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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To try to pull my tooth out as i can't get a dentist?

105 replies

WovenStarfish · 23/03/2023 08:00

So, possibly due to a fall last year, one of my back molars is very loose. It has been gradually worsening for months, but is now so loose that it is catching on my other teeth and causing quite a bit of pain. Can't use that side of my mouth, sometimes just opening it is painful. I've not been able to find an nhs dentist - I'm on a waiting list but it is currently over a year! Going private is not an option as there is no way I can afford it. 111 don't class it as an emergency. I've been pulling & twisting it for weeks, but it still won't just get out. Yesterday, I'd had enough, so I sterilised a pair of pliers & attempted to get it out myself. Didn't work - it's a stubborn old thing. My family think I'm totally insane to even attempt removal with pliers, but I think it's reasonable given the circumstances.
Sorry, first time posting so be gentle 😊

OP posts:
Paturday · 23/03/2023 08:02

Wouldn’t you need to make sure you get the root out? When I had some molars out he pulled so hard that I basically left the chair. Admittedly I was a child, but I don’t think it’s something yoj can do yourself.

Walkies1 · 23/03/2023 08:03

How much is an extraction privately?

Nimbostratus100 · 23/03/2023 08:03

you cant do it yourself, the roots are too deep, and if they broke, you would be in real trouble

PotKettel · 23/03/2023 08:06

Good grief this sounds like a terrible idea… if you do it, at the very least get another person to do it. Pulling your own tooth out seems like a very bad idea.

Dental pain can drive you over the edge so I’m not surprised you want a solution… maybe there is a dentist who could do it on a payment plan?

or have you got a dental teaching hospital nearby? Some of them offer free treatment if you’re not registered with a dentist. I don’t know much about it though and depends if you’re near a city with university hospital…

DoormatBob · 23/03/2023 08:06

Is there not an NHS emergency dentist? I don't have a dentist but have used the emergency dentist twice in the past few months to have painful teeth removed.

You phone in the morning and they arrange an appointment somewhere, they may ask if you can travel a bit but will be in your local health trust area

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 23/03/2023 08:08

Your roots are probably too curved down to get it out safely on your own - even if you manage it there's a huge risk of infection and you needing follow up treatment.

What would you do if the tooth split or you damaged another tooth in the process?

You need to somehow find a way to pay for a dentist. Private extractions aren't extortionate and you can pay on a credit card.

Tietheapron · 23/03/2023 08:11

As the post above me shows, people will believe that somehow you can get the money. It’s just a question of wanting it enough.

isthismylifenow · 23/03/2023 08:15

OP please don't try the pliers thing again. Your molar is not like a child's loose tooth that could be whipped out using some other means. (string etc ).

I don't know the answer to getting seen quicker but doing this could quite possibly cause other issues.

SnarkyBag · 23/03/2023 08:16

doing it yourself is a terrible idea. The risk of not getting all the root out, knowing if a proper clot has formed and then risk of possible infection/dry socket.

you need a dentist for both the extraction and for aftercare. I had a tooth extracted recently it was no fun with the recovery and required a couple of extra dentist visits and antibiotics.

I don’t know what the answer is about finding an NHS dentist though

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 23/03/2023 08:17

Tietheapron · 23/03/2023 08:11

As the post above me shows, people will believe that somehow you can get the money. It’s just a question of wanting it enough.

Well no, that's not what I said, is it?

But pulling it out herself will likely make the problem 10x worse.

spexsavers · 23/03/2023 08:17

Surely there's an emergency dentist at your local hospital, call them directly and they'll extract it

Tietheapron · 23/03/2023 08:17

You need to somehow find a way to pay for a dentist. Private extractions aren't extortionate and you can pay on a credit card.

Sorry, what did you mean, then?

SnarkyBag · 23/03/2023 08:18

Walkies1 · 23/03/2023 08:03

How much is an extraction privately?

I paid £175 for my extraction privately. That included after care (two visits and two sets of antibiotics)

whatwouldAnnaDelveydo · 23/03/2023 08:19

This is one thread that should be picked by the journos. Journos, can you focus here when looking for stories, please? This is the country the UK is becoming.

Luredbyapomegranate · 23/03/2023 08:20

You are likely to give yourself a massive infection from leaving the root behind.

Go to A & E and refuse to leave until they send you to the nearest dental hospital, or find your local dental hospital and call them direct.

