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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think its ridiculous there's no out of hours dentists past 9pm

67 replies

WombatStewForTea · 15/07/2015 01:39

I've had excruciating tooth ache for 24 hours now. Managed to get an emergency appointment with my own dentist today who treated me. The local anaesthetic has worn off and the pain is back just as severe as before. I can't get through to even make an emergency appointment anywhere til 8am. I'm not sure I can last that long. NHS 111 confirmed nowhere open and just to take painkillers. :(

OP posts:
PresidentTwonk · 15/07/2015 01:42

YANBU toothache is the worst, I ended up having to go to hospital and they removed my tooth, same happened with a relative. I hope you get some relief from the pain soon.

Peachybanana · 15/07/2015 01:48

Oh hun nothing worse than toothache Hmm
My dentist gave me this tip, if you have toothache sleep with a few extra pillows because when u lie down pressure goes to your head and makes toothache worse, so u need to keep your head elevated.

Hope you get it sorted soon

butterfly133 · 15/07/2015 01:48

Ouch
Hope you feel better soon.

Original poster
WombatStewForTea · 15/07/2015 01:50

President- I had what the dentist thought was the offending tooth out today. Must be a different tooth after all!

Peachy I'd love nothing more than to sleep but there's no let up in the pain at all.

OP posts:
WestEast · 15/07/2015 01:54

Bag of peas in a tea towel and lay it in your face. I had a god awful abscess and it was the only way I could get done sleep.

shirleybasseyslovechild · 15/07/2015 01:56

oh dear toothache is terrible.
it is sometimes relieved by holding hot / warm water in your mouth.
hope you feel better soon

butterfly133 · 15/07/2015 02:07

It might be the correct tooth but the pain of the extraction is just really bad? I was given a specific painkiller after an extraction but I forget the name of it
I think you are supposed to avoid aspirin though.

Really hope you feel better, I know it's grim.

steff13 · 15/07/2015 02:22

Try clove oil on the extraction site.

Original poster
WombatStewForTea · 15/07/2015 04:35

Thanks for the suggestions. I've been relying on swirling cold water around my mouth. It seems to be the only thing that works!
Getting closer to emergency dentist opening times. . .

OP posts:
NoArmaniNoPunani · 15/07/2015 04:39

What are you taking? Neurofen plus is best for dental pain (I'm a dentist)

blueteapot · 15/07/2015 04:42

If cold water helps what about an ice pop? Are you sure its dental pain? Not all pain felt at the teeth is, some is felt there from other nerves in the face

Original poster
WombatStewForTea · 15/07/2015 04:42

Cocodamol but it isn't touching it. Can't take ibuprofen based stuff at the mo as it upsets my stomach and I could do without puking my guts up as welll!

OP posts:
ReallyTired · 15/07/2015 04:55

Maybe you could pop down to a and e and ask for really strong pain killers. You poor thing, if you are I so much pain you cannot sleep.

sharonthewaspandthewineywall · 15/07/2015 05:09

WineThanks

CanadianJohn · 15/07/2015 05:50

Sorry to hear of your dental problem. There's nothing worse than a toothache.

However, to address your AIBU, yes, I think you are BU. In this city (about 250,000) an emergency appointment means within 24 hours, and I could not find a dentist that made appointments after 8.00 pm (I just checked).

It is hard to imagine a funding model that would allow a dental office to be open 24 hours a day.

googoodolly · 15/07/2015 06:55

Toothache is horrible, I sympathise. Salt water gargles help (temporarily) with toothache. Or Corsodyl mouthwash if you have any. Hope you get seen soon!

Tootsiepops · 15/07/2015 08:34

Please don't swirl or gargle near the extraction site until at least 24 hours have passed - the gum needs time to form a clot. If you disturb that process, you end up with something called dry socket and it is agonising.

Original poster
WombatStewForTea · 15/07/2015 09:02

Got an appointment for later this morning. Tootsiepops I have to admit I have swirled as cold has been the only way to make the pain bareable. Looks like I'm in for trouble then

OP posts:
Groovee · 15/07/2015 09:08

Warm salt water as mouth wash is what I was advised but not until 24 hours have passed.

Mrsmorton · 15/07/2015 09:13

YABU. It costs well over £100 an hour to keep a dental surgery open. There wouldnt be sufficient footfall to break even and (as a dentist) there's no way I would work after 8pm unless I was in a hospital post. Even then it's difficult to mobilise the correct staff and equipment for toothache which whilst being utterly shit, isn't life threatening.

Hope you get it sorted.

ReallyTired · 15/07/2015 14:15

I hope that the op is feeling better. I feel that 24 access to a dentist is unrealistic. However 24 hour access to strong prescription pain relief and maybe antibiotics should be available.

Cheby · 15/07/2015 14:30

OP YANBU a million times over. I get that it may not be economical to keep a dentist open. But in that situation they should allow you to be treated at walk ins or a&e, painkillers and antibiotics are universal. As it is more often than not you are refused even this basic treatment, despite being in the most agonising pain. As someone prone to regular debtal infections, I have found this out to my cost.

Original poster
WombatStewForTea · 15/07/2015 14:45

Quick update- been back to the dentist who assured me this pain is common when having a tooth out! If only I'd been told before hand I'd not have had it removed!

I have indeed got dry socket which I assume is one of the main reasons for the pain. I truly wish I'd been more careful with the clot but I didn't know how important it was!
Anyone know when I'm likely to start feeling better? I'm not sure how much longer I can deal with it.

OP posts:
Original poster
WombatStewForTea · 15/07/2015 14:46

Meant to add I know it isn't feasible to have 24 hour dentists but I'd have happily driven a few hours to some sort of regional clinic to get sorted!

OP posts:
WinterOfOurDiscountTents15 · 15/07/2015 14:50

You know it isn't feasible to have 24 hour dentists yet you're complaining that there isn't a 24 hour dentist within driving Distance?