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Original poster

Agony after root canal treatment

74 replies

BlüeöysterCunt · 18/03/2023 06:14

I've had about four procedures on one of my upper molars. The first root canal I had, I kept getting pain and infections in the tooth and was left in a huge amount of pain after each procedure.

Turns out that there was a canal missed so I had another procedure on Thursday to finish the root canal. Afterwards was mildly painful, not too bad. Yesterday was getting moderate but painkillers were helping somewhat although I pretty much didn't eat all day.

I've woken up in agony. I can't put my teeth together at all without extreme pain in that tooth. Paramol with ibuprofen is not helping. I don't know what to do. I'm sitting here crying. There are no out of hours dentists where I am unless you pay for private which I can't.

I'm so exhausted and have had a shit time with my health recently so was looking forward to this weekend so I could get some rest. This is so shit and I can't believe I've been left like this again. I don't know what to do.

OP posts:
whataballbag · 18/03/2023 06:18

Where about are you that has no emergency dental service?

nurseynursery · 18/03/2023 06:24

Have you called 111? They can usually give you a list of dentists with emergency contracts.

Original poster
BlüeöysterCunt · 18/03/2023 06:24

whataballbag · 18/03/2023 06:18

Where about are you that has no emergency dental service?

Sorry I should have been more specific - there is of course 111 but I've called many times at the weekend for the same reason and been told that I would not be seen unless there is bleeding or trauma as in a tooth knocked out. The dental hospital is not open at weekends

OP posts:

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nurseynursery · 18/03/2023 06:26

Is there no way you can pay just for an emergency appointment? Just to see if you need antibiotics really? I'm sure it's around £50 at my dentist.

canfor · 18/03/2023 06:32

I had this once and was prescribed very strong painkillers by an out of hours gp service at my local hospital - worth a try?

whataballbag · 18/03/2023 07:36

@BlüeöysterCunt they shouldn't be telling you that, they should be doing a full assessment. Have you tried 111 online?

TheLadyofShalott1 · 18/03/2023 08:20

Can you get to an A&E at a normal hospital, not a dental one? They can give you antibiotics if you have an abcess, but it sounds very much like a 'dry socket' to me, which is agony on it's own, but if you have managed to get an infection as well, that would be absolutely horrendous.

However, the first thing you should do, right now, is boil some water, and when it has cooled down to "cup of tea" temperature, add a 5ml tsp of salt to a largish mug of the boiled water, and stir it. When the salt has dissolved, take a small mouthful of the boiled salt water, and hold it in your mouth over the wound. As this is into day 3, start swishing the liquid GENTLY around the wound - if a clot is forming you do not want to knock it off, therefore you also mustn't chew on that side, or let your tongue probe it! Carry on taking the strongest painkillers you have, and if you know anyone who can do this for you, ask them to collect a tube of Orajel 20% from a chemist for you. When you have it, apply it very carefully with a clean finger tip - please read the instructions first. It has always worked wonders on the pain for me.

By the way, NO-ONE should drink fluid from a STRAW after a tooth extraction. In fact don't use a straw at all until the wound has healed over. Drinking from a straw can easily knock the necessary clot from the healing wound, and not by the straw touching the wound, it is actually the sucking action on the straw, that removes any clot that has (hopefully) formed!

@BlüeöysterCunt I really hope that you are pain free very soon. God Luck 💐

DawntilDusk4 · 18/03/2023 08:32

I feel for you I still have what feels like ptsd after 2 root canals failed in lockdown. Numerous abscesses. Nobody would help. Antibiotics are useless at targeting teeth abscesses too. Eventually both teeth have been taken out and what a relief. I read about one lady who took her own life because of constant tooth pain after cosmetic tooth surgery and honestly I felt I could relate to her. So desperate and so sad all because of toothache. I need two dental implants now (thankfully back teeth so can’t see them) and I have the 5k set aside but I cannot bring myself to have anything drilled into my jaw at the moment. I am not advocating for you to do this but I could see some of my abscesses so I just bought some hyper dermic needles online and popped them so the pus could come out. Clive oil. High dose paracetamol and codeine always together. Warm water mouth washes. Cold compresses. Sometimes even biting down in something rubbery although initially was overwhelmingly painful seemed to help after. I feel for you. I have bought a tooth extraction kit because if I’m ever in the situation again I’m yanking my teeth out myself. TBH one of the dentists left loads of fragments of tooth in after he extracted one and it was the weekend and I just had to fish them out myself with sterilized tweezers. I feel for you x

RobinHumphries · 18/03/2023 09:53

TheLadyofShalott1 · 18/03/2023 08:20

Can you get to an A&E at a normal hospital, not a dental one? They can give you antibiotics if you have an abcess, but it sounds very much like a 'dry socket' to me, which is agony on it's own, but if you have managed to get an infection as well, that would be absolutely horrendous.

