Emergency Dental Treatment

[gruffalo28]

Anyone been able to access any in any part of the country during the lockdown? I have had lots of telephone consultations, been given anti-biotics (which I have taken but they haven't helped much). I have been told both by 111 and the 111 website that I must see a dentist in the next 24 hours but there is no emergency dental care. The infected tooth is now causing swelling across my face, wwyd. When I talk to 111 its like talking to a wall, they just keep giving me the number of closed dental practices and telling me not to go to A&E. My dentist tells me to talk to 111 and make them give me an emergency appointment. The only thing left if the swelling gets worse will be to go to A&E, which I don't want to do. Is anyone else in the same boat?

Anyone?

I really feel for you its an awful situation.

Are you near any dental hospitals?

Thanks.I'm not sure. Is that just a normal hospital with a dental department?

Have you tried private ones as well? There are emergency dental clinics attached to some hospitals which work on a first come first serve basis so google those. Private dentists however might be the first best bet if you haven’t looked already. It wouldn’t be too expensive to see one and get a prescription for antibiotics - in my experience any infection that bad will need tk be dealt with via antibiotics first before they do any treatment and as you haven’t been seen in person they may have been cautious with the dose and you might need it really blitzed?

I am not a dentist nor do I have any experience in the dental world other than having been the grateful recipient of a lot of dental care for abscesses over the years xx

Have you told 111 that your face is swollen? That definitely justifies an emergency appointment although I believe they are only being carried out at hospitals. Whereabouts are you?

I too have some tooth pain, spoke to my dentist and was told in cases of

extreme pain or life threatening situation, a referral can be made to a dental hospital.

Here is the NHS/Private list

www.privatehealth.co.uk/conditions-and-treatments/dental-treatment/guide/emergency-dental-hospitals/

There are some others I think, if there are any near you maybe you could give one a call?

Hope you can get it sorted OP, This is so scary. I have been where you are some years ago but I was able to access treatment obviously in the past. The thought of getting nowhere when feeling like that. 😢😢😢

Was in the same position yesterday. Told by 111 there are no face to face appointments but they made me an appointment to speak to a dentist over the phone to see if I needed antibiotics, have they offered you this?
As it was the pain and swelling got so bad last night I went to A&E reception (note: our local walk in centre is in the hospital and you go to A&E reception to be booked in) ended up seeing a doctor and got given antibiotics straight away which have worked a treat. So if you're struggling try a walk in centre. Hope you get it sorted soon, dental pain is the worst.

I am suffering with the exact same thing and facing the same problem getting any kind of treatment. If you manage to get help please let me know how. Good luck to you. It’s awful feeling like this.

Go to A&E.

If you have any swelling in your throat please go to A&E. I had a similar situation years ago. A simple abscess turned into an infection of the floor of my mouth. I saw a maxilofacial surgeon at A&E who removed the tooth as soon as he saw me. He told me that if I had delayed any longer, I would have ended up at a specialist hospital.

There should be urgent care dental centres set up at in most parts of the UK by the end of the coming week. They may be in Dental hospitals but they may not be. However you'll need a referral from your own dentist to get an appointment in one, not 111.

Whether a dentist is private or NHS, the rules are the same -they are closed but accessible by telephone for advice /analgesia and antibiotics.
You say you've had antibiotics, are you currently taking any?

A&E

Was in the same boat 2 weeks ago. 111 offered me a telephone appointment. I ended up registering at my old practice and was seen as a private patient. Got antibiotics. Swelling increased and I couldn’t really open my mouth. My lips were distorted and looked like I had a stroke. Saw dentist again and more antibiotics. Have a vitamin deficiency and another tooth cracked It’s slowly going down. Now on a list for emergency treatment when they open.

Unless you have systemic involvement -high temperature, high pulse rate, eye closing/closed or neck involvement impacting breathing, A& E will only prescribe oral antibiotics & analgesia. They will not admit you or call for a maxillo-facial consult.
Your own dentist can prescribe antibiotics and painkillers and arrange for them to be faxed to a local pharmacy. Then, your own dentist needs to get you an appointment in one of the urgent care dental centres ASAP.

Thanks so much this is all really helpful. I've tried 111 several times today and it seems telephone appointments are all they are offering (which I got from my own dentist and was prescribed antibiotics). The swelling has not become any worse during the course of the day although still bloody agony. I am going to ask own dentist for more anti-biotics. He says there is nowhere for him to refer me to and that A&E can't help beyond antibiotics. He is a private dentist, it isn't a case of private vs NHS dentist, it's that no dentists are allowed to operate at the moment without specialised PPE which none of them have.

Do not go to A and E
That is v poor and inappropriate advice ,
OP has been given antibiotics already.

It’s a very difficult situation.
Hope the pain lessens soon, op.

If her neck and throat is swollen though surely she needs medical attention. I understand you. I broke my tooth the other day. Needed antibiotics as the gums then got infected. Gum pain is gone but the tooth is very painful and making other teeth hurt too. All dentists are doing the same thing. Antibiotics over the phone. Keep trying your dentist so when one of the hubs becomes available they can refer you asap

A&E if swelling gets worse or other symptoms Certain situations are life threatening and cannot be ignored. They should get you a consult with a maxillo facial doc.

I was given advice by dentist when I should go to a&e. Swollen eye, swollen neck, difficulty swallowing, swollen neck and randomly amount of fingers I could fit into my mouth. Anything less than 2 it’s an emergency.

Mine swelled up after I started antibiotics. Was told would get worse before better. It did. Now left with a lump in my gum and that will need dentist treatment. They say it’s manageable now.

If swelling is closing airway/difficulty swallowing breathing/closing eye/affecting vision these are all things that are A&E worthy, and have always been. Also if signs of sepsis obviously

If the swelling is big and spreading down the neck/up to the eye then it really needs treatment. Its unlikely to get better with just oral antibiotics, pus needs draining. Maxfacs would much rather see you right now with a swelling thats drainable under local than one that requires admission and a GA.

How long have you been on the antibitoics for? If your swelling is big, and youve been on them longer than 3 days then I would probably go to a&e, its much better to get treatment now than need an admission.