Ringing 111 for dental absess

[hollyjolls]

I've been having treatment for a root canal for a few months, last went last week and due to go back in a few weeks. I had an abscess a few months ago and was given antibiotics which cleared it, it's back now in the same place and it's very painful, I'm struggling to eat and has got worse as the day has gone on. Dentist was closed for training until this afternoon so I rang when they re opened and was told to take paracetamol/ibuprofen and try calling back next week to see if I can get seen sooner. The painkillers aren't helping at all and orajel only seems to help for a few mins then back to normal. The NHS website says abscess needs urgent treatment and to ring 111. What will they do for this/what is the process? I've never contacted them for a dental issue. Do they book an appointment somewhere for you/prescribe antibiotics or will they just tell me to ring my dentist back on Monday?

I've used them for an abscess before as was a weekend. They called me back a few hours later, gave me advice on pain management for during that night and sent me to an emergency dentist (not my own surgery) the next morning where they did an x-ray and had to extract it. It was fine. Abscesses are terrible. Hope you feel better soon.

They should triage you and offer an appointment with the out of hours dental clinic if they feel that's appropriate.

It varies by trust. Good luck.

Thanks I will give them a call first thing in the morning. God I really hope they can help I usually have quite a high pain threshold but the thought of having to put up with this much longer is awful 😩