However, the first thing you should do, right now, is boil some water, and when it has cooled down to "cup of tea" temperature, add a 5ml tsp of salt to a largish mug of the boiled water, and stir it. When the salt has dissolved, take a small mouthful of the boiled salt water, and hold it in your mouth over the wound. As this is into day 3, start swishing the liquid GENTLY around the wound - if a clot is forming you do not want to knock it off, therefore you also mustn't chew on that side, or let your tongue probe it! Carry on taking the strongest painkillers you have, and if you know anyone who can do this for you, ask them to collect a tube of Orajel 20% from a chemist for you. When you have it, apply it very carefully with a clean finger tip - please read the instructions first. It has always worked wonders on the pain for me.

By the way, NO-ONE should drink fluid from a STRAW after a tooth extraction. In fact don't use a straw at all until the wound has healed over. Drinking from a straw can easily knock the necessary clot from the healing wound, and not by the straw touching the wound, it is actually the sucking action on the straw, that removes any clot that has (hopefully) formed!

@BlüeöysterCunt I really hope that you are pain free very soon. God Luck 💐

the OP has had RCT not an extraction.

Original poster
BlüeöysterCunt · 18/03/2023 10:48

nurseynursery · 18/03/2023 06:26

Is there no way you can pay just for an emergency appointment? Just to see if you need antibiotics really? I'm sure it's around £50 at my dentist.

I'm still catching up money-wise after being off work sick for 2 months and am struggling a bit. After paying over £100 to be left like this, no I just don't have even £50 just now. I've checked and most of the ones in my area are closer to £100. I'm not complaining it's just the way it is just now.

OP posts:
Original poster
BlüeöysterCunt · 18/03/2023 10:51

whataballbag · 18/03/2023 07:36

@BlüeöysterCunt they shouldn't be telling you that, they should be doing a full assessment. Have you tried 111 online?

I had a look - it was useless it just took me to NHS inform and gave me a list of dentists in Scotland

OP posts:
Original poster
BlüeöysterCunt · 18/03/2023 10:52

TheLadyofShalott1 · 18/03/2023 08:20

Can you get to an A&E at a normal hospital, not a dental one? They can give you antibiotics if you have an abcess, but it sounds very much like a 'dry socket' to me, which is agony on it's own, but if you have managed to get an infection as well, that would be absolutely horrendous.

However, the first thing you should do, right now, is boil some water, and when it has cooled down to "cup of tea" temperature, add a 5ml tsp of salt to a largish mug of the boiled water, and stir it. When the salt has dissolved, take a small mouthful of the boiled salt water, and hold it in your mouth over the wound. As this is into day 3, start swishing the liquid GENTLY around the wound - if a clot is forming you do not want to knock it off, therefore you also mustn't chew on that side, or let your tongue probe it! Carry on taking the strongest painkillers you have, and if you know anyone who can do this for you, ask them to collect a tube of Orajel 20% from a chemist for you. When you have it, apply it very carefully with a clean finger tip - please read the instructions first. It has always worked wonders on the pain for me.

By the way, NO-ONE should drink fluid from a STRAW after a tooth extraction. In fact don't use a straw at all until the wound has healed over. Drinking from a straw can easily knock the necessary clot from the healing wound, and not by the straw touching the wound, it is actually the sucking action on the straw, that removes any clot that has (hopefully) formed!

@BlüeöysterCunt I really hope that you are pain free very soon. God Luck 💐

Thank you but I didn't have my tooth extracted 😦 I fucking wish

OP posts:
springrises · 18/03/2023 10:56

the failure rate for root canals is so high, I honestly believe that they should just remove a lot of these teeth,
unless patients can afford the pain and expense of implants. Especially if they're back teeth which aren't visible and so it won't change your smile or the shape of your face

Viviennemary · 18/03/2023 10:59

This happened to me once. Antibiotics is the answer if you have an infection. I don't know if A& E would prescribe them. Cant you get a private prescription of antibiotics from the internet. But there will be a fee for that too.

Original poster
BlüeöysterCunt · 18/03/2023 11:01

DawntilDusk4 · 18/03/2023 08:32

I feel for you I still have what feels like ptsd after 2 root canals failed in lockdown. Numerous abscesses. Nobody would help. Antibiotics are useless at targeting teeth abscesses too. Eventually both teeth have been taken out and what a relief. I read about one lady who took her own life because of constant tooth pain after cosmetic tooth surgery and honestly I felt I could relate to her. So desperate and so sad all because of toothache. I need two dental implants now (thankfully back teeth so can’t see them) and I have the 5k set aside but I cannot bring myself to have anything drilled into my jaw at the moment. I am not advocating for you to do this but I could see some of my abscesses so I just bought some hyper dermic needles online and popped them so the pus could come out. Clive oil. High dose paracetamol and codeine always together. Warm water mouth washes. Cold compresses. Sometimes even biting down in something rubbery although initially was overwhelmingly painful seemed to help after. I feel for you. I have bought a tooth extraction kit because if I’m ever in the situation again I’m yanking my teeth out myself. TBH one of the dentists left loads of fragments of tooth in after he extracted one and it was the weekend and I just had to fish them out myself with sterilized tweezers. I feel for you x

I'm sorry to hear you have been through this too. I had a recurring abscess that I could feel at the roof of my mouth but it was so far in I couldn't see it - multiple courses of antibiotics (the only one that helped was metronidazole and it made me violently sick) and I can't feel that one anymore and no pain when I press my tongue on the roof of my mouth so I can only assume it's gone?

