To not know what to do? Dentist related.

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Before xmas I had an infection in my mouth. My dentist thought it was a tooth that needed a root canal. I thought it was an impacted wisdom tooth.
3 lots of antibiotics later and a wisdom tooth coming through my jaw my dentist agreed that it needs to come out, it is well impacted.

They don't do referrals that are not in the NHS so I go and see another dentist today. He would recommend I be referred but can't do it himself, he will write to my practise to recommend they refer me.

This is ridiculous. My health insurance covers wisdom tooth removal if they are impacted so I have now booked to see an oral surgeon with them, but I'm worried I'm booked with the wrong person. Why is it this hard?
Im in pain and no one cares.

If your health insurers have booked you in with an Oral Surgeon that's correct.

I've no idea why they wouldn't refer you outside the NHS.

Did either of the dentists you saw take xrays? If you have self referred to the Oral Surgeon (as that's what you've done) they would appreciate receiving these. You can request a copy of your records including xrays but I'd speak to the receptionist in whever has taken xrays and ask for the xrays to be forwarded to the secretary of the Oral Surgeon.

Thank you Milly.
I sought out the oral surgeon via my health insurance last week.

The only xray I have is a wing bite? one that doesn't even show the whole tooth. The receptionist said he would ask for something more, but his private secretary said that if more are needed it can be arranged at my consult.

I asked my original practise about further xrays and they said they do not have the facilities to do full face, and seemed pointless asking at the one I saw today as he took one look at where it is breaking through and said it needs a hospital.

I'm so fed up with all this.
Is this how it is usually when someone needs dental treatment and they don't want to wait for years on the nhs?

I was gobsmacked when my dentist asked me what I meant by a referral letter as they don't do them!

If there is only a bite wing don't worry. It sounds like where you're going have the facilities to take the larger xrays, not all Dental practices do.
No I don't think it's common, currently the NHS waiting times are so bad in our area I'm offering private referral as an alternative all the time. It sounds like your Dental practice might do referrals via something like REGO it doesn't mean they can't write referrals and most specialist Dental practices have very swanky referral portals these days.
If people have private insurance I do normally ask them to contact their insurer to get details as they normally have preferred providers and hospitals that have agreed to their insurance rates and I'll refer them once the insurers have agreed to it.
I have no idea how your Dental practice hasn't needed to refer anyone through insurance or privately unless the dentist is very new to the area or practice and doesn't know the local hospital/specialists.

The hospital I'm going to doesn't have xray facilities, but the secretary said they can be arranged then if more are needed. I know they will be.

My dental practise have been there since before I was born, so I have no idea how they had no clue on referring privately.
It's added so much stress onto me when I am in agony. I have finished my antibiotics for the third time since Dec 20th and I am petrified that it will come back.

It took 5 visits, 3 infections and stage 1 of a root canal done on a nearby tooth before they agreed it was my wisdom tooth as they could finally see it coming through.
The root canal is due stage two in a month and the infection keeps spreading to that tooth too. I've lost count of the times I've sat and cried just wanting it to stop.

Hmm, you'll definately need an OPT. That will be useful if you keep getting spreading infection to see why.
Is there any chance of asking the secretary if the Oral Surgeon can refer you for the xray before they see you as otherwise they'll see you and still need the xray?

They won't be able to arrange anything at such short notice. My appointment is on Thursday.
I just want this out my face now. I'm living on tramadol and ibuprofen and even morphine.
A month of this has been long enough.

I would still ask as they'll need one as they need to see the position of the inferior dental nerve in relation to the tooth.

I did ask his secretary when I made the appointment. I asked my dental practise about getting one and they don't have the facilities either. This was her reply
"if he feels further imaging is required he will discuss that with you at your appointment. "

OK in that case he may be able to see you for a consultation then refer you for the imaging and then do a phone consultation if he's already examined you just to speed things up.
Either way at least you are making progress as it sound like you've had an awful couple of months.

Thank you Milly.
It's been horrible. The professionals who are meant to help, basically told me we can't do it and washed their hands of me.

I appreciate your advice. It helps just to vent sometimes. x