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.)

Please NEVER do this. Clove oil is an acid and the way it works inside teeth is basically to kill the nerve off.
Applied like this you will probably get a burn or ulcer and increased pain. I have had to take a tooth out where the gum was burnt through to the bone doing this.
please put clove oil in the bin where it belongs.

Blimey that sucks. You pay for private dentistry and still have to be 5 weeks in severe pain?

I was once in a lot of pain and told I'd have to wait 3 weeks (NHS). I couldn't bear it and went to GP! He gave me antibios and didn't even ask why I was there.

When I finally saw my dentist he was outraged that I'd had to wait and said he'd talk to the reception staff as it shouldn't have happened. Even now they're pretty good at seeing you quickly if you're in pain.

OP, have you really laid it on thick about how much pain you're in? Told them it's unbearable? They really can't leave you like this.
Be a squeaky wheel.

Given how much private dentists charge, I would be phoning round to find a new one if yours can't be arsed to see you sooner than five weeks if you're in pain! Sack him & find one that provides the level of service you're paying for

Op my tooth hadca shadow at the root, it was infection. I was prescribed antibiotics but had 2 nights of agony, I coukdnt settle, concentrate, sleep, hold any sort of train of thought. If you have an infection ir abscess it needs treating now. The appointment I had took about 10 minutes. The extraction took about 20, start to finish. How does he know he needs 90 minutes if he doesn't know what the problem is??

@Bemyclementine Did you replace the tooth you had extracted or leave the gap?
He says it's going to be 90 minutes as that's how long it'll take to sort out the tooth next to the crown as that one is heavily filled and has decay behind the filling so the whole filling needs replacing. He said ideally that one needs a crown too but I can't afford that.
He said the pain could be coming from that tooth. But since then I'm feeling more and more in the crowned tooth next to it. Knowing my luck they're both bad and I'll lose them both.

I'd phone the dentist you are getting treatment done at, ask for an emergency appointment even if they dress the tooth till your 90minute appointment comes around.
Sounds like your getting a root canal.
Get put on cancellation list for the actual treatment.

@Washinglinewench29 I'm not getting a root canal on the heavily filled tooth. Just having the filling redone. The tooth with the crown that's hurting has already had a root canal done to it and as far as I understand a second root canal is difficult and has to be done by a specialist so I won't be able to afford that either. So if it is infected I will have no choice but to have it extracted and leave a gap as I can't afford implants or dentures or anything. 😞

I would pay to see another private dentist.

You could need more antibiotics to see you though to get your treatment? I would maybe ask the dentist if that would help.

@OffWithHerHeadFred I've left the gap for now, it's second to back on the bottom. I can't afford an implant at this stage but hope to infuture.

Dental nurse here. I'm not sure I understand your question but here is how to get an urgent appointment -

If you're registered at the private practice they should have a procedure where you have to ring at 9am to get an emergency slot. I've never worked at a practice that doesn't have daily urgent slots.

If you're not registered- ring 111. You might have to travel but they will find you urgent treatment. Good luck x

@moreorangeplease Yes the private practise offers emergency consultations but as I've already seen the very dentist recently about these same teeth, he's said what he thinks needs doing which will take 90 minutes. The soonest he can fit me in for a 90 minute appointment is 5 weeks time. I've phoned and said I'm in pain but they've said unless there is a cancellation of a sooner 90 minute appointment, I won't be able to be seen any sooner than my March appointment .

That's why I was asking if 111 would still offer me an emergency appointment with an NHS dentist if I'm registered with a private one but can't be seen.

I totally understand your anxiety around this. I'm the same especially when it comes to dental pain. Call around other private dentists as they can usually out in place a monthly payment plan and have far more capacity for emergency appointments. I did this and now feel far more reassured that I can be seen quickly if it's ever needed (and I have been in a few occasions).

Just a PSA to say nhs dentists don’t avoid doing work on exempt patients - they get paid the same either way and any patient charges don’t go to the dentist but back to the NHS @Februarydaffodil

It was that or negligence . As in all professions some are more skilled than others .

Woke up with really bad pain this morning so phoned 111 and explained about the 5 week wait. 111 said they could still see me and booked me in to see a dentist today.. except they messed it up and didn't send my details through so the practise couldn't actually book me in and now the appointment has been missed. I could cry.