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Original poster

Broken tooth - can I fix it myself?

30 replies

PetShopGirl · 15/08/2023 10:01

The back of one of my teeth has broken off this morning (a tooth that I'd previously had root canal so I think was probably weaker). Rang my dentist but it turns out I've been de registered as an NHS patient as I haven't been for a couple of years - have been caring for a terminally ill relative and haven't had the time or head space to arrange a check up, but thems the breaks I guess... I can't afford to go private at the moment and they don't have any appointments anyway! Dentist receptionist said I needed to call 111 and so have been on hold to them for the past hour - not sure what they're likely to do when they finally answer.

But I was thinking, can I just save everyone the bother and fix it myself? By that I mean create a smooth edge, I don't have the chip that came off to glue back or anything. It's not really hurting at the moment and it's the back of a lower tooth so doesn't need to look pretty. If so, how would I do it? What stuff would I need that's likely to last longest? How do I prep the area? Any dentists around who can advise?

OP posts:
Choupette7 · 15/08/2023 10:12

Well you can buy temporary filling kits but I'm not sure how long they will last. You really need to see a dentist. Sorry this has happened to you.

LovedFedAndNoonesDead · 15/08/2023 10:18

You need to google emergency dental care for your area and then ring them (usually an 0330 or 0300 number) they will be able to give you an appointment with a dentist in the region they cover - some parts of the country that may be a city if you live somewhere like Birmingham
or Manchester but, if like us, you live in Cornwall, it could be anywhere in your county - we had a 3 hour, 150 mile, round trip 2 weeks ago for my husband to have a rotten tooth extracted. The other issue is, depending on how bad dental services are un your area, you may not be able to get an appointment for many weeks or months even if you try daily as there are only so many made available and lots of people in your position will be trying to get them.

If you’re successful in getting an appointment, then you will be charged a level 1 NHS fee and that’s £25.50 at the moment for whatever treatment you need.

Original poster
PetShopGirl · 15/08/2023 10:22

Thanks. I just don't know how I'm supposed to see a dentist though - I've had a look online and none in my area (a wide area!) accepting NHS patients. Still on hold to 111.

I feel pretty cheesed off that they de registered me with no warning to be honest - I work for the NHS and whilst I know dentistry is different, we just wouldn't deal with patients like that. My DH and DC went for a checkup the other day, so they are clearly still welcome!!

OP posts:

Interested in this thread?

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Dental health General health
Original poster
PetShopGirl · 15/08/2023 10:24

Sorry, reply above was to @Choupette7

@LovedFedAndNoonesDead I had thought ringing 111 was for an emergency dentist, but perhaps not?

OP posts:
ifonly4 · 15/08/2023 10:28

About 40% of my back tooth broke off. I tried a couple of tooth repair kits and the repair just broke off no matter how careful I was. At the time my tooth hurt, but as we were in lockdown dentist wouldn't see me for 18 months. Over time the jagged edge smoothed over a bit and pain actually went.

LovedFedAndNoonesDead · 15/08/2023 10:28

PetShopGirl · 15/08/2023 10:22

Thanks. I just don't know how I'm supposed to see a dentist though - I've had a look online and none in my area (a wide area!) accepting NHS patients. Still on hold to 111.

I feel pretty cheesed off that they de registered me with no warning to be honest - I work for the NHS and whilst I know dentistry is different, we just wouldn't deal with patients like that. My DH and DC went for a checkup the other day, so they are clearly still welcome!!

They probably have it in small print on their website about de registering NHS patients who don’t keep up with regular appointments. You could try appealing based on the fact your DH and DC were seen (unless they’ve kept up regular check ups and you haven’t!) and you’re a family unit. A lot of people found themselves
deregistered as NHS patients due to not being able to get appointments during Covid restrictions.

As for how you’ll be seen, if accepted by the emergency dental helpline and given an appointment, it will be a one off at a specific dental practice for that procedure only. The practice will contact you with the exact time and location - we got told what town it would be and what day then, the day before the appointment, the practice rang and told us their address and what time we had to be there. This won’t lead to registration with any dentist, you’d have to go on a waiting list for any practices you can find that have an open waiting list.

