To pull my own tooth out?!

[DrierThanANunsNasty]

Had the absolute worst toothache for over a week. Went to the emergency dentist last week and they gave me some antibiotics for a few days. Tried booking in with my dentist and then any dentist for a follow up and nobody had any appointments (I pay for my treatment so not the lack of NHS places). I’ve been told I need a full head x-ray for this same tooth which I’ve been waiting nearly a year for and now things have got so bad I’m desperate.

I’ve tried every single home remedy in the book and nothing is touching it. Painkillers aren’t either. Was on hold to the emergency dentist for nearly 2 hours again this evening and got cut off.

This is the most unbearable pain, I don’t actually know what to do. I even called 111 in tears - I know, probably not the best and prepared to get flamed for that - but they just said keep trying the emergency dentist so I’ve been on hold to them again for nearly another hour.

I know IBU to just pull it out, but I’ve never felt pain like this before. What are my options? I feel exhausted and have work at 5am

Please don’t go to A&E !! Phone 111 ask for out of hours GP to prescribe antibiotics and stronger analgesia until you can see an emergency dentist.

depending on the infection source you’ll need either amoxicillin or metronidazole

analgesia - NSAID such as ibuprofen and you could take paracetamol and codeine

Been there several times, even tried it once with pliers but couldn't get it out.

Short term, have you tried holding cold water in your mouth? Never seen that recommended but works for me. Spit and repeat once it gets warm, don't swallow because you'll be widdling forever.

You need Oragel for pain relief, haven't seen you mention this? Complete game changer.

I did end up going to A&E, triaged to the very bottom of the list so I was there for ages but they were sympathetic and gave me strong painkillers.

If you do go to A&E, make sure it has a max fax unit. I was sent there by my dentist after antibiotics hadn't done anything...........they didn't let me leave and I was there 2 nights, but of gawd, the relief!

I'm so sorry OP, I know your pain. Over lockdown I had the worst toothache of my life from a hideous abscess and it was weeks before I could get an appointment even with an emergency dentist - just got given antibiotics same as you!

I really had moments in those couple of weeks where I considered doing something stupid just so I'd have a reason to go to A&E and get pain relief - not my finest hour. I was up to my eyeballs in paracetamol, ibuprofen and codeine and they barely touched it. Awful, awful experience.

If it's an abscess pulling the tooth yourself could legitimately be dangerous - so don't do that. Obviously you know that but I understand how desperate and mad that sort of pain can make you feel.

One of the few things that actually gave me some mild relief was swishing TCP diluted in lukewarm water around the angry tooth. I had to do it A LOT but it eased it enough to where I could get a little sleep.

My OH had that horrific tooth ache last week he ended up on morphine in A and E. It's the WORST pain if in the worst place. He's now on a concoction of pain relief until he can get it pulled. Go and get help.

visit your dentist in person and dont leave till you get sorted
even if they say they will call the police
stand your ground make a nuisance in front of other patients if need be
good luck

Also we were advised that specific hospitals have 24 hour dentists in them so we're told if it happens again to go there!

Have you tried whisky on a piece of cotton wool? How many Ibuprofen are you taking? You can take 2400mg a day. Icepacks on your cheek or under your chin help. If you can't get anywhere tomorrow I agree it is time for A & E, don't attempt to pull it out yourself.

Don't go to work! Go to a&e. I was in so much pain before I ended up taking a family members tramadol and even that barely touched it.

Oh OP I sympathise massively, having had some complicated dental problems during the pandemic which kicked off with pain which stopped me sleeping. No way should you feel bad about calling 111; that’s what I did on my very first sleepless night! It was a weekend so I didn’t think waiting for the morning would help so I just got on the phone there and then.

