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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Any dentists about?

11 replies

pelagra · 24/05/2023 19:32

After a couple of weeks of tooth twinges I saw dentist 1 as an emergency. She X-rayed and tested, was unsure what it was and advised interdental brushes. If it worsened or I developed swelling phone and they would prescribe antibiotics.
Four days later pain was becoming intractible and I woke to find my face swollen.

Phoned, told I must come back. Dentist 2 said irreversible pulpitis, prescribed me antibiotics an referred me to Dentist 3, for future root canal. Assured me antibiotics would work within 48 hours

Another three days, pain and swelling spreading, and combined ibruprofen and paracetamol not controlling it. Fever and trembling. Called 111 at 10pm, they didn't phone back till after 11am next day. Next mornng called my practice again - no dentist available, suggested I call round other surgeries to try to be seen.

Called specialist Dentist 3, who said come in and wait, they would fit me in.
He diagnosed a cracked tooth, changed the antibiotics and scheduled me for extraction tomorrow, saying anasthsia wouldn't be reliable as I was in so much pain.

Today, as pills start to wear off I'm in so much pain I'm moaning and thrashing about. I've given birth three times without pain relief, not even gas and air, so I don't think I'm a wuss. This is the worst pain I've ever experienced, by far.

The Important Question, Can anyone assure me that the extraction will go ahead tomorrow if the pain is still so bad?
The trivial question, Should my own dentists have spotted the real cause sooner?

OP posts:
namechanged221 · 24/05/2023 19:40

Sorry to hear this.

Dental care in this country is ridiculously appalling at the moment.

They shouldn't have left you with toothache at the start.

Good luck for tomorrow.

pelagra · 24/05/2023 20:03

Thanks for your good wishes. It is a stupid system nowadays. I'm lucky to have found a dentist who would take me on at all.

Does anyone have any professional knowledge? I'm heading back into the whimpering stage and it's half an hour till I can take another pill.Even then I'm going to be over the recommended dose on both today.
I'm so afraid he will say it;s still too bad to extract, and I'm desperate. The pain is radiating around my face, but my cheek is numb to the touch. It hurts so much.

OP posts:
billybear · 24/05/2023 20:40

ive been where you are twice, i had both of the teeth out .,again not a whim but never known pain like it, good luck

LocoCocoa · 24/05/2023 20:44

Oh op, also been where you are. Cracked tooth got infected, was sent away with antibiotics, which didn’t work, I was crying in pain. They had to send me to the hospital for the extraction and no the anaesthetic didn’t take… but it had to come out regardless… I was 7 months pregnant at the time and amazed it didn’t put me into labour.

Lollygaggle · 24/05/2023 20:48

cracked Teeth are notoriously difficult to diagnose. You often can't see anything on the tooth or x Ray and it only becomes obvious when the tooth actually cracks in half. It can be one of the most difficult diagnostic problems.

Teeth that have infections on them can be difficult to numb up because pus is acidic and local anaesthetics do not work well with pus present. However antibiotics will just bring the pus down enough so anaesthetic will work , but taking the tooth out is the only way to get rid of the pain.

phone before your appointment because they may suggest you take a certain painkiller (depending on your medical history) an hour before your appointment to reduce inflammation . However they should be able to get you numb enough to take the tooth out.

pelagra · 24/05/2023 21:28

Oh, thanks for that, @Lollygaggle you sound knowledgable. I've called 111 because I can't manage the pain, but their call- back said don't take any more and a prescriber will call within two hours. I was counting on more paracetamol at 9pm

OP posts:
pelagra · 24/05/2023 21:31

I was taking Metronidazole for 4 days, now on Erythromicin for two days. Could there be any possible help in restarting the Met. as well?

OP posts:
Dodo2023 · 24/05/2023 21:34

They’ll take it out if you can take the pain I had two cracked ones taken out after lockdown the dentist gave me local and kept telling me to tell him if I could feel anything I didn’t because I just wanted the tooth out so I put up with the pain and the pulling I do have a high pain threshold though. The relief once the tooth is out is unimaginable m. Good luck 🤞

pelagra · 24/05/2023 22:43

Dodo2023 · 24/05/2023 21:34

They’ll take it out if you can take the pain I had two cracked ones taken out after lockdown the dentist gave me local and kept telling me to tell him if I could feel anything I didn’t because I just wanted the tooth out so I put up with the pain and the pulling I do have a high pain threshold though. The relief once the tooth is out is unimaginable m. Good luck 🤞

That sounds encouraging. Just got to find a way to get to tomorrow afternoon.

OP posts:
pelagra · 25/05/2023 07:11

111 prescribed codeine. Barely any effect, but now I've left enough of a gap to restart paracetamol.

OP posts:
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