This isn’t one for 111 - they are concerned with how ill you are not how in pain you are.

gamerchick · 23/03/2023 08:20

Yeah you can't do it yourself. I think I'd be tempted to stick that shit on a credit card me.

willingtolearn · 23/03/2023 08:21

I don't think you're being unreasonable because the pain and frustration of dental issues with no help available is now common and so hard to live with.

However having recently had a tooth extracted at a dentist where the tooth broke coming out and damaged another tooth - this was a specialist dental surgery, I would strongly advise doing everything you can to get a dentist to do it.

It's not just the tooth removal - it leaves quite a big wound behind and the chances of infection or other problems is quite large.

I know you've probably tried everything but there is NHS 'Find a dentist' https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-dentist that gives an idea of who is accepting NHS patients

There is also NHS England's Customer Contact Centre on 0300 311 2233.

You have to be extraordinarily persistent, calling multiple times and then waiting hours, even days for different people to call you back and then pass you to the 'next step', all whilst in pain.

I hope you find some help.

Find a dentist - NHS

Find a dentist near you on the NHS website. Check your local dentist's opening times, services, facilities, reviews and ratings.

https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-dentist

User386421986 · 23/03/2023 08:22

I would find a private dentist and pay by credit card, cost will probably be £150-£200

willingtolearn · 23/03/2023 08:25

@Luredbyapomegranate A&E can help with managing the pain but have no access to dentists.

111 Do have access to dental services, or can at least direct you to dental services in your area or dental triage services. You're right that pain is not the top 'urgent' factor - that will be if you are becoming systemically unwell or if your airway is in danger from swelling (which would also be an A&E priority)

Luredbyapomegranate · 23/03/2023 08:25

You need to somehow find a way to pay for a dentist. Private extractions aren't extortionate and you can pay on a credit card.

@coffeecupsandwaxmelts

Are you serious? You wouldn’t even have to be in poverty not be able to do this. To lots of people a couple of hundred quid IS extortionate and not everyone has a credit card, and lots of people wouldn’t know any one who had access to this sort of money either.

The OP isn’t handling this well - in that they appear not to know that dental hospitals and NHS emergency dental services exist - but not everyone has any access to spare cash. Like you I do, but I am aware that lots of people don’t. Read the news or something.

Walkies1 · 23/03/2023 08:27

OP I had an extraction recently. I thought one the tooth was out it would be fine but after three days I was in total agony. Never felt pain like it in my life. I needed another dentist appointment to have the socket cleansed and packed with painkillers and antibiotics. By that stage I would have skipped a mortgage payment to pay for it!!!

It’s now 8 weeks and it’s healing… but it’s been slow. Please ensure you get it extracted by a dentist and get the right aftercare.

Luredbyapomegranate · 23/03/2023 08:31

willingtolearn · 23/03/2023 08:25

@Luredbyapomegranate A&E can help with managing the pain but have no access to dentists.

111 Do have access to dental services, or can at least direct you to dental services in your area or dental triage services. You're right that pain is not the top 'urgent' factor - that will be if you are becoming systemically unwell or if your airway is in danger from swelling (which would also be an A&E priority)

Yes - you are right - really what I meant is they’ll give the OP pain killers and help her understand how to access local emergency dental services.

My feeling is if the OP hasn’t managed to find them herself or made her GP aware that she needs this info, then planting herself in front of A & E staff will be the way to get her into the system. IME in situations like this A&E can help someone who doesn’t know how to push the system push the system.

Lovemusic33 · 23/03/2023 08:35

I had an extraction last week, expected it to be simple (back molar)but it ended up taking 2 hours and required drilling etc..,so I would say it’s not a good deal to attempt it yourself. I am lucky to have a NHS dentist but in your position I would probably have to go private and set up some kind of payment plan to pay for it 😬

mrspinkhat · 23/03/2023 08:36

DoormatBob · 23/03/2023 08:06

Is there not an NHS emergency dentist? I don't have a dentist but have used the emergency dentist twice in the past few months to have painful teeth removed.

You phone in the morning and they arrange an appointment somewhere, they may ask if you can travel a bit but will be in your local health trust area

This. My adult son uses this. If necessary lie and say your in agony and also mention trying to pull it out yourself. You will get a same day appointment.

Justforlaffs · 23/03/2023 08:37

Is there no way you could whack it on a credit card?

I wouldn't pull it out myself in case it goes wrong but tooth pain is the absolute worst, my sympathies.

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