Can I have a hand hold through this toothache?

[MadameSpam]

NHS dentist went private at the beginning of the year.

I saw a private dentist the following month who told me I needed 6 fillings replacing as there was decay behind them and it would cause bigger problems for me down the line.

I was a little surprised as my NHS dentist had been telling me everything looked fine for the last few years.

Anyway, I went ahead and started the treatment plan, getting the first filling replaced on an upper right molar. After it was done the dentist said the filling had to be done very deep and might
flare up and irritate me every now and then but that the tooth was now in much better condition and should last 10 years before needing a crown.

Got home and the anaesthetic wore off and I noticed the bite was very high. Went back the next day and had it adjusted. It was still high after that and also the tooth was starting to hurt whenever I bit on it or drank hot or cold.

Dentist told me he wouldn't adjust any further and that I'd now need a root canal.

I had no more funds for this as the treatment plan for replacing my fillings was already £1300 and this appointment had cost me £470.

By some miracle I managed to find an NHS dentist in my area that was taking on which is unheard of.

She did my first check up and told me everything looked fine and that no fillings needed replacing. I asked why the private dentist had told me they did due to decay behind them and she said she didn't know as couldn't see any decay.

She adjusted the replaced filling that was still high and said hopefully it would stop hurting. I told her the private dentist told me I'd need a root canal but she said to wait a little longer and see if it got better.

I went back to her today as I couldn't cope with the sharp shooting pain I got when chewing on that side and the pain to even just drinking tap water.

She removed the new filling and put some medicine on the nerve of the tooth and then replaced with a temporary filling ... and then told me she can't do a root canal on the tooth as it needs a specialist and I'll have to pay privately for it.

The anaesthetic has now worn off and I'm in worse pain than before. It's literally agony. My whole face is throbbing. The gum where the root of the tooth is swollen, the pain is referring to the bottom teeth as well as the top.
I've taken dihydrocodeine and that hasn't touched the pain.

It's utterly miserable and I have a 4 month old baby to look after.

I'm not booked in to go back for another 2 weeks to see about the root canal that I can't really afford. I'll probably have to have it extracted.

I'm so upset as I spent so much money trying to make my teeth better and it only made it worse and now I'll probably lose the tooth.

Also don't know how to get through this pain. It's awful.

I'm so sorry OP it sounds horrendous

Get some ora-jel and ibuprofen is better for dental pain but take it with the codiene

It's so awful - you really need a third party to investigate this for you. We need OFDENT. I had slightly similar situation where I felt a bit cheated but a private dentist. I am lucky I have a wonderful NHS dentist now

Do you think the work was carried out unnecessarily to profit?

Can't all dentists do root canal?

@thedendrochronologist

Would it be okay to take ibruprofen after I've had dihydrocodeine? I'm worried about taking too many painkillers and making myself unwell when looking after my baby.

Oragel is a good shout, I'll get some tomorrow.

I really don't know if the work was necessary or not. The private dentist talked me through the xrays and showed me "shadows" under the fillings that he said was decay as the fillings are all very old, I got most of them as a child and a teen as I was never taught about oral hygiene but improved it as an adult so didn't need as much work after.

When he was showing me I could see the shadows he was pointing at and he showed me photographs of my teeth and how the fillings were "worse for wear".. He said if I don't replace them the problem will get worse and cost me more money down the line.

I live in the South West and NHS dentists are like gold dust down here so I really thought I'd never get in with another NHS dentist again so decided to borrow the money and begin treatment as I was scared I'd end up losing all my teeth in the future.

It was a miracle when I called up and there was an NHS dentist taking on.

She showed me the xrays she took and said she couldn't see any decay behind the fillings or shadows but I don't know if the NHS sort of ignores maybe more minor problems and only treats the necessary ones?

I don't know who to believe.

But it's very upsetting when I don't really have this money to spend and am having to borrow it and have only made my pain and my problem worse in the process.

I'm lying in bed with my baby and a hot water bottle on my jaw as the pain is so intense. No idea how I will sleep tonight.

I thought all dentists could do root canal as well so I'm confused why she says I need a referral. Perhaps it's complicated on my tooth or something.

