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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To go to urgent care with a dental infection?

54 replies

IroningThrone · 05/06/2023 11:25

I know it isn't the right place but i genuinely don't know what else to do. I've been trying since thur to see a dentist. 111 haven't been able to help. Have genuinely tried 20+ dentists at this point. Can book a private one but it's £90 just for the appointment with the treatment on top and it's more than i have in my bank account at the moment. Had to max my credit card recently due to a problem with my car exhaust and I can't get another.

I'm starting to feel properly ill and desperate and i just don't know what else to do.

OP posts:

Netcam · 05/06/2023 11:28

If it's something like an abscess would the GP see you and give you antibiotics? I used to get abscesses in my mouth before I had my wisdom teeth out and I'm sure I remember getting antibiotics from the GP.

Justchooseone · 05/06/2023 11:28

where do you live? There should be a dental hospital somewhere with an emergency provision. You could go to urgent care but tbh I think they’ll just refer you on

rinseandrepeat1 · 05/06/2023 11:34

I'm not sure they'd be able to do anything for you.

What did 111 say? When this has happened to me in the past they recommended the nearest dentist and I had to call this dentist and say 111 were referring me to them to get an emergency appointment for an infection. Previously the dentist wouldn't give me an emergency appointment but as soon as I said that 111 was referring me to them as urgent they gave me an appointment. You can't just be left with an infection incase it spreads

CornishGem1975 · 05/06/2023 11:37

NHS 111 can help but they won't unless it is serious - ie considerable facial swelling can be seen. I had an abscess last year when I was on holiday in a different part of the country and 2 hours after first calling 111, my tooth was out because it was severe.

GP won't treat for dental problems - even with a known abscess they wouldn't prescribe me painkillers, said I needed to see the dentist. Urgent care wouldn't treat either I don't think.

Original poster

IroningThrone · 05/06/2023 11:48

There's just no appointments available with 111 in my area. There was one on the system yesterday but it went before the call handler could finish the booking.

OP posts:

CornishGem1975 · 05/06/2023 11:54

Yes but if it's a genuine emergency, they will find one. As a PP said, I was given contact details by NHS 111 and had to phone the emergency NHS dental clinic who would only see me if I had been referred.

You say you've tried 20+ dentists. Are you not actually registered with one? I can normally see my dentist the same day for an infection.

catzrulz · 05/06/2023 11:54

My son attended A&E last week (we only have a cottage hospital and live on an island) at the weekend on advice from 111, they refused to treat him for an abcess saying dentists don't allow them to even give antibiotics.
This is Scotland, not sure if different rules apply where you live though.

GMH1974 · 05/06/2023 11:58

I had this a couple of weekends ago and ended up forking out £94 for a private dentist and some antibiotics as none of the numbers 111 gave me had anyone there and / or anyone willing to see me.

LeoEisor · 05/06/2023 11:59

I had a dental access/infection in march called around at local emergency dentists had to travel to one and just turn up and wait on a Sunday it cost me £40 plus antibiotics

Whataretalkingabout · 05/06/2023 12:03

A tooth infection can be fatal . Do not take this lightly. I would go to a local emergency in your position.

Frabbits · 05/06/2023 12:08

Not sure if it's different in England vs Scotland, but if you call out of hours up here (e.g. after 6pm and at weekends) there will be a dentist on call who will see you, even if you have to travel a bit, so might be worth calling then.

During office hours if it's an actual emergency though 111 should be able to find you an emergency dentist to see you.

Otherwise, see if you can arrange a payment plan with private dentist or try to scrounge up the money from family?

SusannahD · 05/06/2023 12:13

If you haven’t a dentist you need to find the emergency dentist telephone number for your county this should be online.

GladysHeeler · 05/06/2023 12:40

This happened to me.

My own NHS dentist wouldn't see me. Despite pain.

Phoned 101 - told me to go to my own dentist 'within 24 hours'

Went to emergency dental clinic thing (NHS) wouldn't see me without appointment. Wouldn't give me an appointment.

Went to A&E - told me to return to own dentist.

Phoned own dentist every morning at 8am as told. No emergency appointments.

Went to NHS dentist. Was demented by this point. Sobbed. Told them I was going to wait for emergency appointment. Got one. Got antibiotics and the pain was gone in three days.

