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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To go to GP for dental pain?

45 replies

Hadharra · 25/02/2022 07:52

Went to dentist yesterday. Pain was pretty bad. Bit on something hard and jarred my filling which dentist thinks caused inflammation. Xrays and all other checks show tooth is fine. Said to leave for a few days and it'll hopefully improve. This morning my tooth pain is severe, I'm going away for the weekend and otc painkillers not touching it. I'm in agony and don't think I can cope with this horrific pain much longer. Just tried to find number for dentist for when they open and they're closed for building work today!!! WIBU to go to my GP for pain relief? I have a 3yo to look after and I don't even want to move.

OP posts:
MonkeyPuddle · 25/02/2022 07:56

GPS don’t usually prescribe for dental pain. The ones I worked for would ask you to go via the local emergency dentist. We access ours in our area by 111. Hope you feel better soon.

NameChanged15729 · 25/02/2022 07:57

Can you phone the nhs emergency dental line and see what they say? They can give you a same day appointment usually, it just might not be at your nearest dentist.
Might work better than phoning the gp. I know mine won’t help if it’s something that’s normally dealt with by a dentist or optician.

Hope you manage to see someone! Dental pain is miserable.

Original poster
Hadharra · 25/02/2022 07:58

If the answer is no is there a cocktail of otc I can take? I would literally take anything to get this pain to go away. It's impossible to get a dentist appt somewhere where you're not registered.

OP posts:
TheGoogleMum · 25/02/2022 07:59

I find doctors quite reluctant to intervene with anything dental related

Original poster
Hadharra · 25/02/2022 07:59

@NameChanged15729

Can you phone the nhs emergency dental line and see what they say? They can give you a same day appointment usually, it just might not be at your nearest dentist. Might work better than phoning the gp. I know mine won’t help if it’s something that’s normally dealt with by a dentist or optician.

Hope you manage to see someone! Dental pain is miserable.

They just refer to one large dental centre here which sees emergencies. Their phone line opens at 8.30 but they go in minutes. Will try my best.
OP posts:
Original poster
Hadharra · 25/02/2022 08:02

I'm in agony i can't believe there's nothing wrong with it.

OP posts:
JessicaKenny2018 · 25/02/2022 08:04

Have you got any sensodyne toothpaste? Works wonders for dental pain if you rub it around the gum and tooth

Original poster
Hadharra · 25/02/2022 08:05

@JessicaKenny2018

Have you got any sensodyne toothpaste? Works wonders for dental pain if you rub it around the gum and tooth
Yes it just makes it 10 times worse
OP posts:
Totalwasteofpaper · 25/02/2022 08:05

You need a dentist not a gp. Do not waste your and the GPs time. It's won't resolve your issuem .

Personally if the pain is that bad and you feel something is wrong I would go back to the dentist in person first thing this morning and say I need an urgent appointment "now now" as something is very wrong.

gamerchick · 25/02/2022 08:06

Just get the bugger pulled. If it's happened once it'll happen again. The bottom of the filling might have upset the nerves.

Oragel is good. Just don't get it on your tounge.

Original poster
Hadharra · 25/02/2022 08:06

@Totalwasteofpaper

You need a dentist not a gp. Do not waste your and the GPs time. It's won't resolve your issuem .

Personally if the pain is that bad and you feel something is wrong I would go back to the dentist in person first thing this morning and say I need an urgent appointment "now now" as something is very wrong.

I'd be waiting there a long time...
OP posts:
Original poster
Hadharra · 25/02/2022 08:07

@gamerchick

Just get the bugger pulled. If it's happened once it'll happen again. The bottom of the filling might have upset the nerves.

Oragel is good. Just don't get it on your tounge.

