To think my dental abscess can’t wait until Monday?

[TeaBoots]

I have what I think is a dental abscess (hard lump at top of gum and awful pain when tooth is touched). I called my dentist this morning and all but begged for an appointment. They said that the next appointment they can give me is Monday afternoon.

AIBU to think that’s not really good enough when you are in awful pain? And any tips on how to get through the next 3 days?

It can't wait. Phone them back and tell them you need an emergency appointment.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/dental-abscess/

No that is not good enough. Do you have an emergency dentist in the area? I can access one through 111 I think. Orajel max strength is good but not a solution as the infection can make you quite poorly (I left mine last time and was poorly). Hope you get sorted OP

No emergency dentist service here either. They asked if I had a swelling in my face/ neck and when I said no they said it would have to be Monday. They apologised but said that there was nothing else they could do.

Just phone them back ask to speak to manager and explain you can’t wait. So many complications can happen if it bursts.

It's actually better if it bursts as it can then drain. The worst pain and risk is when the pus is trapped. We have an emergency dental service in Kent. I worked there for many years. It's strange that some areas don't have this. Your face will start to swell if you wait until Monday. You need antibiotics now. You must insist on being seen. If it's the receptionist that has made this decision, you need to speak to someone more senior. Tell them that it will be their responsibility if the infection gets into the bone and you need hospital treatment.

Phoned back and got nowhere. Phoned every dentist in area and also couldn’t get an earlier appointment. It doesn’t hurt too bad unless there is pressure on tooth. Just worried about sepsis etc.

You’ll think I’m making this up but this has happened to me a couple of times. The pain is awful so I stick a pin in it and burst it. Gross but it works

I would burst it too.
Just sterilise a needle or similar.

If there are no systemic symptoms then from the point of view of your health it can wait. The problem is dental pain can be very severe and is often ignored and minimised by medical professionals. You probably won't be able to get anything better than OTC-strength cocodamol which does fuck all when it's bad. Your dentist won't prescribe anything over the weekend and your doctors won't have anything to do with it.

So really nothing you can do

Dita73 not sure a needle would pop it. The lump is really hard, like bone. Doesn’t feel warm to touch either.

Phone 111 they can get you an emergency appointment

safariboot yes, that is pretty much what dentist said. I have no fever, high heart rate, face swelling etc. I do feel sick though.

Surely it’s more likely to spread if it’s left all tomorrow and then all weekend?

You could try ringing 111 for advice.

I don’t live in an area with an emergency dental service unfortunately.

Can you try phoning the GP and see if they can give you anti biotics over the phone. I know GP's generally won't deal with anything dental, but if you explain no dentists available, they may be able to help.

Phone them back and ask if they would be prepared to give you an antibiotic prescription today and see what they say. Its ridiculous to leave it another three days - I was pregnant and had diabetes and had a absess like a walnut. Took me 5 days to find a dentist to touch it as mine wouldn't and the evening following having it drained I was kicked into labour delivering at 31 plus 5. Absesses are serious and as a minimum you should get some antibiotics asap - I was lucky in that I was already on a max dose of them for something else

O r at least GP may be able to give you stronger pain relief than you can get over the counter.

KurriKurri I’ve called GP who just said I need to see a dentist. They don’t deal with infected teeth. They helpfully told me what to look out for in terms of if I need to go to A&E. I am looking online to see if I can get a prescription for antibiotics on one of these online pharmacy/ doctor things.

Use hydrogen peroxide mouth wash four times a day, load up with paracetamol and ibuprofen, buy some orajel for the tooth and that toothpaste that numbs pain and sensitive teeth. It’s awful but I found the mouth wash really helped I managed to get some sleep. Good. Luck!

Lloyd’s online pharmacy can only give antibiotics for a UTI that you have had for more than five days.

Thanks GameSetMatch that’s good to know.

I think its mad how dental issues are sort of shrugged off until you're in the valley of death.

What area are you in that doesn’t have an emergency dental service?

I know it sounds a bit ineffective, but salt water mouth wash helped with the pain for me.

Often emergency dental services are massively over subscribed, even if available.

Your abscess is unlikely to spread, it doesn't sound like a big abscess. If it does and you get problems swallowing/breathing then yes of course you go to a&e. Or if you start to get systemic symptoms, like fever.

Sepsis is rare from a dental abscess, you wont get sepsis from a small abscess like yours. First the infection will spread, if you are at risk of sepsis you will have a much bigger swelling. At the point the swelling gets a lot bigger then you go to A&E.

Whilst its unpleasant, it can wait till Monday, and will most likely be fine. Its just not nice to be in pain.

What I would try is hot salt water mouth rinse and sucking really hard to see if you can pop it over the weekend. And alternating ibuprofen/paracetamol. Take the max dose and don't skip a dose. You can alternate co-codamol/ibuprofen if you need to.