To want a same day-dental appointment when I need it?

[VioletMar]

I’ve been suffering on and off with a wisdom tooth on my bottom left-side of my jaw that has only managed to grow partially through the gum. So it’s pretty much mostly hidden under my gum/cheek. At my last dentist appointment 6 months ago, I asked if the tooth should be removed and was advised that the teeth are only removed in extreme circumstances. So the tooth was left.
However this morning I’ve noticed parts of the tooth that I can see look like they are turning grey/black?
I’ve had constant pain for the last week. The pain radiates across my jaw, down my neck and is giving me an ear ache. But try as I might , I can not get a dentist appointment.
Usually I would pay private. But the cost of living/mortgage rate increase and my pending divorce means I just don’t have the surplus that I used to have. And so for the first time ever, I tried to get an NHS appointment But failed miserably.

I called my local dentist at 8am. It took 25 minutes to get through and all same day NHS appointments were gone.(( But I expect if I could pay the usual fees, they have squeezed me in!!) so I rang three other dentists listed on the NHS website in my local area and none were accepting new patients. I then 111 and held for 36 minutes, just to be given a number to call. which I duly rang. I held for 58 minutes, only to be told they had no appointments today (I should have called at 8am to bag one…) but if I call back tomorrow at 8am I might get an appointment , 30 minutes drive away. I wasn’t able to to pre-book the appointment at all. so back to 111 and now im waiting for a telephone appointment. Ive now been on the phone for over two hours , whilst trying to get kids sorted for the back to school and while trying to work from home myself. (Which won’t go unnoticed). All while dealing with this constant ache!

I’ve just looked at the cost of private practises. The cost of an appointment, possible xray, extraction etc quickly adds up to £300. I just can’t cover it. It’s about all I’ve got in the bank to cover food and petrol until my next pay day on the 25th. I’m so fed up. I can literally count on one hand the number of medical / dentist appointments I’ve been able to get within the last five years. But the deductions from my salary are always upwards of £275 monthly. Meaning I’ve paid approx £16000 plus in NHS contributions during that time but have had almost nothing in return.

I’m so incredibly fed up.

Any advice would be so appreciated.

🙈🙈🙈🙈🙈

I have a dentist plan, twice yearly hygienist, a private dentist and I'm obsessive about my teeth.

I still ended up with weeks and weeks of absolutely excruciating pain from a hidden issue, and was faced with a limited service.

Even the private dentists are stretched.

Just like private health care, please be aware that in emergencies, you could be left to wait just like everyone else.

Just an update:

Called the clinic again at 7:59am.l the next day. Was number 1 in the queue (I know as the telephone recording kept saying so.. but Eventually, the phone was answered at 8:12am. I can only assume the phone was ringing off the hook until then. But 12 minutes isn’t that bad compared to the hours I spent on the phone prior to then.

The receptionist on the line was pleasant enough. I was given an immediate appointment for a town 40 minutes away. But was told to be there Asap or the slot could go… Kids were already ready for school, so I hurried them out the door, and then rushed to get there through peak hour traffic. On arrival, the place was like a ghost town. Almost empty carpark and just me in the waiting room.

I sat in reception for about 15 minutes before the dentist was available but it was a flying visit. I was in and out. They checked my teeth. All fine and healthy. No concerns about plaque build up or concerns. But the gums around partially exposed wisdom tooth are inflamed. He said it was a mild case of what could be early periodontitis. He prescribed some antibiotics. And then told me, that’s all they can do. But he expects I will experience the same issue ongoing as the tooth is right where the folds of skin are so it’s inevitable that food will get trapped there irrespective of how clean I keep my teeth.

Rather interestingly, he mentioned that Under new guidelines I’d have to go twice in a 12 month period and be prescribed with antibiotics for the same issue before the NHS to warrant removal of the tooth.
Which basically sounds like let a problem get progressively worse until the problem costs more to fix.

He then recommended that it would be better for me to go private. And suggested four local clinics… including my own. Which I can’t afford and three other local clinics that had told me this week they aren’t accepting new patients.
So back to square one. . .

Those guidelines have been in place for a very long time. At least 15 years! They’re NICE guidelines, designed to —save money— prevent unnecessary surgery and therefore risk.