A&E for antibiotics?? Going on holiday. Nobody else can see me

[Yumdoritos]

I don't know what else to do. My cheek is swollen up due to some dental issues. I have a referral to a specialised dentist but that isn't until March. I called my regular dentist who doesn't have any appointments for 2 weeks. I called NHS 111 who said no dentists are available in my area and to keep trying my normal dentist. I made and went to a GP appointment who said I need to go back to the dentist...

I just need antibiotics to take the swelling down as I most likely have an infection somewhere (this has happened before a few months ago)

I'm going abroad on holiday on Wednesday!!! What am I meant to do? I need to get antibiotics before then because what if it gets worse while I am there? AIBU to go to A&E for this? I went there before when it was swollen as I couldn't even see because it had swollen up near my eye, they sent me to their emergency GP who is next to the hospital and I got antib's from him. Am assuming I could do the same this time? Argh I am stressing out so much and can't look forward to my holiday :(

A&E is for medical emergencies - heart stacks, strokes, broken bones, that kind of thing.

The problem is doctors are not dentists. They don't cover much about teeth or dental problems at med school. It's like asking a carpenter to fix your boiler and going from carpenter to carpenter until one of them bashes it with a hammer for a bit.

I'd keep ringing around local dentists, tell them about the swelling and that you're going on holiday and ask for an emergency appintment.

private dentist if you are desperate - some larger sainsburys have them, it's about £40 for a visit, they'll tell you what is wrong and prescribe antibiotics if needed but won't do any work unless you agree.

Salt and water has never stung or hurt me, but obviously not the nicest taste and don't swallow any

Do you have a dental hospital locally?

Sainsburys for dentist?!

Ring your own dentist on Monday, explain it is badly swollen, you are going away and need to be seen before then to see if antibiotics are needed

A&E is for urgent cases and, while you might think it is free, it costs a lot to the NHS (plus your GP gets notified and a charge made against their budget) I think I have read somewhere that every visit costs the NHS around £150 but can't swear to the exact figure

In the nicest way possible, YABU, sorry. It is neither an accident nor an emergency, by your own admission you are not in any pain and you have several other options available to you. You could try the out of hours GP (who can be accessed via NHS direct or 111 or whatever it's called now), you should also be able to access an out of hours dentist via them at some point before you go on holiday as you have until Wednesday, you could visit an NHS walk in centre or, if you can afford it, pay for a private dental appointment as a one off. You also have the option of waiting until Monday and then ringing round all the local NHS dentists as from your post it sounds as though you have only contacted your normal dentist and one other dentist.

If you turn up at A&E on the busiest night of the week, saying "I'm not in pain or anything but the dentist is closed and I don't really want to wait until Monday so can I have some antibiotics please?" I imagine you're going to be given pretty short shrift.

A&E is not for this kind of thing and this is one of the reasons that the departments are unable to cope. I'm not blaming you OP but this is a dental problem and should have been sorted out by your dentist between 9 and 5 when they are available.
I would suggest that you call the emergency dentist, explain your symptoms, tell them you are in pain and think that you have an abscess as you had one before.

Where are you going? You can buy antibiotics in many countries.
Runs away before the flaming of all flamings

As Jenny suggested, are there any dental hospitals near by? University dental hospitals will often have clinics where you're seen by a (supervised) final year student. Worth looking into if you're within travelling distance

Emergency dental treatment is an absolute joke (I know I sound like someone in the comments section on the DM website but it's genuinely true in this situation). Dental pain is the worst I have ever experienced, and yet for the most part you can't access care after 9pm. It's worse than my gallstones, for which a&e are willing to prescribe morphine, but for a much worse dental infection you're just left to get on with it.

Anyway, I would honestly recommend lying to your dentist and say it's now become painful, you need to see someone now. I know it's not ideal and not the proper way of doing it, but it's all the system allows.

Seriouslyffs....I was thinking the same. I repped overseas and had guests who got antibiotics in Spain etc, greecen cyprus etc, they even got the pill.
My slight concern for the op is if it gets worse, flying is not great.
OP...firstly, try not to panic. Wednesday is quite a while away in the greater scheme of things and you have marked it 1/10 for pain (is that right?).

Dear OP, you are being very honest saying that you are not in pain. If you are genuinely not in pain then yes, wait till Monday and get an appointment with a dentist, any dentist. If you can't do that (because your own has no appointments for two weeks and the others won't see you because you're not registered with them no doubt), and your GP won't prescribe because you need to see dentist, then I think you have no choice but to go to A&E and hopefully see the doctor you saw before (next door to A&E).

Failing that, go on holiday and see a doctor while you're there. It will probably be a damn sight cheaper and easier. If it's a package holiday then your holiday rep will have all the local doctor's numbers and will arrange for you to go and see one there and then, no waiting. At least that was my experience when I worked as a rep in Turkey, and in France. Appointments straight away. In fact, often the doctor came out to the hotel within half an hour. Costs were usually around 50 or 60 quid. It won't have changed much.

Gp's get charged for A&E visits? Gawd, I've made 3 A&E visits in the last month; I'm going to be popular! (Not)

Sounds horrible OP - really badger your dentist. Check as well for an emergency clinic - we have one locally for people without a dentist - they might be able to see you as a walk in? Although Sainsbury's for £40 sounds a good deal as well.

Thanks for advice everyone. I'll do salt water rinses (just did one - blergh!) until Monday and then contact my dentist again. It is really minor swelling and no pain as I said, so very lucky. Just horrible timing because of the holiday!

I am going to Germany, not sure if antib's are available OTC there? Going for 2 weeks though and I am just paranoid it will get worse while I'm there and I'll be screwed!

I'm quite prone to dental abscesses so have had a few! My dentist is a 1 woman practice so can be quite difficult to get a quick appt. I think I have gone to the GP 2 or 3 times to get antibiotics and gotten them no problem. The last one I had, I wasn't able to get a drs appt for a few days so I started with the salt water and also applying a tea bag to the affected area inside my mouth about 3-4 times a day (draws the toxins to the surface). On the 2nd day, I noticed the swelling had started going down so worked like a charm! Also, oil pulling can help.

Hope you get sorted

If you're going to Germany, take a look at the Tripadvisor forum for your destination too....ask the question about otc antibiotics. There is usually a local expert who can advise. I had some great advice once on a similar medical thing when taking my elderly mum to Corfu. A lot of this anxiety may be your dental fear (I know myself) and it gets heightened when you feel out of control. You can also buy really good tooth ache gel on Amazon, I always take it away with me in case of emergencies.

Make sure you take your EHIC card and you will be able to see a dentist in Germany if you do get worse

Think you might still need to pay for a German dentist even with EHIC. I don't think an emergency dentist here would do more than is necessary to contain any infection and pain. Have you tried peroxyl mouthwash (Colgate), or ask pharmacist for a recommendation.

Sorry, YABU. Emergency or OOH services are not for your convenience so you can access treatment before a holiday.

No you won't get antibiotics OTC in Germany. But presumably you have travel insurance so if it does kick off while you're there you can see a German dentist. I am certain they are efficient!

Have you actually been to your own dentist or just phoned them?

You might get a better result if you turn up in person and explain face to face.

Phone isn't always best.

They might have a quick look or tell you when to come back.

Alternatively, you will just have to fork out to see a private one.

Private emergency dentist appt for abs cost me about £60. Yes it's a lot but worth it. Can't you stick it on the credit card?

Phone is always best. Then they can fit you in at the best time. If you turn up they may well send you away if fully booked.