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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
DishRanAwayWithTheSpoon · 19/04/2020 11:21

@ponchek but thats an abscess not toothache. They didnt go in with toothache. If someone has a big facial swelling it can be drained, but the appointment to have it removed wont be happening. OP has toothache and needs the removal appointment.

I think thats rather the point. That there is no emergency dental treatment right now. Many posters have explained why.

To any posters considering temporary fillings, I would try babybel wax over the tooth or even chewing gum first. If that helps then use temporary filling kit. The wax is more easily removable, so if you find it doesnt help then your not stuck with it.

The drier you can get the tooth the better. If it falls out Id try again but try and get the tooth drier next time, its always worth a second try. Or even just stick with wax if that stays in better then the filling kit as its more malleable, and easier to place. I know its not particularly pleasant but might be better than toothache

Original poster
12stepCAKE · 19/04/2020 11:53

Well after one day free of pain it's coming back again Angry but my stomach hurts from taking painkillers Confused

OP posts:
Tootherty · 19/04/2020 12:53

But there IS emergency dental care. I’ve had a tooth removed. My face wasn’t swelled and I could breathe. It just hurt a lot.

Original poster
12stepCAKE · 19/04/2020 13:19

Well in my area there isn't ... I'm glad you got help. I'm not choosing to have a tooth problem Hmm

OP posts:
HughGrantsHair · 19/04/2020 21:53

There isn't emergency care in my area either. Nothing they can do they said.

Mrsmorton · 19/04/2020 22:17

@12stepCAKE where are you? I've probably asked this already so apologies. Dm me if you prefer.

Lau295 · 19/04/2020 22:25

No dental care in my area either. I started 3 weeks ago with toothache, turned into an abscess, had a really swollen face. Managed to get antibiotics (from a private dentist, my nhs dentist didn’t even bother to call me back) which helped but the pain keeps flaring up. I need a root canal. Currently just rinsing with salt water a few time’s a day, not hopeful I’ll get any treatment any time soon.

Original poster
12stepCAKE · 19/04/2020 22:31

Hi Mrs Morton. In West Sussex

OP posts:
Romeojuliet · 19/04/2020 22:32

Lau295 that sounds awful. I thought dentists were only meant to triage for their own existing patients though - including prescribing antibiotics as they don’t have medical history and exams etc otherwise as you can’t do that from a call? Or am I wrong?

SunshineDays2019 · 19/04/2020 22:54

Poor you. Sorry I haven't read the full thread. Have you called nhs111? Or Sussex Community Trust? They have an urgent dental service, I believe but not sure if the referral route.

Original poster
12stepCAKE · 19/04/2020 23:01

Hello sunshine. Yes tried everything possible. Thanks though

OP posts:
SunshineDays2019 · 19/04/2020 23:16

Sorry to hear that. It's awful that there is no help. In your shoes, I'd honestly try A&E. You can't remain in agony and risk taking too many painkillers. Best of luck.

amber763 · 19/04/2020 23:19

God I'm so sorry for you. Toothache is the worst pain. I can't believe though that there's not yet a hub in your area a month in. I had an abscess the first week of lockdown and my own nhs dentist called me back then she referred me on. I had a call back from another dentist within 3 or 4 hours and was told to go straight to the local hub. Had to have it extracted because that's all they could do but it was such a relief. I'm in Scotland though so may be different. They did talk to me about how easy it was to OD on over the counter pain meds so please please be careful with it. I wish they'd hurry up and reopen as Ive also had a temporary crown on another tooth since before lockdown and I'm so scared it'll break or fall off and I'll have to have the wee tooth under extracted too. A salty rinse and the babybel wax is a good call to perhaps ease your pain a bit. An ice pack might also help Flowers

MummyNWife · 19/04/2020 23:35

hi im in the same boat, living off pain killers which is making me feel poorly in other areas. I have two teeth i need root canal on that got cancelled the day of lock down. iv phoned so many dentists, iv been on two lots of anti biotics and non worked, this is awful. i hope we are both able to see a dentist for treatment soon.

Original poster
12stepCAKE · 20/04/2020 00:00

Thanks everyone.vhope you all feel better soon. If you are taking ibuprofen please eat with it. I'm always rushing around and when I take them and not eat the stomach pains are quite bad. But if you eat with them then it is slightly easier on the stomach

OP posts:
Bobleywobley · 20/04/2020 04:06

So so sorry for you lot who are suffering with this dental pain. I've been there a couple of times.
I think it might help others if those on here who have received face to face treatment from a dental hub or dentist state where exactly it was. It might help those in the same area to know what is available (or at least the nearest city if you dont want to say exactly).
On Google the only urgent dental care hubs look to be in London and the South West??
Could any dental professionals reading this point people to a list of where these udc hubs are?
Thanks

Lau295 · 20/04/2020 06:36

Romeojuliet they triaged next over the phone, I think they could tell how desperate I was. I tried my own dentist multiple times and 111 before trying my mums dentist.

Bridecilla · 20/04/2020 06:41

I'm on day 8 of pain, 5 days of amoxicillin haven't touched it and I've been awake since 4.35 with it.

Ringing for another prescription of, hopefully, something stronger as soon as the dentist is open.

I feel for you all.

Bobleywobley · 20/04/2020 08:36

Amber763 and 12Walkingthedog46: would you mind saying what the nearest city was to you, so people can find out where there might be an emergency dentist that will see people?

Original poster
12stepCAKE · 20/04/2020 08:59

@lau295 you got lucky! I was in tears on the phone and must have spoken to over 10 dentists, 111 and Sussex emergency and no one was bothered enough to say yes you need treatment. Just keep popping those pills. But their hands are tied. They aren't going to risk their lives for a tooth. Which I get! If they had proper ppe then there wouldnt be any issues apart from disinfecting the room. It will take time for hubs if they open them at all...

OP posts:
Pippa12 · 20/04/2020 08:59

Please be really careful if you have been taking pain killers for this length of time. Over use of ibuprofen can cause gastric bleeds, have you noticed any blood in your stool or vomit that looks like it has bits of coffee in it? If I was you, I’d speak to your gp and ask for some medication to protect the lining of your stomach as you could end up in murky waters.

I’m also concerned with regards to you taking too much paracetamol. Prolonged excessive use can and will cause damage to your liver which is life threatening. You must not take more than 8 tablets a day, which equates to 4 doses in 24 hours. If you are waking in the night you need to take pain relief 6 hourly.

I absolutely appreciate you are in excruciating pain and I feel desperately sorry for you. Please consider making arrangements to travel to a hub providing extractions, however disruptive that is to family life at present. I’ve worked in emergency medicine for many many years and see catastrophic outcome with scenarios that started with dental pain.

I really hope you get sorted Flowers

Original poster
12stepCAKE · 20/04/2020 09:12

Thank you! Luckily the temporary billing is helping at the moment and I have only taken 4 paracetamol and 4 ibuprofen in the last 2 days. Stomach seems normal again now. But yes trying not to take anything now unless I really have to. I asked go for something different for pain but I'm breastfeeding and he didn't want to give it

OP posts:
Original poster
12stepCAKE · 20/04/2020 09:13

And no I haven't noticed anything unusual. I tried to cut down as soon as the stomach aches started

OP posts:
Romeojuliet · 20/04/2020 11:44

12stepCAKE - I don’t think it’s that they won’t risk their lives for a tooth - I believe they have been told that they are not allowed to under professional guidance - which they are meant to follow

Romeojuliet · 20/04/2020 11:44

Same end result though!