Toothache HELL

[governmovern]

I’m lucky enough to have an NHS dentist and am mid way through a treatment package awaiting a root canal on a molar. However, they can’t do the procedure for over a month and I am in a lot of pain. I’ve been on max painkillers for 9 days already and can’t sleep etc. Went back to dentist on Thursday who gave antibiotics and essentially said ‘sorry nothing we can do until your next appointment’.

I now think I just want the tooth extracted, as I understand I should be able to sort this much quicker, and I can’t wait for over a month in this state.

It's a bottom second molar.

Sorry, this is a muddle, I’m very tired, sore and high on codeine 🦷 if anyone has any suggestions or thoughts as to whether this idea is good bad or ugly- please share

Can you afford to pay for a private dentist? I was waiting for ages for my NHS dentist to sort my tooth and in the end just paid to have it pulled privately. They got me in that same day. Never went back to my old surgery and now pay for a private dental plan.

Sorry you are in so much pain btw. Toothache is a nightmare!

Try Orajel in the meantime. It’s a local anaesthetic you rub on the tooth / gum. Might give you some temporary respite.

Yes try Oragel, the 20% benzocaine one you get from the pharmacy counter, Boots sell it. Some you just buy at Amazon or not from the pharmacy counter are only 10% benzocaine. I had some from Covid times, just in case and was looking recently to see if you could still get it.

I could have written your post almost word for word, as have just come out of a similar experience. Except its my bottom right no. 7 molar not 2nd molar. The worst pain I have ever experienced in my life. Started in late January. Got seen in February by NHS dentist. X-ray showed nothing wrong so assumed a crack. Pain went away after a few days. No treatment.

Pain came back x10 in late February. Couldn't eat, sleep or function. Got seen in early March and started root canal. Got through 2/3 appointments when pain came back x50 over Easter Bank Holiday weekend. Nearly passed out it was so bad. Had to pay to see an emergency dentist who prescribed me amoxicyllin as cheek had swollen and I had an infection.

Went back to dentist a few days ago. Another X-ray. Still nothing showing up. No infection either (AB finished now). Now just waiting to finish root canal in 2 weeks time and hope to God I don't have any more pain/infections, otherwise may have to have the tooth extracted, which I'm trying to avoid!

Things that helped manage the pain at home:

Orajel (supermarkets also sell it).
Clove oil (otc at pharmacy but tastes disgusting).
Ice pack on side of face/cheek.
Gargle with warm salt water.
Take both paracetamol AND ibuprofen together.

I am starting to think my problem is not even the tooth, but a nerve trapped under it in my jaw! Good luck. Hope you get it sorted soon. It really is debilitating!

Oil of cloves (from the chemist) soaked in an ear bud and applied directly to the tooth, recommended by my dentist. It numbs the nerve. Until you can get it sorted. Hope you feel better soon

Thank you all.
Sorry to hear others have had the same.

If it is a choice between paying privately for removal vs another month of this, I will pay privately. Very much resent it though as this entire course should be covered by my maternity exemption. But hey that's the state of NHS dentistry.

My dentist didn't really explain that the root canal process was a multiple step process or that I would be waiting 5 weeks for next appointments. That's my biggest grievance, I wouldn't have gone ahead with starting this process had I have known. He just said 'I recommend we do the root canal treatment' 🤷

I have orajel which gives some temporary relief.

You are right and you shouldn't have to pay privately but it's worth it to save you from more pain 💐

My DS ended up paying for a tooth extraction privately, just a few weeks ago. There is nowhere round here any more accepting NHS patients.

I found myself bumped off a NHS dentist's list, despite having paid up front for the bloody course treatment! They cancelled three times in a row over 6 months - and I was then summarily dismissed from the practice. Sneaky and presumably fraudulent.

In England ^^

I'm seeing an emergency dentist at 11.30. Will beg them to extract! If not at least some more antibiotics might get me some relief in the short term.

The AB take 48 hours to kick in. Ask for some immediate pain relief in the meanwhile. Maybe they can give you a shot of morphine if the pain is that bad?

@Meredusoleil I'm a prescriber, albeit in a non dentist setting, and I would say that 48 hours with things getting worse would suggest the antibiotics aren't appropriate.
But yes analgesia will be appreciated too!

I have had Pregabalin for nerve pain. Very effective for very short-term use, i.e. a few days.

Well that's what the emergency dentist said to me, but I started to feel better before that anyway!

Please,please,please never use or suggest clove oil inside the mouth. It can give a very nasty chemical burn and many people are also allergic. I have had to takeout a tooth where the Clove oil had burnt through gum and bone. It should never get on gums . https://ihrjournal.com/ihrj/article/view/222/778

I was wondering why it stung my lips 😩

Did you get sorted OP?

The toothache isn't as bad, I've now got gastritis from the ibuprofen 😂 so was up all night with that instead!Gotta laugh, right?

What did the emergency dentist say/do? Did you get AB?