I'd rather not, not before simply having a new filling put in anyway, or a root canal. It's the only filling I have and don't really want a gap.
OP posts:
MistOverTheDowns · 25/02/2022 08:09

I would go. They should be able to offer you something for pain relief-especially if it is stopping you sleeping or being able to function in the day.

negomi90 · 25/02/2022 08:18

A GP shouldn't prescribe pain killers for something they can't treat/ assess ie dental pain.
If they prescribe and the diagnosis is wrong or you need more treatment (something they won't know as they aren't trained in teeth) then it puts you (and their registration) at risk.
Try with the dentist and 111 if that doesn't work. You could also try your local pharmacist for support with maximising over the counter options.

The3Ls · 25/02/2022 08:21

My GP did until I could see a dentist. He tutted at them making me wait but was kind and human to me. Over the counter aspirin and paracetamol together was best I was advised

Original poster
Hadharra · 25/02/2022 08:38

I've just spoken to my dentist (the reception is open until 11 but the dentists are not in), and they said that their dentists don't prescribe painkillers. So I'm screwed basically.

OP posts:
MistOverTheDowns · 25/02/2022 08:43

I've just googled my county plus emergency plus dentist and it brought two up-offering emergency care to existing and new patients.

Failing that, ring every dentist in your area-one may see you as a private emergency.

They can only say no and you only need one to say yes.

MrsDeadpool · 25/02/2022 08:45

What pain relief are you taking at the moment? Pharmacists can give you lovely drugs, without prescription, which are great for dental pain. DH once had to have paracetamol and codeine while he waited for an abcess to heal and he could have a tooth extracted. He’d been in absolute agony, but the drugs from the pharmacy took it away (and made him quite jolly 😁)

LouiseBelchersBunnyEars · 25/02/2022 08:49

My GP did, I called crying saying I hadn’t slept in two days and was going away for DCs birthday.

They prescribed codeine 30 which didn’t make a massive difference but didn’t totally stop it.
Also naproxen which didn’t touch the sides.

In the end I found some co-drydamol left over from an op, which stopped it.
You can get a lower strength otc, panamol I think? (Black packet)

Cheesybiscuits01 · 25/02/2022 08:50

The receptionist is wrong. Dentist absolutely can prescribe painkillers. They often choose not to and send the patient back to the GP which is completely wrong. The GP is not covered by their insurance if they prescribed for an issue outwith their training which dentistry certainly is.

LouiseBelchersBunnyEars · 25/02/2022 08:51

Also the actual dentist said she couldn’t prescribe anything, but advised taking paracetamol and ibuprofen at the same time.
But I’d try GP first, mine prescribed for me, worst they can say is no.

Original poster
Hadharra · 25/02/2022 08:53

@Cheesybiscuits01

The receptionist is wrong. Dentist absolutely can prescribe painkillers. They often choose not to and send the patient back to the GP which is completely wrong. The GP is not covered by their insurance if they prescribed for an issue outwith their training which dentistry certainly is.
I've asked my friend who is a dental nurse and she also said her dentist DOES prescribe painkillers when needed, so not sure why mine doesn't
OP posts:
MatildaTheCat · 25/02/2022 08:53

I once bit on a seed in muesli and had an incredibly severe pain. It settled but came back randomly. Dentist initially couldn’t find anything wrong but the tooth had a hairline fracture which eventually split the tooth in half and I couldn’t get it pulled out fast enough. I later had an implant.

Even if your dentist did an X-ray yesterday keep this in mind. Go back today and insist on being seen.

Original poster
Hadharra · 25/02/2022 08:54

@MatildaTheCat

I once bit on a seed in muesli and had an incredibly severe pain. It settled but came back randomly. Dentist initially couldn’t find anything wrong but the tooth had a hairline fracture which eventually split the tooth in half and I couldn’t get it pulled out fast enough. I later had an implant.

Even if your dentist did an X-ray yesterday keep this in mind. Go back today and insist on being seen.

They're closed and it's a Friday and I'm meant to be going away for 5 days! This is so typical.
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EmbarrassingHadrosaurus · 25/02/2022 08:55

As PP mentions, there are paracetamol with codeine tablets OTC but chatting to a pharmacist is best.