Original poster
PetShopGirl · 15/08/2023 10:50

DH and DC have had one additional checkup post-Covid that I haven't as I was so caught up with caring for my Dad all of last year. That was obviously just enough to keep them on the books. Yes, there is a link on their website to a tweet that says you will be de registered after 2 years but I don't see why they couldn't send one automated text prompt to say book a checkup by X date or you're out.

Still on hold to 111! Not having the most productive day at work...

OP posts:
ohtowinthelottery · 15/08/2023 11:01

I broke a large piece of tooth and filling a couple of weeks ago. Fortunately I managed to get an appointment with our NHS dentist. The options given to me were 1) do nothing (tooth wasn't decayed inside) 2) have a coating put over it then cover in white cement - but not shaped as a proper filling would be as nothing to support it. That fix should last about 1 year. 3) Be referred on for a root filling and possible crown - if it could be done. Very long wait for referral on NHS and £££ for a private referral. I opted for the coating and temporary fix and will see how it goes.

In the past I have used an over the counter fix for a crown that fell off (still had crown). It lasted about 3 months and the dentist wasn't able to get it off to do a temporary repair so I had to wait until it fell off again.

In your position I would keep trying 111 although if you're not in pain you won't be a priority. Once you eventually get through and find out the options (around here they just give you a list of dentists who do NHS but when you ring they're not taking on patients) I would probably try a temporary repair with an over the counter kit just to protect the area whilst you wait for treatment. My main concern was preventing the raw edges of the tooth from decaying.

Pinkpetunias23 · 15/08/2023 11:10

My back tooth broke once. I ignored it and over the next few months it got more and more painful until it was unbearable. The whole inside of the tooth got infected and had to be removed. Wish I'd just gone to the dentist in the first place!

LovedFedAndNoonesDead · 15/08/2023 11:24

@PetShopGirl have you tried googling emergency dental help for your area? It can often be a different phone number to 111 managed by their own team so not reliant on waiting in the 111 general queue

Original poster
PetShopGirl · 15/08/2023 11:40

LovedFedAndNoonesDead · 15/08/2023 11:24

@PetShopGirl have you tried googling emergency dental help for your area? It can often be a different phone number to 111 managed by their own team so not reliant on waiting in the 111 general queue

I have tried that, but it just comes up as 111 for NHS.

Have now spoken to 111 and they have said that I need to see a dentist within 24 hrs but that all the emergency appointments for today have gone. I need to ring again tomorrow at 8am and see if I get lucky (although was on hold for over 2hrs this morning so don't fancy my chances much!).

Have also rung every dentist in my integrated care board area listed on the NHS website, but none taking on NHS patients. And in fact a fair few have exclaimed in mild surprise a variation of 'oh, I don't think dentists are really doing NHS work anymore' Confused

Off to Boots later to find a diy repair kit.

OP posts:
Choupette7 · 15/08/2023 11:44

I did have an nhs dentist and I was kicked off the list during covid. I had to go privately for a bit.

I put myself on an nhs dentist waiting list and it took 7 months to get accepted and get an appointment.

I hope that you manage to get it sorted tomorrow, thankfully you are not in pain. There is no pain like toothache.

3luckystars · 15/08/2023 11:45

No you cannot fix it yourself.

3luckystars · 15/08/2023 11:49

Do not use any ‘kit’ from Boots. It is only meant to be for temporary use, (temporary like one day)
If you leave it any longer it could make your tooth shatter, it is a not a suitable for long term repair and is not an alternative to the dentist.

Original poster
PetShopGirl · 15/08/2023 11:53

3luckystars · 15/08/2023 11:49

Do not use any ‘kit’ from Boots. It is only meant to be for temporary use, (temporary like one day)
If you leave it any longer it could make your tooth shatter, it is a not a suitable for long term repair and is not an alternative to the dentist.

