I’m going to a&e with toothache

[emmapemma91]

Will a&e refer me to oral surgeon ASAP? 6 month wait on nhs and I’m in agony

You need clove oil, a natural anesthetic. It was the only thing that worked for me when the dentist thought I needed root canal treatment. I soaked a piece of cotton wool in a very tiny amount that had been mixed with olive oil. The relief was amazing. It is strong stuff so make sure you don't put too much in.

Sadly pain isn't life threatening. I work in max and we have people coming in begging, sobbing with pain, for early appointments but the fact is that anyone referred is in the same position as you - or they wouldn't be referred.

It's one of the places where the underfunding of the nhs truly becomes barbaric. Because it's not life threatening it's not a priority. Otc meds such as co-codimol are available and your dentist will prescribe antibiotics... op I feel your pain, I've been there. It's genuinely upsetting to turn people in your position away because it's a pain I'll never forget.

I wish I could tell you of a short cut. My only advice is to ask for a referral to pain management which might get you some better pain meds. Hope you get sortrd soon

Omg, yes barbaric is certainly the word. Can you OP travel anywhere where there may be a shorter wait?

Hope you get it sorted op soon

I second clove oil. It was used by my dentist when I got dry socket (horrendous pain so you have my sympathies) and it really works if you can get it near the nerve.

Hello! I've worked in ED for many years. Few departments have a dentist, I'm very reluctant to treat dental.pain as it's a completely different area Of medicine. However, severe ongoing pain is a bit of a red flag for me, you need to be examined to exclude a need for max fax. I would ring emergency dental line first but if no joy ED can give analgsia and antibiotics if required. Worth pointing out that if your pain is nerve related codeine can - in some cases- exacerbate the pain.

Hallelujah bettyspants yes
Although pp from max say all their patients are this way?!?/and very barbaric!

Could you pursue with your dentist again OP?

I was in a similar situation. Infection wasn't clearing and I couldn't open my mouth. He referred me to maxfax, via A&E, and I had the tooth out under GA the same afternoon.

My DH had a swelling on his jaw that prevented him from opening his mouth more than a couple of centimetres, it was an ulcer under a tooth. He went to A&E and was admitted the next day to have two teeth removed in the hospital.

You need to go a&e asap. Just go. This isnt your normal toothache that needs referal to emergency dentist. You need surgery. The longer you wait the more pain and damage you can cause.

Be extremely careful with otc painkillers. Dental nerve pain is so unbearable that it is easy to overdose. Just taking paracetamol every 4 hours for 24 hours ( either alone or rotated with ibuprofen will put you in this situation as adds up to 12 tablets and the 24 hour limit is 8 (you are expected to sleep for 8 hours without pain relief but of course that's not possible with dental nerve pain) . That doesn't seem much over but is taken really seriously by 111, A&E and so on. If this has been happening, you must tell them immediately as it can collect it in the liver and be fatal. Your treatment will then be based on likelihood of accidental overdose and you'll be prescribed stronger and hopefully more effective pain killers. If you've gone to A&E in desperation, treatment might also involve blood tests for paracetamol toxicity, AV antibiotics and I was offered morphine. It was one of the largest teaching hospitals in the country though and still no emergency dentist on site. I had to visit emergency dentist next day. Good luck, so sorry about your pain and hope you are free of it before too long.

How are you feeling today Emma?

Have you tried a pharmacist for some stronger painkillers and some oragel?

Im not too bad today, it is usually by the nifgtime it’s agonising. Trying to put off the hospital as long as I can really. Can’t open my jaw more than wide enough to fit a tablet it but I guess that’s normal from getting my top teeth removed?

Haven’t tried oragel but will definitely get some today

Emma, you say that you have rung the hospital to ask them to let you know about any cancellations but IME it's better if you ring - every week or even every day at 8am if they will let you.

If they have a cancellation they may or may not ring you, but if you are calling them regularly then you may strike lucky. It worked for my mum, at least.

Try to get the name of the people answering the phone to you and befriend them. Let them know that you will call back regularly and that you will be hugely grateful if they could fit you in if a slot opens up. They do. People die/get ill etc and can't attend, and if you are flexible you may just fit in.

Oragel extra strength is amazing

Emma you are also recovering from having the top two removed!! Jeez!

How recently? It's normal for substantial swelling after, do you have stitches too? It really would be worth going there at quiet time, but your dentist is open now for you to get emergency check up. Do keep swilling the salt water, plus better pain relief.
How horrific, I hope this ends for you soon.
..the post about there being cancellations in a&e as people get ill . Or was this for the waiting list at max fax?

Pp need to read my post again. Preferably without the added drama

OP, if you can't eat or take liquid it may change your priority. Keep updating dentists/GPs/max as things develop.

Thank you all so much for your help will keep trying dentist/gp/ ringing max

Just fork the £120 and go private. Best thing I ever did. Was seen a couple days later.

Will be a darn site more than £120

120 quid?!

I would go to A and E. I'm actually really irritated with the "don't get use the NHS unless your limbs have all been cut off" malarkey. That guidance prevents people from accessing help at a stage when something can be done. It's meant for people who break a nail or graze their knee and call 999 not informed rational people in agonising pain.
Twice I've ended up in hospital because I didn't want to bother the NH S. I went to pharmacists who were way out of their depth and in hindsight almost criminally negligent with a severe chest infection and who suggested I shit you not "something nice like Halls sweets to suck on". My breathing was shallow, I could barely talk at all and had to be held up to stand. I ended up in hospital on steroids, IV drip and oxygen for 4 days. The doctors asked why I had gone in before and addressed it when it was simply a cough. I know a few other people in this situation too, one who ended up septic because of tooth issues.

I went to A and E with tooth pain - it was Easter Sunday a couple of days after having four wisdom teeth removed and I think the stitches had become infected. Strong painkillers and quick referral to NHS emergency dentist.

I was in so much pain I couldn't think what else to do - it felt like an emergency to me!
As pp have suggested, expecting you to put up with this pain for the next six months is ridiculous - my hopes would be that after a few days the pain will have subsided after having your top two out and things might be more manageable, but if not then definitely present yourself to your GP and ask for a sensible plan for how they expect you to manage this pain.

Good luck OP. tooth pain is the WORST!

('sore' indeed....... - that's like saying labour is a bit ouchy)