Private dentist can't see me for 5 weeks. I'm in pain. What can I do?

[OffWithHerHeadFred]

I had to make a private dental appointment as my NHS dentist went private around about the time I was due a check up and I was beginning to get dental pain.

I suspect my recent rough pregnancy has damaged my teeth as I had hyperemesis for 7 months.

I have pain in a crowned molar that has had a root canal. It got a little better after antibiotics and a cleaning so I thought perhaps it was a gum issue or an issue with the neighbouring tooth. Saw the private dentist and he took xrays and said there is decay behind the filling in the neighbouring tooth that'll need replacing and that he can see "something going on" in my crowned tooth at the root but said if it's not bothering me then to leave it and check up on it in a year. It wasn't bothering that much at the time. That was 3 weeks ago. Now its beginning to hurt again. Not excruciating but enough that I am aware of it throughout the day and if I press my tongue on it I can feel a mild sensitivity.

I also have pain in the neighbouring tooth which is probably the decay but dentist has said that tooth will require a 90 minute appointment so have to wait until March which is 5 weeks away.

I don't know what to do as each day the pain is steadily getting worse.

Will the NHS emergency line help me if I tell them I have a private dentist? I'm just afraid this will get worse rapidly and I'll be left in extreme pain and my private dentist can't see me until March.

If it was very bad would the emergency dentist treat me? Even just for an extraction?

(Please forgive my rambling. I have health anxiety and am finding the uncertainty of my dental care very difficult to deal with.)

Ring around, and ask around. I was in agony, and managed to get a same day appointment with a private dentist I wasn't registered with, and then a follow up a week later.

I think unless it’s life threatening you have to put up with it.

I had unbearable pain in a front tooth once. They couldn’t di anything with it until the crown from the lab was made. I was in agony for about 5 weeks. Just had to take paraceatamol.

This is what I would do too.

If you can’t get seen, use a salt wash to rinse mouth as can help draw infection. For pain relief if really bad codine but you don’t want to be taking that for over 3 days. Orajel is quite good at numbing the area. And keep up with pain relief alternate between paracetamol and ibuprofen. Hope you can get seen earlier, tooth pain is the worst.

I'll start doing salt water rinses and hope it doesn't get too much worse. I can feel pain in my jaw joint and cheek bone though which is quickly getting worse.

I've already had to borrow the money for the private treatment. Don't know how I'll afford an emergency appointment with a new dentist and then the cost of treatment.

@OffWithHerHeadFred
My initial appointment was £80 Inc antibiotics and x Ray. 2nd appointment was £180 for extraction. I was expecting worse tbh.

You can get over the counter paracetamol with codeine, but word of warning, it really knocked me out.

If it's an emergency your own dentist has to see you; if you have facial swelling or heat around the tooth. My husband had toothache when our dentist was closed; he got an emergency Nhs appointment on a Saturday morning. They took the tooth out for £28. It would have cost over £100 at our own dentist.

My DH used clove oil as well as painkillers a couple of times. Put a couple of drops on a tissue and press it against the affected area. It numbs it for a while. I second the salt mouthwash as well. Hope you get it sorted soon.

I would ring 111 and say that you don't have an NHS dentist (you don't have an NHS dentist - you can say that your previous NHS dentist went private, which is true). I've had many a dental emergency over the years and I've always been seen same or next day after ringing 111, and I'm in the SW where NHS dental care is notoriously shotty.

@mindutopia I'm in SW too. My only worry with doing that is that the private dentist I have registered at actually has one NHS dentist there still so if I got sent to that practise through the emergency 111 thing I'd probably get in trouble as I wouldn't be allowed. It's just super stressful being in pain and being sleep deprived with a little baby too.

Just phone your dentist.

The issue here is the length of the appointment needed for the planned treatment, hence why you’re having to wait 5 weeks. For an emergency appointment, because you’re in pain, it’s usually much shorter so they should be able to fit you in sooner. They may even have an emergency appointment on the same day .

@TheFairyCaravan I already have phoned my dentist who has said he can't do an emergency appointment as the tooth he thinks is causing the issue needs a 90 min appointment time which can only be fit in, in March. However I'm not sure if it's that tooth or the crowned one next to it that's causing the pain.

Go somewhere else, they are businesses, you are paying for a service, find one that will see you tomorrow!

You can see whatever dentist you like so ring around and find a dentist who can see you,should be easy enough especially as you're private.

Orajel is excellent for toothache...

That’s really bad. He should be doing his best to fit you in beforehand.

Ring 111 and ask about emergency dental care in your area. Also mention you've just had a baby as you're entitled to free NHS dental treatment for up to 12 months after baby is born with your maternity exemption form - IF AND IT'S A BIG IF! There are any NHS dentists!

My area seems to have had a bit of a restructure with dentistry and my family now get NHS treatment.

Have you told your own dentist that the pain has increased? Sorry, not quite sure when the conversations have been.

If you had a baby within the last 12mths, can't you get free dental treatment? Or is that just if you can find an NHS dentist?

Is it just your own dentist who can't see you, or there is no other dentist at your clinic available? I had an issue last year, and my regular dentist was away for a month, but eventually, their colleague at the same practice saw me. If that isn't an option, I'd keep ringing other private dentists.

I do think you need to push to be seen - 111 . Many years ago my NHS dentist avoided doing work while I had the maternity exemption . I do wonder if this tactic is at play here too - if your dentist still has NHS provision. Your dentist is assuming the issue is the same as three weeks ago - it may not be

Ring 111 as they take calls for emergency dentistry so may be able to set you up with an appointment

You aren't going to get in trouble for calling 111! Give them a call explain what is happening with your teeth and hopefully they can get you an emergency appointment. There's a rotation of practices that offer emergency appointments via 111 in my area - it's possible something similar is offered near you.

🤞I hope you get this sorted ASAP - dental pain is the worst!

@Cheeesus Yes I have. I registered with that practise and had my new patient exam and mentioned that I had been having trouble with one of those two teeth but at that time it had settled down a bit. He took xrays and said the filled tooth has decay behind the filling so could be that causing the discomfort and that it needs refilling. He also said the crowned tooth has "something going on" as he can see a small shadow but to wait and see. Then not long after that appointment the crowned tooth has started hurting again, not horrific but each day it's getting more and more. I phoned up and said could I go on a cancellations list or be seen earlier as I'm in pain again and they said March is the earliest time as it'll be a long appointment. I'm hesitant to go to a new private practise as I'll have to pay the new patients fee all over again and I've already had to borrow money just to pay for the work I'm having done now.

@CJ4713 That's only on the NHS and there are no NHS dentists taking on in the SW and the waiting list is about 8 years long.
There is only one private dentist at the practise I'm with and one NHS dentist but he's not taking on new NHS patients.

Thanks for the replies everyone. I'm having a hard time at the minute with anxiety. I think it's been triggered by having a baby and it's making my health anxiety worse so this teeth thing is tipping me over the edge a bit.

I'm terrified of being left in pain due to either no appointments being available for a length of time or due to me not being able to afford the treatment. I'm already paying over a thousand pounds for the private treatment as a fair bit of work needs doing to prevent things from getting worse.

I'm sad about the fact that I'll probably lose the crowned tooth as there will be no way I can pay for a second root canal if its even possible or for the crown to he taken off and replaced. I can't afford an implant either so will be left with a missing tooth. It's all upsetting me very much.