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Original poster

Excruciating dental pain

190 replies

12stepCAKE · 16/04/2020 19:27

Hello all. I have a broken tooth. It's broken in half. I'm in excruciating pain. I have already had one log of antibiotics and it didn't help. I have tried every potion and OTC medicine available. Nothing helps. I feel like I'm going crazy. We don't have a dental hub set up yet.

I really don't know what I'm asking but Amy advice please?

I am in so much pain I would pull it out myself (obviously not going to do that)

Thanks

OP posts:
Someonesayroadtrip · 16/04/2020 21:18

Oppps 111 is police isn't it? I mean whatever the NHS one is. Ours is different in Wales I think.

MondeoFan · 16/04/2020 21:19

Hope you get it sorted tooth pain is just awful

BeingLonely · 16/04/2020 21:20

Have you tried oragel? It’s a clear liquid that numbs the area and can be bought from your local supermarket. You can use it along with pain relief. Have you tried neurofen express tablets the jelly egg form? This will sound daft but it’s the only thing that ever takes away my toothache

Original poster
12stepCAKE · 16/04/2020 21:25

Thank you everyone the paracetamol has worn off now. DH managed to get me some iburpofen extra and some oragel. It's helped a little. I'm in the southeast. Going to call NHS early tomorrow as wouldn't be able to go anywhere tonight. 4 kids. No child care and DH would need to drive me as don't feel safe to do so. Can't drag them anywhere this the of night. Thank you all

OP posts:
ChiefPotterer · 16/04/2020 21:35

A&E usually have an emergency dentist at a certain time each day...I don't know if this is still the case at present? Worth asking tomorrow.

Original poster
12stepCAKE · 16/04/2020 22:14

Thank you I will

OP posts:
Original poster
12stepCAKE · 17/04/2020 07:00

Morning all. Woken up feeling so sick this morning. Waiting for a call back from 111. Although not hopeful

OP posts:
Original poster
12stepCAKE · 17/04/2020 07:39

111 said no dentists. Call own dentists ask for more advice. Possibly more antibiotics and if not call gp and push and basically beg for stronger pain relief. I will be addicted to pain relief by the end of this.

OP posts:
Scruffyoak · 17/04/2020 07:42

I really hope you can get something sorted :(

TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross · 17/04/2020 07:50

I am so sorry to hear that you are in so much pain.

I don't understand how there is basically no help available for someone suffering so much. How is it that the hospital doctors and nurses are able to continue providing care, not just to Covid patients but to anyone who needs urgent help or who is in pain, but it is fine to completely shut down emergency dental treatment? If these hubs are available, why aren't dentists referring patients to them? And if they are not available, why has no alternative provision been made?

It can't be ethical just to leave people in so much pain that they are at risk of overdosing on OTC painkillers.

user1480880826 · 17/04/2020 07:55

Phone around some private dentists. Several in London are still doing extractions. It will cost you an arm and a leg though.

Greenteandchives · 17/04/2020 07:57

I’m in the same situation as 12step cake. I have what is clearly an infected tooth and have never been in so much unremitting pain. My own dentist, while sympathetic, can do nothing except keep prescribing painkillers and antibiotics. I am now swallowing so many pills I can’t think straight. He says the dental hub probably won’t see me, and if they did, they will only extract teeth. Mine is surely worth saving but I cannot get treatment for the foreseeable future. I just feel this is barbaric.

Kit19 · 17/04/2020 08:01

Go to a&e. I have chronic gum problems which are manageble with antibiotics but this is damage to a tooth which is completely different. You can’t function being in that much pain.

taeglas · 17/04/2020 08:09

Try turmeric paste on the infection using turmeric powder and a little water. I had an excruciating abscess earlier this year and found to my surprise this worked to ease the pain. It's very messy and can stain clothes etc.

