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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Dentist

38 replies

igiveup2021 · 08/09/2021 19:49

Netmums I really need your help.
This isn’t really AIBU Related but NHS dentist related. So posting for traffic.
I’ve hit a wall and I don’t know what to do.

I wear dentures (thank you auto immune diseases 😂🤦🏻‍♀️) and had planned extractions last week.
The dentist couldn’t do them. She tried really hard and failed miserably. I got an infection on the weekend. And it’s just been a nightmare as I can’t eat anything at all.
As on top of having no teeth now as my dentures don't fit anymore I have spasms in my throat stopping what I could probably manage, not manage. So I haven't eaten in 7 days.
My dentist emergency referred me a hour out to be sedated but they are saying I won't be seen for FOUR months even though it was an emergency...

I can't go four months without eating. I have no body fat and I'm loosing muscle mass. I weigh a whopping 5 stone,  my doctor has put me on nourishment drinks for now to try and help but I am struggling to keep them down.

Is there anything I can do to get a referral to hospital to have them done as a matter of urgency?
My dentist said she'd refer me to a hostipal but then it turned out to be a private dentist, I'm very worried I won't cope till December and will end up dead from lack of food as I can't live off nourishment drinks forever. I'm finding it extremely difficult to do anything, I have no energy and I feel extremely depressed.

OP posts:
NaughtyButNice · 08/09/2021 19:52

Is there another dentist at the surgery who would be able to carry out the procedure?

Original poster
igiveup2021 · 08/09/2021 19:53

No. They are saying it has to be surgically removed as it's in an awkward position and none are quailfed.

OP posts:
CottageOnTheHill · 08/09/2021 19:54

Netmums I really need your help.

This is Mumsnet....

Shuuu · 08/09/2021 19:58

I would perhaps try to call all dentists in your area to see if any can help. It’s an awful situation. DH teeth are really bad, he’s in pain everyday but can’t get into an NHS dentist. It’s appalling, I know someone who just spent £2k on private dentists even though she can get it for free due to maternity. It’s outrageous

OttilieKnackered · 08/09/2021 20:03

@CottageOnTheHill

Netmums I really need your help.

This is Mumsnet....

This woman cannot eat ffs.
babouchette · 08/09/2021 20:13

@CottageOnTheHill

Netmums I really need your help.

This is Mumsnet....

ODFOD.

How awful. This is clearly very serious, if you only weigh 5 stone you are at great risk. Is there anyone helping you with this? Do you have someone who can keep badgering your GP for you?

Does your throat make it hard to even eat liquid foods like soups and smoothies? Have you got a blender that you can use to whizz things up? A Nutribullet would be great for this.

CarrotSticks23 · 08/09/2021 20:23

What do you mean you have spasms in your throat? Is this part of your autoimmune condition?

You need to go to your GP and get your weight under control. If you can't keep anything down and can't swallow that's serious, but it's nothing to do with your tooth.

Your dentist can dress the teeth, drain any infection and give you antibiotics to keep you out of pain. Incidentally why if it was the dentist who struggled would sedation help?

Original poster
igiveup2021 · 08/09/2021 20:27

@CottageOnTheHill apologises. Grin I can't eat, I genuinely can't think straight. If it helps I forgot my DCs name earlier.

OP posts:
MrsRobbieHart · 08/09/2021 20:29

@CottageOnTheHill

Netmums I really need your help.

This is Mumsnet....

Jesus fucking Christ! Yes, because that’s what is important here! Hmm
NommyChompers · 08/09/2021 20:30

Honestly kills me to say this as an NHS dentist - but there is NO way of speeding up referrals to secondary care at the moment - the only immediate option is to go private. And write to your MP asking them to ask the health secretary to sort this huge mess! If it needs a specialist then it will need a specialist unfortunately. Wish I could be more helpful. Short of present at a large hospital A&E with a letter from GP? But don’t get your hopes up that would work.

Original poster
igiveup2021 · 08/09/2021 20:31

My DM is trying to help. She's contacted my GP, and I have an appointment tomorrow however there's no certainty they can help me get me into a dentist to be seen.
It's to do with the fact I have no teeth as well as the spasms (neurological under investigation), I could tolerate a very small number of foods previously now I can't eat those... I'm screwed. I can't keep things like soup, jelly, ice cream down or milkshakes easily usually end up choking. Sad

OP posts:
Newmummyinlockdown · 08/09/2021 20:31

Hi. Dentist here. The best thing for you would be to go private, if you can afford it. Research local private dentists/oral surgeons and chose the shortest waiting list.

If you cannot go private, you need to push your dentist to refer you to a hospital, not a private dentist. This is not acceptable. And they need to stress on the referral that it is urgent (pain/infection/malnutrition/weight loss etc).

As a last resort, attend an A+E department in a hospital that has an oral surgery/maxillofacial department (when the infection is active) and tell them you are not registered with an NHS dentist, and you can’t afford to go private. Not ideal but they may be able to add you to one of their oral surgery lists (only if the extraction is deemed complex/challenging for a regular dentist).

RazorSharp · 08/09/2021 20:33

@CottageOnTheHill

Netmums I really need your help.

This is Mumsnet....

Exactly!!
blissfulllife · 08/09/2021 20:34

Op I was in hospital very recently and a lady on my ward was in with almost the same problem. She had surgery while I was there. I'd present at A&E like she did. Hope you get it sorted you poor thing x

ThreeLittleDots · 08/09/2021 20:38

You can't eat and you can't keep nourishment drinks down, and your weight is dangerously low. You need to either get your GP to, or present to A&E to be admitted for a feeding tube in your stomach. Surely this is an emergency?

