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Original poster

I have an infection in the tooth I had extracted 8 weeks ago, I no longer have an NHS dentist help?

39 replies

DentalPainHelp · 17/06/2022 21:08

Posting for traffic

Phoned 111 who said they’d call me back within 48 hours.

I cannot take any of the over the counter painkillers due to a heart problem, mouthwash is easing the pain enough along with anbesol but it’s getting worse everytime they wear off.

My NHS dentist sent me a letter the day after they took my tooth out to say that they were no longer offering NHS treatment and I could register as a private patient if I wanted to but it’s £25 a month I don’t have – single parent, I work but get UC top up as my DC is on DLA so I can't work fulltime.

I am on the waiting list for two other local dentists who take NHS but their lists are 3+ years long, they won’t see me for an emergency without being registered. 111 said no dental hospital nearby.

I am ok, but bracing myself for another night of no sleep (I can’t get comfy).

Any ideas to ease my pain without painkillers until 111 get back to me?

OP posts:
peanutpancakess · 17/06/2022 21:12

Poor you, can you try clove oil, may ease the pain and it's fairly cheap. Though if you have an infection this may not be a good idea.
With the dentist saying £25 a month, this seems odd unless they were trying to get you to sign up for denplan...
Is there anyway you can afford to see a private dentist as a one off?

Original poster
DentalPainHelp · 17/06/2022 21:14

peanutpancakess · 17/06/2022 21:12

Poor you, can you try clove oil, may ease the pain and it's fairly cheap. Though if you have an infection this may not be a good idea.
With the dentist saying £25 a month, this seems odd unless they were trying to get you to sign up for denplan...
Is there anyway you can afford to see a private dentist as a one off?

@peanutpancakess it was some sort of plan that included 2 check ups a year and some hygianist visit, but didn't include emergency treatment.

I have literally no money now until 1st July, I have food in so DC and I won't starve and my bills are all paid but I have nothing left.

OP posts:
crochetcrazy1978 · 17/06/2022 21:16

Gargling with salt water 4 times a day can help infection. That's what the dentist told my husband to do when he had an abcess in lockdown 1. How have you got an infection in a tooth that's been removed?

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Original poster
DentalPainHelp · 17/06/2022 21:18

crochetcrazy1978 · 17/06/2022 21:16

Gargling with salt water 4 times a day can help infection. That's what the dentist told my husband to do when he had an abcess in lockdown 1. How have you got an infection in a tooth that's been removed?

@crochetcrazy1978 I have pain the gum and around the area the tooth was removed from so yes assume an abscess or similar where the tooth was. I can't bite down or anything on the side the pain is.

Will try salt water thank you

OP posts:
ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 17/06/2022 21:19

Do you have a dental hospital nearby?

Have they left an infected root behind? Nearest dental hospital is your best bet. These tend to be in big cities.

SQLserved · 17/06/2022 21:20

A tooth infection when you have a heart condition is a dangerous combination. I would recommend going to your local walk-in or urgent care clinic.

If you have no out of hours nearby, call 111 back and push for a quicker response and consider going to A&E.

Original poster
DentalPainHelp · 17/06/2022 21:20

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 17/06/2022 21:19

Do you have a dental hospital nearby?

Have they left an infected root behind? Nearest dental hospital is your best bet. These tend to be in big cities.

@ArseInTheCoOpWindow 111 have confirmed no dental hospital nearby which I knew anyway, there's a very small dental department at a nearby hospital but it's not got an a+e it's literally appointments only, so I think 111 are trying to sort an appointment out there.

OP posts:
Original poster
DentalPainHelp · 17/06/2022 21:24

SQLserved · 17/06/2022 21:20

A tooth infection when you have a heart condition is a dangerous combination. I would recommend going to your local walk-in or urgent care clinic.

If you have no out of hours nearby, call 111 back and push for a quicker response and consider going to A&E.

@SQLserved theres no dental hospital nearby there's a small dental department at a local hospital but it doesn't have an A+E it's appointments only so expecting i'll be given an appointment there by 111. If they haven't called me back by 11pm though I will call them (I called at 5pm).

There's an A+E at another hospital but they refer dental to the other hospital with no A+E so I might be in the same situation plus I have no childcare until tomorrow (DC will be with their dad tomorrow and Sunday) so if I can hang on I should be ok.

It's just getting through the next few hours really.

OP posts:
flightofthesevenmillionbumblebees · 17/06/2022 21:25

What mouthwash are you using? I had an infection (that was finally treated last week after months of pain!) and I found peroxyl mouthwash absolute magic!

ItsSnowJokes · 17/06/2022 21:27

Could it be dry socket? Worth looking at treatment for that.