Okay, but there is no alternative if private dentistry is not an option and there's not even any emergency NHS appointments? I can't spend 2 hours each morning on hold to 111 on the off chance - I work in the NHS!

OP posts:
Original poster
PetShopGirl · 15/08/2023 11:55

Also, 111 suggested I try a repair kit..

OP posts:
Choupette7 · 15/08/2023 11:56

3luckystars · 15/08/2023 11:49

Do not use any ‘kit’ from Boots. It is only meant to be for temporary use, (temporary like one day)
If you leave it any longer it could make your tooth shatter, it is a not a suitable for long term repair and is not an alternative to the dentist.

I agree with this. My dentist told me that the kits are fine to use for a day or two but also said that you run the risk of infection being trapped under the temporary filling.

3luckystars · 15/08/2023 12:03

How much is it to go privately?

WILTYjim · 15/08/2023 12:08

The labour government got rid of registration with NHS dentists in 2005. You haven’t been registered since the end of your last treatment plan. The idea behind this was that it would
widen access as people wouldn’t be blocking new patients.

The upshot is that you’ve lost your NHS dentist. It’s nothing to do with covid, or missing check ups. The policy is that you are a patient of the practice for the length of your treatment plan (usually 3 months), then that’s it.

In practice, most dentists like to keep the patients they’ve worked with over the years as new patients can be very expensive to treat.

Dentists said the contract wouldn’t work. It doesn’t work for them and it doesn’t work for patients.

Flora56 · 15/08/2023 12:21

I’ve just paid £400 for an issue with 2 teeth. 1 extraction and 1 filling plus the emergency appointment fee, as I wasn’t registered anywhere.

I had the same issue as the OP however my dentist refused us appointments due to being busy for 2 years and then told us we’d been deregistered due to not booking an appointment 🤷‍♀️

I was in agony to the point I couldn’t work and luckily had the cash. I’ve no idea what I’d have done if I couldn’t have afforded private care. It would’ve definitely included long term sick leave.

Original poster
PetShopGirl · 15/08/2023 12:34

3luckystars · 15/08/2023 12:03

How much is it to go privately?

£70 for a checkup but no idea how much any treatment is likely to be - I'm assuming they wouldn't want to commit until they'd had a look at it. And there are no appointments anyway!

OP posts:
mavisf · 15/08/2023 13:01

I was in agony to the point I couldn’t work and luckily had the cash. I’ve no idea what I’d have done if I couldn’t have afforded private care. It would’ve definitely included long term sick leave.

You were in agony? It's disgraceful people are going through this. What are people supposed to do. Past threads here where people can't sleep because of pain!

I lost my NHS dentist and found I was no longer registered. I'm in a weird position of having relatives pay for my children's education and extracurricular (tricky divorce situation), but wouldn't dream of asking for money for dental care when I broke a back tooth.

I couldn't get an emergency NHS appointment, but there were many many same day private appointments available in several places in the city. I managed to free up some cash to get patched up that way. I dread anything going wrong again as I'm on a two year waiting list currently. Hopefully I'll be able to improve my financial situation before then.

postitnot · 15/08/2023 13:06

WILTYjim · 15/08/2023 12:08

The labour government got rid of registration with NHS dentists in 2005. You haven’t been registered since the end of your last treatment plan. The idea behind this was that it would
widen access as people wouldn’t be blocking new patients.

The upshot is that you’ve lost your NHS dentist. It’s nothing to do with covid, or missing check ups. The policy is that you are a patient of the practice for the length of your treatment plan (usually 3 months), then that’s it.

In practice, most dentists like to keep the patients they’ve worked with over the years as new patients can be very expensive to treat.

Dentists said the contract wouldn’t work. It doesn’t work for them and it doesn’t work for patients.

This. You need to speak to your MP

mavisf · 15/08/2023 13:06

I hope you manage to get an appointment soon, OP. I looked at repair kits but reviews were very mixed.

Quitelikeacatslife · 15/08/2023 13:08

Stick the broken off bit in milk whilst you get appt, I think that will help if they can stick it on, they can do infa red shellac or something