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 :(

Ring up your dentist and tell them you are in pain!

So you're not in any pain, and it's not that swollen, but you're considering going to A&E because you're going on holiday, and are sure you need ABs?

Go private - my DD struggled for ages (over a year) with teeth that had massive problems, recurring abcesses etc, couldnt get appointment with NHS dentist. Went private, seen the same day and actually didn't cost that much more than NHS dentist.

Local to me we have something called Dentaline - its an OOH dental service, trying to access it via 111 was impossible.

A&E likely to turn you away.

Doctors, both GPs and in a&e, have about as much dental training as your hairdresser I'm afraid. Doctors aren't insured to issue antibiotics for dental issues because they're not trained to do so... They're often only a temporary fix anyway. Some old school ones still will but it's increasingly frowned upon.

Most areas have an emergency out of hours service that doesn't require you to see your own dentist but it's locally organised so if you can't find it after you've been trying so hard maybe you're in an unlucky area :(

OP dentists are contractually obliged to see emergency cases if they are nhs contractors.

Go in first thing on Monday and advise the receptionist that you are there for an emergency appointment. If they say nothing available, tell them you are happy to wait until a gap comes up in the schedule. If they continue to refuse ask to speak to the manager or the principal.

Tell them that you are there for an immediately necessary clinical appointment as the dental emergency you have been calling about has not resolved. In addition previously it led to other issues.

If the person deciding they will not see you at this stage is not a dentist remind them that the GDC / NHS expectation is that such decisions are made only by a clinically competent person.

Ask that they justify their reasons in writing as you want to pay the band 1 charge for emergency treatment but if needed you will go private and escalate to NHS England and the GDC that they are not only in breach of their contract but also witholding care to the detriment of oral and physical health even when clinically indicated.

If they then don't see you I would go private and then formally request that the GDC and NHS England ensure the practice refund the money as they were refusing to meet the terms of the contract and claiming a lack of nhs care.

Dentists love to bend the contract for their own benefit because there is so little knowledge. Go armed with a good book and charge on your mobile and wait for the emergecy appointment. Even mire ensure they do the job they are being paid for.

What's a badger clinic?

Try hot salt water rinses (my dentist says use very hot water-don't burn your self) and antiseptic mouthwash several times a day for a few mins each time.

Don't forget the 'can't afford a private dentist though going abroad on holiday' Voldy. Interesting set of priorities.

She couldhave paid for the holiday in advance like many so that isn't necessarily related to her not affording a dentist.

OP dentists are contractually obliged to see emergency cases if they are nhs contractors.
Lol. No they're not. Also, much else in your thread is make believe becles
as if the GDC are interested in what the NHS contract is. Oh how uninformed you are.

Becles you have a very strange view of the power of receptionists.

If someone just turns up with toothache on a Monday morning demanding to be seen. .oh how everyone in a dental practice loves this..I go and ask the dentist if they will see them. If they say no no amount of browbeating or speaking to the manager will make a difference.

Personally I think the OPs dentist should squeeze her in, and going to A and E wold be ridiculous. But being overbearing won't achieve anything.

You will definitely not get over the counter antibiotics in Germany. You even have to go to the pharmacy to ask for painkillers, they're always aspirin, can't buy them in any other shops.

My experience of dentists in Germany is good, but I'm not sure how easy it would be to turn up and see one unless it turns into a raging emergency. Definitely try to get sorted before you go.

If things get worse (dental pain is the awful) an abscess stuck me in hospital for a week, I nearly died - no kidding.

You can't get it solved, I'd say yes go to A&E.

Dental infections can become very serious, even fatal. You can't mess around with them and expecting someone to wait two weeks to be assessed for antibiotics is ridiculous. GPs often will prescribe antibiotics but really you do need to see the dentist. You need to know what is going on, and what treatment is required to sort out the cause of the recurring infections. That treatment may be able to wait till you get back, but the antibiotics probably can't if you are correct about the need for them. Sometimes if you are awaiting treatment and the dentist is aware of your issues they will leave a prescription at the front desk for you to collect. If that is not possible and you cannot be seen even briefly, then I would speak to a pharmacist ( you could ring a 24 hour one locally or go first thing) and get their advice, and/or find out if you have a local minor injuries/out of hours walk in service. Yes, there is a risk you will be taking the drugs unnecessarily, especially as it seems odd about not pain, but if the dentist won't see you what choice do you have? Holiday or not. I would not be waiting till Wednesday so the holiday is a red herring.

I am sorry about your phobia, I hope you can get some advice about treatment or medication so you can have whatever is needed done.

If it's just a matter of them not having a space I would call on Monday asking for a cancellation. There are lots at this time of year

Temporaryusername she has a little bit of swelling and no pain. I don't think saying it could become fatal is really warranted here.

Also I would advise asking nicely and not shouting at them and demanding, always gets people to go extra mile

We had at least 6 cancellations last Monday morning

I would ring the dentist and offer to sit and wait and say you are in pain. There's no point going to A&E or GP as from experience they don't do anything for dental problems.
I have been to an emergency dentist before though and I have been able to start a credit account with them.

Or water as hot as you can bear and salt water rinses a good few times a day.

She shouldnt say she is in pain unless she is. It will be obvious to them that she was lying, if she isn't. And does she want tooth extracted?

Now I see why everyone tells me they are in severe pain and when they go into surgery it transpires they have none and I look daft for writing severe pain on the notes.

Just ask for cancellation in a nice way and say you don't mind waiting. That's how I would approach it.

You just can't win fanjo ! So happy with my decision to leave clinical practice, sleeping better than I have in years