Your dentist should have emergency appointments for this very situation and I don’t understand why they are not stepping up with something sooner. Is it a surgery that doesn’t do emergencies at all? 111 sent me to the nearest emergency dentist the very next day, a Saturday. There was a limit to what they could do ie either extraction, which they didn’t advise, or antibiotics and painkiller prescription until my regular dentist could see me. As soon as my regular dentist opened up on the Monday they saw me quickly. The issues turned out to be complicated and led to root canal work and crowns on 2 teeth over a period of months, and an ultimate extraction of a third tooth about 18 months later.

Pester your regular dentist for an urgent appointment for unbearable pain. I don’t understand how the emergency dentist you’re on hold to is going to be any better than the one you’ve already seen, unless I’m missing something? Maybe they could extract if you’re sure that’s what you want, but it might not be the right course of action. God teeth are awful when they go wrong, I really do wish you the best of luck.

Shut up

@KalvinPhillipsBoots what? My dd uni has a dental department and it's very easy to get appointments through them.

Paracetamol and Ibuprofen made the pain bearable for me. Forget the home remedies (clove, tea tree oil, whiskey) Two hour intervals, ie 8am para, 10 pm ibu, rinse and repeat.

i was in a similar situation in 2012, private dentist refused to treat me, sent me straight to A&E. I was seen there, kept in and had an emergency op at 1am.

This stuff isn’t to be taken lightly. If no dentist can see you, go to A&E. Even if you have to wait 40 hours, at least you’re in hospital. Tooth problems can turn nasty very quickly. You might end up in a situation where you can’t breathe any more.

Just read this. This is exactly what I am getting at.

Dentist here. This is pretty shocking. Why on earth have you been waiting a full year for an X-ray?
You need to go into your practice tomorrow morning and do not leave until someone sees you. But not just to provide emergency treatment. Make sure you don't leave without an actual treatment plan.
Get referred to an oral surgeon. There is bound to be a private one in your area. They will have an opg xray machine, and can sort it if your dentist can't.

But do not put up with this. If they fob you off again ask for the practice complaint policy/ ask to speak to the practice manager. Just explain what you've said here. Word for word

Take water and swish, then spit, repeat. I found if my tooth stayed wet in water I was ok. As far as sleep i was taking nightqil.

I think Uni’s differ depending on where you are in the country. I know the Uni where my DD trained had an emergency appointment system but wouldn’t do walk ins, you had to book but were mostly seen the same day. The rudeness of some posters on these boards is disgusting.

My go to is Orajel (??) don't get the one of the shelf though that's not strong enough, get the max strength stuff from behind the counter. It takes the edge of enough to fall asleep. That and co-dydramol if you have any.

Why? Most dental hospitals have an emergency dental service, plenty have a walk in service or at least emergency appointments. It's worth a shot and is better than turning up in ED

Orajel max in the red box! It has benzocaine which is a relaxer/numbing agent! It's the only thing that works for me x

Triage at A&E will literally just turn you away

When I had an excruciatingly painful abscess in a gap between my tooth and gum the antibiotics from the dentist weren't effective enough.
I was in utter agony and took a taxi to A&E as I was in tears from the pain only to be told by the triage nurse it wasn't their problem and they couldn't help.

The dentist told me that was all they were allowed to prescribe. So I went to my GP who explained it's only the dentist who can prescribe ABX for teeth. Anyway after a bit of persuasion he prescribed ABX which worked a bit then had to prescribe me another course of ABX till the pain finally went away. My GP also prescribed me effective pain relief which helped

If you're paying private, can you afford to go away on holiday somewhere with a decent dental service for treatment?

OP should not have to do that. Is the system that broken?

Thank you all so much for your advice!

I started ringing round dentists first thing this morning (expanding my search area as PP said).

Managed to find one who had an emergency appointment at 9am and they were FANTASTIC! Had an x-ray there so that’s now done and they explained there’s an abscess combined with another issue that’s effectively pushing my tooth out.

New antibiotics prescribed and an appointment already booked for extraction. What a relief! I am honestly so grateful for all your advice and will be moving my regular dentist to this one who was infinitely more helpful despite being further out.

Thanks again all!