No dentists available. Tooth pain making me miserable

[shehesmesloos]

I have a wisdom tooth that's cut through - it feels like there's no room for it! If that makes sense: and it's cutting into my cheek

It's so sore. I can't even open my mouth wide enough properly

I have rung round but nobody can take me on. Phoned 111 and they can't help - they said they don't deal with dental issues

What else can I do! It's so horrific. Can I pull it myself! I know it'll be painful BUT is there anything else that could go wrong if I do pull it?

Thank you so much

If you have a dental phobia a dentist will not pull the tooth but will refer you to the hospital so it can be done under sedation which apparantly is free. No idea how long the waiting lists are but might mean you only need to pay for the initial check/consultation and not an extraction.

that’s what my nhs dentist told me because she would not pull my tooth herself as she doesn’t do sedation and said I’d need it for an extraction. I’m going down the root canal path instead rather than extraction.

If in Greater Manchester there are a couple of places seeming to be open to new customers advertising on Facebook.
Would this be of use to you

I might be being a bit dim but I don't think there's anything near me at all, at least within 45 mins? My nearest large town is Biggleswade or maybe Luton

This says for Luton you access emergency dental by calling 111. Maybe try again after 6:30? hucweb.co.uk/services/dental-out-of-hours/

There should be an out of hours/emergency provision for your area but it may not be accessed via 111.

Have you tried here?

www.dentalhealthcareeoe.nhs.uk/services/urgent-dental-care/

@shehesmesloos I you live not a millions miles from me. I was referred to Bedwell Dental Practice in Stevenage in an emergency situation when my usual dentist was closed. They saw me on a Sunday. Worth giving them a call? In the meantime, salt water rinses and alternate paracetamol and ibuprofen to help with the pain. I really feel for you, you need to have a course of antibiotics it sounds like, before any work is done.

Which county are you in as different areas have different processes for accessing emergency treatment. You could ring a local nhs dentist to ask them that the emergency number is?

Bedfordshire

Thank you I will try Bedwell. Really appreciate that local suggestion

Thanks to everyone with these suggestions: a lot I have tried sadly. It's such a shock how poor dental care is in the UK

I just feel so skint at the moment. I really cannot be spending £100+ to see a dentist. It's just rubbish, but times are a bit tough

Dental hospital or go as an emergency patient to a dentist - you don’t always have to be registered as I was seen by one after we moved last year just had to fill in a form

You could check if your local hospitals have an oral/maxillofacial department and head to their A&E. You’re more likely to get a consult from an appropriate HCP that way.

@shehesmesloos

Go to your local A&E and ask for help the maxillo-facial team will have an on all and help you or prescribe antibiotics at the very least - it sounds painful hope you get it sorted

It's awful but unfortunately a lot of nhs dentists are now private as they earn more money from it

I own a dental practice (private). Unfortunately your options are quite limited, sounds like you really need an extraction asap but an NHS dentist is unlikely to give you one any time soon. If you do manage to see an NHS dentist they'll probably refer you to a hospital, but you might face a 6-12 month wait.

Antibiotics will not work, you need an extraction. Antibiotics might help temporarily but the problem will keep reoccurring. If you haven't got money for private treatment just now could you get a bank loan or put it on a credit card ?

Totally disingenuous to say it is OP's fault for not being registered with a dentist as this bbc report highlights...

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-62253893?app=news.health.story.62253893.page

Some areas in the country have 0, yes that's no practices accepting new patients. What are people actually supposed to do?

I think what people mean by that is that people wait to have an issue before trying to register. Most adults should have been registered as children and having regular check ups, so should have a dentist if they have been taking care of their teeth. But the problem is most don't bother and then end up in this situation when they really need one.

And if the practice hands back their NHS contract where does this leave the NHS patient? De-registered

So what happens when people move area and can't find anywhere taking on new patients?

So what happens when people move area and can't find anywhere taking on new patients?

honestly I’d travel back every six months for a check up to keep registered knowing if I ever needed any major work it could save me £hundreds . Certainly if it was under two hours away.

dd has been registered with an nhs practice for 20 years but they haven’t seen her in three years....not for want of trying. She’s still registered with them but her dentist left and they haven’t been able to replace him. They say as soon as they get a new dentist she can have an appt.

luckily I found a different practice who was taking on a handful of new nhs patients last week and got her registered - but it was a case of knowing someone who works there which got her in.

It is shocking the lack of dental care in this country I really sympathise with anyone in this awful predicament, there is nothing worse than dental pain. Unfortunately this situation is going to get worse and not better and if you want reliable dental care in this country then there really is no way around it apart from going private. Everyone is going to have to make harsh decisions on what they prioritise and I think a monthly insurance like Denplan started as soon as possible whilst teeth are in good condition is going to be the only way forward. It’s not right, but I don’t see any other option than to try and make an allowance for it within household expenditure and class it like monthly utility bills. I really hope you get some relief soon OP.

You can buy dental numbing cream in supermarkets orajel which offers some relief. I feel you. Apparently I need 6 teeth out - went to appointment in Feb (private) and still haven't got an appointment for them to be removed as apparently only one dentist does wisdom and back molars (no sedation etc)...

I wouldn’t assume A&E will help you, you’d be sent away if you turned up at our local hospital with dental issues unless it’s an abscess which is restricting your airways

I think there should be a contract for emergency and out of hours service in your area. I can’t see online who deals with it for Bedfordshire if it is not 111. A local dentist must know.