooth is loose then there's the risk he could lose it. If you call your dentist now do they not have a message which tells you what to do in an emergency? It may be a six hour journey, but surely it's better to get your son seen and just delay setting off? What if his pain worsens on the journey? Dentists can prescribe antibiotics if needed.

We have to leave early tomorrow, before the dentist opens. There's a high chance they'd be able to see him on Tuesday - but we really need to be there for the first part of the holiday, as that is the only (and possibly the last time ever....) the whole family can be together with older relatives. Delaying our leaving isn't really an option - and in any case, the pain is only very slight. We'd happily return if it was necessary, but if all the dentist will do is take a quick look and prescribe antibiotics for a week, then it's obviously preferable to do that over the phone.

Apologies - you're not my dentist, I know! My dentist is really good and will be able to advise on the phone tomorrow. It's getting past their receptionist that's likely to be the problem. If I had some idea of what was likely to be suggested, I would have a good idea of how to approach the conversation!

Which tooth is it. How many from the front?

Ring 111 they have a dentist part ive literally just spoke to them

Bottom row, between the front and the back. The one next to the sharp one (canine?). So not a massive one.

Ok that's either a premolar adult tooth or a shedding baby tooth. The most likely scenario is a baby tooth that's being lost is being resorbed by the adult tooth underneath and is sharp as he bites down.
I'll put a disclaimer in as without seeing it or taking x-rays it could be lots of other things too.
Are his teeth on the opposite side identical so a mirror image?

Thank you very much @MillyMollyMardy! Yes, identical on the other side - though on the affected side, the canine is so close to it that I think it might be pushing on it too (ie, the canine is slightly wonky). So - can I ask what you think is likely to be suggested to me when I phone tomorrow? Will they say that waiting a week or two is no big deal? Like I say, what I want to avoid if I really can is having to make a massive journey with one child, disrupting a holiday that involves a lot of other family members, if this can easily wait longer. It's not exactly an emergency situation right now.

(And my own disclaimer: I take tooth care very seriously and obviously will prioritise care over a holiday! I'm just weighing up the happiness of an awful lot of other people, post-lockdown, right now.)

They are probably going to ask for a photo. You can ask them where his baby teeth were at his last check up. If he needed antibiotics you'd be able to see a swelling and redness on the gum below the tooth. With his symptoms at the moment I'd be really surprised if they want you to rush him in.
As you're staying in the UK you can easily phone your dentist for advice whilst you're away, there are emergency clinics elsewhere and you could always return if it starts to get worse.

Thank you so much! Fingers crossed it all works out.....