I don't understand what could be causing so much pain now - it's barbaric to leave people like this at a weekend where they won't be able to get seen.

The paramol sent me to sleep I think but I've woken up in tears I can't put my teeth together at all. How am I supposed to eat? And why do they fob you off with such bullshit - 'tenderness'?! I can't even think straight anymore

OP posts:
Itsgottobeme · 18/03/2023 11:07

BlüeöysterCunt · 18/03/2023 10:52

Thank you but I didn't have my tooth extracted 😦 I fucking wish

Show quote history

I golly I'm so sorry.
Sounds like an absess or certainly an infection. And thus needs antibiotics bionics. Metronidazole being your best bet with this level I'd think.
For now I'd ring 111.they could direct u to out of hours.let them no the pain is too much to bare.
Can someone get to a chemist. What you need is a product called orajel extra.its magic.
And start a day of meds by taking both paracetamol and ibrofen together.before spacing.
Sulpadene extra I think is the best for root canal.
And try co codomol.
Keep your head above your heart so rest with two pillows upright.ti stop the bloody thumping down there.
You really need nourishment. Workington bod harder to keep you will I'm afraid will only cause more pain as the bod has to pump and work harder and u need that nourishment for repair.
Deep breaths if u can.
Keep that heart rate low.

Itsgottobeme · 18/03/2023 11:12

This really helps

Agony after root canal treatment
Shewhois21 · 18/03/2023 11:12

You'd have to be facially swollen to get an OOH NHS dental appointment.

whataballbag · 18/03/2023 11:23

Are you in Scotland or England?

Original poster
BlüeöysterCunt · 18/03/2023 11:25

Itsgottobeme · 18/03/2023 11:12

This really helps

Thanks I've got some but it's not really doing anything - the pain is deep inside when I bite down or when my teeth touch I'm not really sure where to put it that's going to make any difference

OP posts:
Original poster
BlüeöysterCunt · 18/03/2023 11:25

whataballbag · 18/03/2023 11:23

Are you in Scotland or England?

Scotland

OP posts:
Original poster
BlüeöysterCunt · 18/03/2023 11:27

Itsgottobeme · 18/03/2023 11:07

I golly I'm so sorry.
Sounds like an absess or certainly an infection. And thus needs antibiotics bionics. Metronidazole being your best bet with this level I'd think.
For now I'd ring 111.they could direct u to out of hours.let them no the pain is too much to bare.
Can someone get to a chemist. What you need is a product called orajel extra.its magic.
And start a day of meds by taking both paracetamol and ibrofen together.before spacing.
Sulpadene extra I think is the best for root canal.
And try co codomol.
Keep your head above your heart so rest with two pillows upright.ti stop the bloody thumping down there.
You really need nourishment. Workington bod harder to keep you will I'm afraid will only cause more pain as the bod has to pump and work harder and u need that nourishment for repair.
Deep breaths if u can.
Keep that heart rate low.

Show quote history

I've taken paramol and ibuprofen together and it's doing nothing 😭

OP posts:
MrsMorton · 18/03/2023 11:34

Shocking there's no OOO provision in your area.

It won't help OP but not being able to put your teeth together indicates there's inflammation in the ligament that holds your teeth into the bone. Really common after RCT procedures. Called periapical periodontitis.

Cool water around the tooth might help, I used to walk into a waiting room of people with bottles of cold water when I ran an OOO clinic. Propping yourself up rather than lying down can help with symptoms. Antibiotics probably aren't the answer.

Sorry this is happening over the weekend, utterly shit. When you get better, you should write to your MP and ask why there's no commissioned care out of hours.

user1471456357 · 18/03/2023 11:40

Can you get to an A&E? I have had terrible experiences in the past with my teeth. I look back now and think why didn't I go to hospital . They can give you adequate pain relief. At one point years ago I ended up on Morphine after a butcher of a Dentist, but went through hell before I got it from Doctors. I wouldn't hesitate to go to A&E if you can.

TheDogthatDug · 18/03/2023 11:46

We have a horrendous shortage of dentists in this country. Try 111 they might be able to get you an appt at an emergency dental hub, but they aren't magicians that can create appts out of thin air. As someone who has had lots of trouble with my teeth recently I completely sympathise with you OP. People have no idea the shear agony of toothache if they have not experienced it. As someone who gave birth without even gas and air, I would choose that over toothache any day!