CarrotSticks23 · 08/09/2021 20:45

@newmummyinlockdown
Op is registered with an NHS dentist. The dentist just hasn't provided the appropriate care. Presenting at A&E is unlikely to get OP care any quicker. At best the dentist can try to refer to the oncall maxfacs team

The dentist clearly didn't think it was a surgical when they attempted it, otherwise they wouldn't have booked them in for routine extractions. And there are lots of dentists that are perfectly capable of carrying out a surgical extraction, I would question a practice attempting any extraction if there's no one capable of doing a surgical.

What can you usually eat Op?

I think you need to go back to your dentist, get them to deal with your acute issue, the infection. What has happened to your dentures that prevents them fitting? Is it the swelling? Or a broken tooth?

Pollypudding · 08/09/2021 20:49

@igiveup2021

My DM is trying to help. She's contacted my GP, and I have an appointment tomorrow however there's no certainty they can help me get me into a dentist to be seen. It's to do with the fact I have no teeth as well as the spasms (neurological under investigation), I could tolerate a very small number of foods previously now I can't eat those... I'm screwed. I can't keep things like soup, jelly, ice cream down or milkshakes easily usually end up choking. Sad
Please ask your GP to refer you to a Dietitian for assessment of your nutritional state and a Speech and Language Therapist for assessment of your swallow. It really sounds like you can’t afford to lose any more weight while waiting for your dental surgery. If that is unsuccessful then I agree with PP- present at A&E as you will have done all you can through the primary care route.
Original poster
igiveup2021 · 08/09/2021 20:53

She's knocked where my partial uppers sit, whilst trying to remove the teeth so it no longer fits and she says there's no point remaking them as I need more upper extractions and for it to be a full denture.
She did know of my history and knew I have a history of crumbling teeth and failed extractions before, I had to go to hostipal for removal only 3 years ago. Despite this she still said she could do the work. When questioned on this why she did it knowing my history she said if she hadn't attempted my referral to hostipal it would be denied.. but she didn't reffer to NHS dental hospital just a private one. ConfusedHmm It also turns out she's not putting my full history into the referral, just saying I'm nervous and she failed to remove them.. rather than the actual truth they are firmly lodged in my gums and need surgery to cut into the gums.
The hostipal I saw for anti botics did say also the dentist should never of attempted extraction without proper assurance I would be seen quickly.

OP posts:
Original poster
igiveup2021 · 08/09/2021 20:56

Also the hospital I saw previously for 10 extractions rejected my referral.... even though I just need the same work doing and not moving out of the area etc. Nothing has changed it's just different teeth.

OP posts:
Original poster
igiveup2021 · 08/09/2021 20:57

My GP is being really good, I'm currently under investigation for my swallow.
However they can't do the investigations while I have an infection and bad teeth as they need to put a camera down there. So I'm stuffed. I really am.

OP posts:
CarrotSticks23 · 08/09/2021 20:57

I think the weight is a separate issue and sounds like a massive ticking time bomb. Your GP should be taking it more seriously. Obviously with your weight as low as it is it can be anything that is going to tip you over the edge

I'm not sure waiting for the neurological assessment is acceptable. If agree salt and dieticians are probably required and they should be able to put you on a diet that you can tolerate that will have enough calories/nutrition

Having the tooth out is obviously still going to result in a number of days of eating soft foods which you struggle with, and you will still not have a set of fitting dentures. I'm not sure that focusing on the tooth is the way to go when the problem seems to be your swallow

GreenTortoise · 08/09/2021 21:00

I work in dentistry so I can help you out a little bit.

I'm sorry to hear what you're going through.

Firstly. Your dentist probably did refer you to a hospital but the referrals go to a dental referral team and they allocate you the next availability. So the private dentist will have sedation and will be able to deal with the difficult extraction and would've been the one with the shortest wait time.

You can phone your dentist and explain what's happened and they can try rush it through for you. But this isn't the best option.
The best option is for you to phone the place you will be having it done and explain you cannot eat and they will have your referral details so you'll be on the system. Speak to their practice manager. They could've have a cancellation somewhere but you will need to make contact with them.

If the infection or pain has persisted get an emergency appointment at your dentist for the same day.

GreenTortoise · 08/09/2021 21:04

It also turns out she's not putting my full history into the referral, just saying I'm nervous and she failed to remove them.. rather than the actual truth they are firmly lodged in my gums and need surgery to cut into the gums.

Most people's teeth are firmly in the gums. It's nothing to do with the gums but the roots. Some people have difficult roots and with all the best intentions in the world we just can't get them out.

Also for a hospital referral we have to say you're nervous otherwise they will reject and tell us to attempt ourselves.

DeepaBeesKit · 08/09/2021 21:04

Honestly OP I think weighing 5 stone you need to get to the hospital and get an NG tube in, asap. So that you can at least get some calories & adequate fluids in.

CarrotSticks23 · 08/09/2021 21:05

Saying your nervous and need sedation is definitely not going to get the care you need. Waits for treatment under sedation are often a lot longer than under local.

I would suggest that you see your dentist. Your dentist treats the existing infection. I would suggest your dentist adjusts your denture so it fits by either trimming it, or removing the clasp whatever it is that's preventing it from seating. It maybe a little looser than you are used to but try a fuck tone of fixodent.

I would then suggest your dentist calls the hospital or NHS oral surgery provider and explains the situation, making an appropriate referral and asking if it can be expedited. It is better coming from a dentist than you turning up in ED.

Why can't they put a camera down with bad teeth? Your teeth should not prevent you having investigations of your swallow.