To go to urgent care with a dental infection?

[IroningThrone]

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.

I think you're best getting on a payment plan with a private dentist. You might not be covered for the emergency treatment but going forward at least you know you'll be treated. The NHS wait list in my area is 3+ years.

As mentioned further up - Doctors and GPs won't/can't prescribe for dental pain.

I went to urgent care a few weeks ago and was given antibiotics to treat the infection.

I was on holiday, which may have made a difference as obviously I couldn’t quickly go to see either my GP or my dentist. Nevertheless I think urgent care is worth a shot. Dental infections are dangerous and if you are starting to feel properly ill, you need to be seen by someone.

If you have an abscess the dentist will give you antibiotics, so why not use the GP

The guidance from BMA: (The brief version)

GPs should not attempt to manage a condition requiring dental skills unless they have the appropriate training and expertise. Both the civil courts and the GMC require doctors to have appropriate skills for any treatment they offer.

The treatment of dental problems is not the responsibility of GPs. In an emergency, the patient should be advised to contact local urgent or emergency dental services, or in severe circumstances the nearest accident and emergency department.

But as mentioned before, A&E will most likely only direct to emergency dentist again and emergency dentist via NHS 111 was only available if you have visible swelling.

They're not allowed to prescribe for dental issues.

Ours do so it's worth asking. Infection can lead to sepsis so my GP will treat.

https://www.themdu.com/guidance-and-advice/guides/treating-patients-with-dental-problems

For the vast majority of dental infections antibiotics are NOT the answer. At best they suppress the symptoms for a short while.
In the overwhelming number of cases a dental infection needs active treatment of some sort , otherwise you are just kicking the problem a few days/weeks/months down the line.

You are not limited to your own area to seek National Health dental treatment so extend the search way out of your area , perhaps near relatives.

NHS 111 is limited by how much emergency dental care has been provided by the authorities and in many cases it is very,very little. A and E will not have the equipment to provide dental treatment and often will not even have the qualified personnel. GPs have been told not to prescribe because they have, at most , a couple of hours lectures about oral medicine , dentists have years , and , importantly, they do not have the equipment or expertise to treat the cause of the infection .

So the bad news is really you have to see a dentist , get emergency treatment sorted , not just antibiotics. Be prepared to travel , perhaps some distance.

This is the criteria for giving antibiotics. Unfortunately people think that antibiotics will cure a dental infection, whereas the vast majority of dental infections need dental treatment , not antibiotics which at best just defer things for a while and at worse do nothing except increase your risk of antibiotic resistance and allergy.

• Antibiotics are generally not indicated for otherwise healthy people at low risk of complications when there are no signs of spreading infection. Antibiotics should be prescribed for:
• People who are systemically unwell or with signs of severe infection (such as fever, lymphadenopathy, cellulitis, diffuse swelling).
• People with a high risk of complications (for example people who are immunocompromised or have diabetes).

Can you ‘go on holiday’ to somewhere with emergency dentistry coverage? And access it that way?

"The GP rang the MDU for advice. The MDU medico-legal adviser explained that, while the GP could provide any emergency treatment they thought was immediately necessary, they should also explain to the patient that they were not a qualified dentist and would be unable to provide dental treatment.

The GP explained to the patient that it would be in her best interests to be seen by a dental professional and that legally and ethically, they couldn't provide dental treatment as they weren't qualified to do so. The GP offered to arrange to contact the local dental access centre on the patient's behalf, which she accepted, and arrangements were made for her to be seen urgently by an NHS dentist."

My sibling has been to A&E twice with an abscess and both times they were given antibiotics.

For the vast majority of dental infections antibiotics are NOT the answer. At best they suppress the symptoms for a short while.

Agree with this. In most cases, you need tooth extraction or root canal. Antibiotics will ease the infection but they won't get rid of the problem.

I Know this is controversial and I don't advocate it (in fact if anyone is offended please feel free to ask for this to be deleted)

In the height of Covid my relative was unable to see a dentist for a wisdom tooth infection. According to her 111 couldn't help (either to find a dentist or to get a GP to help, but I cannot 100% vouch for this) so in the end she purchased AB online. She said she had a different condition which got her a script for AB. I won't say which AB or what condition.

It isn't ideal and she did end up finding a dentist and getting her wisdom tooth removed etc.

BUT this is what she did.

For the vast majority of dental infections antibiotics are NOT the answer. At best they suppress the symptoms for a short while

I was informed, very recently, that the dentist would NOT treat me until the infection was treated with AB.

I know this to be the case for several other people too.

For the vast majority of dental infections antibiotics are NOT the answer. At best they suppress the symptoms for a short while

I was informed, very recently, that the dentist would NOT treat me until the infection was treated with AB.

I know this to be the case for several other people too.

** ETA: Dentist did say that the infection will not be cured until to problem was sorted but that AB were required to get the current flare under control.
He said it is for patient comfort as doing dental work when the infection is active is incredibly painful.

I'm having an extraction in 2 weeks for a dental infection (not severe at the moment, picked up on xray) and haven't been given an antibiotics. The only reason I was last time was because it was already painful and flaring up.

Hi, book the private appointment if you possibly can. Don't be too afraid of the treatment cost. They won't do anything without your agreement and when my dentist prescribed me private antibiotics they cost less than NHS prescription charge. Go but just tell them you need to agree to any treatment regarding price but the antibiotics are a start.

It’s fine to say your GP or your A&E did treat - they may well be qualified. Individuals can, if they’re qualified. But most are not, and therefore cannot, which does not help OP.

I did this, I had a infection after a bad attempt of having a tooth removed on the weekend.
Went to a&e they sent me to the emergency dental department who worked weekends and they got me antibiotics. They wouldn't remove it though.

I had to go to A&E on New Year’s Day this year with a huge dental abscess. I did manage to get an emergency dental appointment that day through 111 (my dentist was closed) but the emergency dentist sent me away with antibiotics and painkillers. By the evening my whole face had blown up to the extent my eye was closed on that side and it’s honestly the worst pain I’ve ever felt in my life, much worse than childbirth.

Saw an amazing max fax doctor in a&e really quickly who drained the abscess and the pain disappeared straight away.I’d overdosed on paracetamol by accident because the agony was that immense so also had to have an antidote. Dental problems are no joke at all, you need to be seen so yes get to A&E please. It can turn to sepsis quickly as well if untreated so it is an emergency.

Op i am in your situation and recently paid 90 quid for assessment it then included the antibiotics.

You need to consider just paying the 90 quid as if thr infection worsens you will be seriously ill and you may lose your tooth.

Full treatment. Which for me is root canal is painfully 700 quid !!@ its unbelievable.

Thanks, this is helpful. I must say it was about 30 years ago my GP treated me so things have probably changed. It is outrageous that it is pretty impossible to get an NHS dental appointment for many these days. We have had numerous check up appointments cancelled by the dentist over the past few years and now have one booked for July, which, if it actually happens, will be our first check up since before Covid. We decided to stay registered at the practice as at least they said they would treat us under the NHS if we have an emergency, even of they couldn't give us a check up appointment. It makes me think the government are trying to phase out NHS dentistry until those of us still lucky enough to be registered with one either move house or die off.

Full treatment. Which for me is root canal is painfully 700 quid !!@its unbelievable.

@waterrat That's why I've just opted for straight extraction - because root canal doesn't always work. I had the opposite side one removed last year and it's been fine, not missed it, and can't see it as it's towards the back. It's the cost of the root canal + the crown that is eye-watering!