OurChristmasMiracle · 17/06/2022 21:28

Soak a clean cloth in alcohol and bite down on it helped for me as did biting on frozen peas. At least enough so i could sleep a little, but ultimately 3 days later I ended up at the dentist on antibiotics.

Abzs · 17/06/2022 21:30

I was told to rinse with hot salty water from 24 hours after the extraction. As hot as you can bear without burning your mouth. You could do that, but if you've got an infection or dry socket it may not help much now.
My DH used clove oil to ease pain, but that's no help if you haven't got any.
Ice cubes to suck might help to numb it. Or a cold (or hot) compress on the side of your face.

livelyliz · 17/06/2022 21:31

There is a condition called dry socket that happens sometimes after tooth extraction, it’s extremely painful and you probably need antibiotics for it. Surely the dentist practice that took it out have a duty of care to provide you with emergency treatment following the extraction. I would ring them, explain you think it’s infected, it won’t cost them anything to provide you with a prescription. Failing that go to A and E, nobody should suffer extreme tooth pain and only someone who has been through this understands how bad it is.
i hope you get it sorted soon.

newtb · 17/06/2022 21:32

If you have any cloves suck one and bite down on it with the tooth. They have an anaesthetic effect.

Remembertotakeabreak · 17/06/2022 21:34

I would get in touch with the dentist who extracted it - they might help, it’s worth a shot. They must hopefully have a duty of care/aftercare obligation.

Also check the cancellation terms of the £25/month - is it worth paying one or two months just to stay on the books until it’s sorted, if you were able to cancel after that?

Original poster
DentalPainHelp · 17/06/2022 21:36

flightofthesevenmillionbumblebees · 17/06/2022 21:25

What mouthwash are you using? I had an infection (that was finally treated last week after months of pain!) and I found peroxyl mouthwash absolute magic!

@flightofthesevenmillionbumblebees I'm just using listerine, it seems to be helping. I'm not in constant agony but enough to know if I bite down I'll be in pain again so I'm avoiding eating and trying to drink through a straw.

OP posts:
Original poster
DentalPainHelp · 17/06/2022 21:38

Remembertotakeabreak · 17/06/2022 21:34

I would get in touch with the dentist who extracted it - they might help, it’s worth a shot. They must hopefully have a duty of care/aftercare obligation.

Also check the cancellation terms of the £25/month - is it worth paying one or two months just to stay on the books until it’s sorted, if you were able to cancel after that?

@Remembertotakeabreak I can't afford it, I'm a single parent in reciept of UC as I can't work fulltime (I have 1 DC only and they get DLA).

OP posts:
Original poster
DentalPainHelp · 17/06/2022 21:39

Dry socket looks likely thank you people will mention it.

Will also call the dentist who took it out, and see if they can at least check it over.

OP posts:
Thelnebriati · 17/06/2022 21:42

Phone A&E and explain you have a heart condition and a deep dental abscess with no access to treatment.

HogDogKetchup · 17/06/2022 21:43

Absolutely awful your dentist has abandoned you mid treatment. Hope you get it sorted OP.

billycorn · 17/06/2022 21:45

If you’ve got an infection you’ll need antibiotics. Try your GP

Cheerybigbottom · 17/06/2022 21:49

It's no point joining up to the private dentist and then cancelling later, the £25 a month plan is just their big standard check up and hygienist visit plan. Usually you get 10% off treatments if you have this plan but it will be substantial.

111 will be able to find the areas nominated emergency nhs clinic whether that's a dental surgery somewhere or in a hospital.

I'm sorry you're going through this, it happened to me and I soaked gauze in vodka and stuffed it around the sore area

I think I only fell asleep due to consuming so much vodka so I don't recommend it but it just shows how desperate people can get Wine

Saracenia · 17/06/2022 21:52

I also think you should go to A&E. If you need antibiotics you need to start them sooner rather than later.

Original poster
DentalPainHelp · 17/06/2022 21:53

If I go to a+e they will just refer me to the appointment only dental clinic at the other hospital (I know because a friend went to a+e last year with dental pain and this is what happened - she had to wait a few weeks for an appointment as well).

OP posts:
georgarina · 17/06/2022 22:06

Go to your nearest dental A&E
I had this exact scenario. 111 were useless, never rang back and when they did according to their 'checklist' I didn't have an infection so they didn't refer me to emergency dentist. And once they finally did, the dental nurse refused to see me because there was 'no way' an infection had set in that quickly and 'people needed to realise wisdom tooth extractions didn't heal in a day.'
By the time I made it to an A&E with a dental department it had gone septic and I was blue lighted in.

TLDR - don't mess around with 111. Go straight to A&E.