Like you, I was scared to go to a private dentist as it could end up costing so much money but I have had to in the end. And had the initial appointment £70 and the filling £170.

WhyDoesItAlways · 05/06/2023 12:54

Do you have a regular dentist?

I had an infection a few years ago and my dentist told me there were no appointments and gave me the number for the local emergency dentist. Local emergency dentist told me if I was registered with a dentist then they had a duty of care to see me. So I rang my usual dentist back and told them this and low and behold, the receptionist put me on hold for a few minutes, then told me she'd been able to rearrange some appointments and I could come in later that day.

Honestly dental care in this country and getting beyond a joke. My dentist surgery doesn't actually have any dentists at the moment and are employing a receptionist whose sole job seems to be cancelling appointments.

Original poster

IroningThrone · 05/06/2023 13:10

I don't have a dentist - my practice closed during covid and I haven't been able to register anywhere else. Apparently there's one nhs dentist per 10000 people in my area!

Just tried one and was told the waiting list for nhs patients was 3-6 months.

I feel like crying 😭😭😭

OP posts:

Original poster

IroningThrone · 05/06/2023 13:12

SusannahD · 05/06/2023 12:13

If you haven’t a dentist you need to find the emergency dentist telephone number for your county this should be online.

Isn't that just 111, who i have spoken to four times now with no luck?

OP posts:

CornishGem1975 · 05/06/2023 13:14

Then I think you're going to have to suck it up and go private. They have payment plans as someone else has mentioned.

Don't leave it to get worse or you will be very very sorry and will still be in the same predicament. Believe me, I'd have 10 babies without pain relief before I'd want an abscess again.

WhyDoesItAlways · 05/06/2023 13:15

Is it worth speaking to a pharmacist. They may be able to give something to help with the pain while you try and get an appointment.

I would keep on at 111 to try and get an appointment but also make plans to go private as annoying as it is as an infection is not something you want to get worse.

PerfectYear321 · 05/06/2023 13:26

I would go to your GP/ the urgent care centre, OP. GPs aren't supposed to treat dental problems but some would take pity on you. Surely the risk of leaving you like this when you simply can't see a dentist will do more harm than them doing SOMETHING. What are you meant to do...go away and die?!

It's shocking that we are in this appalling state in a so-called first world country in 2023

Imagine this but for all health care- because that is the way we are going.

3beesinmybonnet · 05/06/2023 13:27

Dissolve a teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water and swill mouthfuls around your mouth then spit it out till it's all gone. Make sure the tooth is well soaked in it for as long as possible. Do this every half hour. The salty environment kills off the infection. This was recommended to me by a dentist. Take cocodamol for the pain.

Hope you get it sorted properly soon.

SusannahD · 05/06/2023 13:29

111, should be giving you the telephone number for them but no it’s not the same it maybe different in your county but in Lancashire there is an emergency dental number. What county are you in? I could try having a look for you if you like.

FcukTheDay · 05/06/2023 13:51

CornishGem1975 · 05/06/2023 13:14

Then I think you're going to have to suck it up and go private. They have payment plans as someone else has mentioned.

Don't leave it to get worse or you will be very very sorry and will still be in the same predicament. Believe me, I'd have 10 babies without pain relief before I'd want an abscess again.

Not everyone can suck it up and go private, if you genuinely have no money then it is impossible. Payment plans are all well and good if you have the money to put down initially.

OP, I feel for you. In my opinion there is nothing worse than dental pain.

SarahLucSc · 05/06/2023 13:57

I had an infected wisdom tooth and had to go to a private dentist for treatment (ended up being extraction) as my NHS dentist wouldn’t give me an appointment within a month.

Fortunately I could pay for it but the dentist offered payment plans for those who couldn’t pay upfront. Might be worth seeing if there is someone who does that in your area?

SarahLucSc · 05/06/2023 13:58

(Should add they did payment plans where you didn’t have to pay anything straight away. I hope you can find someone similar)

muffinmclay22 · 05/06/2023 14:02

Can a&e not help in this situation? Dental abscesses can turn nasty and spread quickly, it might not strictly be an a&e issue right now but to could soon lead to one if you can't get antibiotics. For the sake of issuing a prescription surely they would see you? And if not could your GP prescribe over the phone?

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