I only had enough money to pay for the first bit of my treatment privately so won't have enough for this root canal so am trying to prepare myself that I will be losing the tooth.

I just hope I can make it through the 2 weeks until my appointment.

I think you should go back as soon as possible for antibiotics. This might improve things and get you out of pain just until you can have the root canal treatment

I’m really sorry to hear this, op. It sounds like you’ve had a costly, awful experience. Toothache is agonising. I’m not sure I have any useful advice about pain relief, but hopefully someone else will. Phone your dentist first thing tomorrow and try and get an emergency appointment. At least if you have an extraction, the pain will go. Sorry, not much comfort.

@maudelovesharold Thank you. I should be grateful really that I have an NHS dentist for now so even if I have to get an extraction it'll be more affordable.

I feel awful for the people in my situation that don't have an NHS dentist and can't afford private.

I wouldn't wish this on anyone! It's so painful!

Do you have an emergency dentist near you? We have one at the hospital, they have massively helped me when I've had horrific toothache with antibiotics and painkillers.
I second the advice for orajel, I found if it put some in a cotton bud I could dab it on the worst bit without wasting too much.
Be careful with the pain relief, ibuprofen will help but I ended up with a stomach ulcer as I took too much during a bad tooth flare! Makes sure you take it with food x

You can call 111 and they can advise on dental issues

I've just re read your OP and you saw the NHS DENTIST today about the pain caused by the private dentist. In this case, Call your NHS dentist first thing and tell them the pain is worse and getting. Worse all the time and you need to be seen again. If they can't see you call 111. Root canal is a band 3 so there is no reason why you can't have it on NHS?

They will be able to tell you about painkillers - I would take dihydracodiene and ibuprofen and @Mumofyellows is right as I can cause awful heartburn/gastritis so take with food

Op I had a very similar issue not too long ago. I got a filling in one of my molars and the bite felt slightly too high. I also had pain when chewing on that side and it was very sensitive to hot and cold. I never went back to the dentist but it did settle on its own after a week or 2. I figured it was just sensitive and tender because of the work that had been done.

For relieving tooth ache just now, I HIGHLY recommend Anbesol. I once used it for wisdom tooth pain and it completely numbed the whole area. Even the anbesol one that you can get for teething babies is very soothing if you have any of that kicking around.

@thedendrochronologist She told me to expect pain after today as she removed the filling the private dentist did and put some medicine in and then a temp filling to seal it.

But I don't know what level of pain I should have been expecting. This is worse than any of the pain I felt before. Its awful.

She also told me the soonest she can see me is in 2 weeks time and she's not sure if she can do the root canal and reckons she will have to refer to a specialist. I don't know why.

How are you feeling today OP?

So sorry you're in so much pain. She may mean that you will need to see an endodontist who specialise in severe cavities and deep root canals, they are specialists in saving teeth basically.
I had to go and see one as I had an infection under a crown, he did microsurgery on one tooth and it cost £1,500 so it would depend on what you needed etc So frustrating if she has messed with a tooth that didn't need immediate work in a bid to achieve 'perfect dental health' but I've found some private dentists do this and it ends up worse!
I have had all sorts of work done and all sorts of different pain and it's the worst so you have my full sympathy 💐

Sorry to ask whilst your suffering - but can you PM the name of the SW dentist that's taking on? We're desperate to find one.

I'm really sorry about your dental troubles, especially with a little one to care for. If the pain is unbearable, consider reaching out to your dentist for immediate relief. Regarding the financial strain, perhaps inquire about payment options or NHS support.

@thedendrochronologist Today has been much better! Whatever the NHS dentist did yesterday has worked as the pain has now settled and I can chew much better than I have for the last 5 weeks.

Shame I've still got to go back and sort out the root canal. Horrified by the price the PP mentioned ... £1500 is not do able for me, even with a payment plan.

@Marghogeth I've sent you a PM.

💐 One of the worst pains. Hope you feel better soon. Btw, I found Nurofen worked when nothing else did.

@MadameSpam I am in similar pain.
Got tooth out last week and still in pain. Gum is swollen and Jaw is black.
I have to go back 19th April for 2 fillings.
I put bonjela on but doesn't give much relief