Patterjack · 17/04/2020 08:18

I really feel for you. I had a tooth extracted 6 weeks ago, it was broken and the pain was the worse I've ever felt. There's nothing worse than toothache, can't tell you how relieved I am that I got it sorted before all this.
I found that paracetamol only took the edge off for half an hour. Cocodamol took the pain away completely for 3 hours, then the pain returned for the hour I waited to take some more. Get cocodamol if you can. I really hope you get it sorted.

currentlychilled · 17/04/2020 08:32

I really feel for you OP. I know we are dealing with a massive world wide pandemic that is costing lives, but the lack of dental care is a massive issue, that has only has limited coverage in the press.
From the beginning of this crisis, a study was done and published in the New York Times ( 2 months ago). It put dentistry the highest risk for transmitting Covid19. Ahead of doctors, teachers, health care workers etc, due to AGP.
The central hubs that are set up are the only places in the country that have the correct PPE ( FFP3 masks).
I would say in areas they don't offer emergency hubs, the reason most likely will be lack of PPE. Contact the press, contact your MP today. Raise the profile of this crisis.
So many people are suffering unnecessarily and it is breaking my heart.
I'm so anxious to get back to work. The fall out will be immense. We've literally set back our dental care in this country by a generation.

Also we will be one of the last services to go back to work safely.

Thisisworsethananticpated · 17/04/2020 08:36

You need an emegency extraction
Call NHS and insist on it
You can’t live like this !
In the meantime OTC co codamol
And clove oil does actually help

But yeah get that fucker OUT

Poor you Flowers

Mrsmorton · 17/04/2020 08:42

@12stepCAKE you can dm me if you like. There are dentists doing treatment, very few though. If you let me know what county or part of the UK you're in I can help you find a hub that's doing treatment, they're accessed either through your dentist or 111 but as they're quite new, there are some process issues to be fixed so it's not as smooth as it should be.

MehitabelWhurl · 17/04/2020 08:45

Whereabouts are you?

Tootherty · 17/04/2020 08:48

OP I had terrible toothache all over the weekend. Rang my own dentist on Tuesday - they werent seeing patients but passed me onto an emergency dentist half an hour away and I had the tooth out at 4pm the same day.

Original poster
12stepCAKE · 17/04/2020 09:46

Hi all. Just spoke to my dentist and another local one. They said there are no dental hubs in our area full stop. Mine was unhelpful to be honest and was annoyed I was asking her. (Private not NHS)
Called my local dentist and she was much kinder and said there aren't any hubs here unless you want to travel 4 hours plus which I can't with 4 kids in tow! NHS told them if they want to open they can but they have to buy their own masks at £15 per mask and a new one per patient! She said she can see prices going up when they're allowed to re open. She said you will have to keep doing what I am doing but it is disgusting how they are treating patients. And she said those in ICU from covid 19 teeth and gums will be awful after having a ventilator and there is nothing they can do for them. It's a horrible situation for everyone

OP posts:
Original poster
12stepCAKE · 17/04/2020 09:46

I'm in Sussex

OP posts:
Original poster
12stepCAKE · 17/04/2020 09:52

That's a good idea I will write to my local MP but it will do bugger all as he seems to be pre occupied bwith the locals wanting their pub re opened which closed 2 years because none of them used it.... Priorities right!

OP posts:
Corna · 17/04/2020 10:09

This is awful, so outrageous that emergency dental treatment is such a mess.
The strongest painkillers you can get without a prescription is co codamol, also known as paracetamol and codeine tablets. You can get these from the pharmacy and alternate with ibuprofen. Basically you should take the ibuprofen with some food if possible, and dont take additional paracetamol tablets if you are taking the co codamol. You need to be careful with paracetamol as the maximum amount you can take is quite low and you can overdose easily if you aren't aware of how much you are taking. Ibuprofen is much safer and a better pain reliever than plain paracetamol (don't take it if you have stomach ulcers though). Don't take co codamol for more than 4 days as it is habit forming. I hope you get this sorted.

ponchek · 17/04/2020 10:12

I have a dentist friend who has set up an online dentist surgery just for lockdown. PM me if your like the details. Or just google the Online dentist. He's called Vish and is a surgeon as well as dentist so v good. And totally solution-orientated do I'm sure would come up with something. Hope that helps.