To go to GP for dental pain?

[Hadharra]

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.

You can take co-codamol and ibuprofen simultaneously (only for 3 days though).
Sounds that you need something stronger though: I’d call surgery. It’s not wasting anyone’s time. The question will be put to GP and they’ll either prescribe, or not. Ours often prescribes without face to face.

Dentist here. Of course we can prescribe painkillers.
Not only that, we have a duty of care to look after patients in the event of a dental emergency funnily enough.
It's our job 🤦‍♀️
Call them back and ask politely who is covering their emergencies today? Request a telephone call asap.

I've had to see emergency out of hours dentist at weekend if you Google it details should come up, I hope they're not just weekend though. Our local one is at hospital. They were wonderful, called back with an appointment in 2 hours, prescribed me antibiotics for infection. Hope you get it sorted, tooth pain is the worst

You can buy a low dose cocodimal(sp) which can be taken with ibroufan(sp) also for a short period of time you can up the ibroufan dose to 600mg instead of the 400mg recommended dose, you wouldn't overdose on it the way you can with paracetamol but long-term(months not days or weeks) high dose can cause stomach ulcers hope that helps

@electrocautery

Dentist here. Of course we can prescribe painkillers. Not only that, we have a duty of care to look after patients in the event of a dental emergency funnily enough. It's our job 🤦‍♀️ Call them back and ask politely who is covering their emergencies today? Request a telephone call asap.

Thank you. Glad to be armed with this info. They told me that their dentists definitely do not prescribe painkillers. Bizarre.

I find doctors quite reluctant to intervene with anything dental related

So do l

A pharmacist might be able to help. I've gotten on and off pain for years from one tooth, it's part of a larger chronic health issue I have. When it's bad I use a numbing gel I get from the pharmacy, it's a local numbing agent, lidocaine from memory. I'm not in UK, but I'd expect you could get something similar. I had to paint it on a lot and you have to be careful where it goes, but it did help with that horrible pain.

You need to be seen by a dentist to see what is wrong and treat appropriately - antibiotics might be needed as well as pain killers .

Have you had any luck ringing the emergency line that you said takes you to a large dental centre ?

OP I feel for you and in similar situations I've taken paramol with ibuprofen (both at 4 hrs but with a 2 hr gap - so paramol at 9 then brufen at 11) as PP has said previously. If your dentist can't won't prescribe anything stronger than I think that's the strongest OTC combo you can have. You can also find anbesol which has lidocaine in it for topical relief. I also find a regular mouth rinse with something like corsodyl tastes disgusting helps to ease discomfort. I currently have the same - had to have antibiotics to ease an infection and now managing pain until I can get into the dentists for a 'routine' appt which takes forever good luck - dental pain is the worst!!!

They must have a system set up for emergencies
It’s a legal requirement

Call them asap

What painkillers are you taking?

Solpedeine max is the strongest OTC cocodamol product 12.8mg codeine 500mg paracetamol.

Alternatively boots sell ibuprofen with codeine which may work better for dental pain.

Heat might help too. You have my sympathies, dental pain is the absolute worst

Doctor should prescribe short term pain relief if needed.

whoever up thread said that you can only take cocodamol and ibuprofen simultaneously for only 3 days is wrong. We commonly prescribe that combination . Perfectly safe to take together long term if needed

DOI doctor

I’ve got Paramol from the pharmacist for dental pain recommended by the dentist. It’s in a black packet. Marvellous stuff.

:12ArseInTheCoOpWindow

I find doctors quite reluctant to intervene with anything dental related

So do l

I find dentists quite reluctant to intervene with pneumonia and tonsillitis!

Doctors shouldn't treat dental conditions. That's the dentists job. As previous poster who is a dentist pointed out there is a system to deal with this.

Although it's true that doctors won't get involved in dental issues, they will certainly prescribe proper pain relief as that falls under their remit.

@Hadharra

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.

Try alternating 400mg co-codamol with 400g ibuprofen. It's working for my DH, who is in a similar position.

I'm doing 800mg ibuprofen with 1000mg cocodamol so will see how that goes until I can get to dentist

Have you rung 111?

If you're going away in this country, is there an emergency dental service/hospital near where you're staying, if there is nothing near you at home?

I'd talk to your pharmacist.