Surely there's something else that can be done (dental)

[Daniagainagainagain]

Morning all

Posting out of sheer desperation.
I have an impacted wisdom tooth. I actually have 2 wisdom teeth on the area of concern which is a bit of a rarity.

It's been sore on and off for a week, I managed to get an appointment for Friday but I can't deal with this pain anymore I am literally climbing the walls. I would take the birth of my child over this. My fave is swollen on one side and the inside of my mouth is swollen, my throats on fire.
Rang 111, said nothing they can do and to wait for the appointment.

I've taken nurofen, paracetamol, OTC co-codamol, I am in sheer agony and it's literally driving me insane. I'm tempted to show up in A&E just to see if they can help with this pain, I've never known anything like it.

The teeth were found a few years back when X-ray'd for cosmetic work but they hadn't broken through the skin and weren't giving me trouble.

Surely there has to be something else or someone else I can help? I can't afford to see a private dentist, and the NHS appt is days away

Sorry for posting here but I'm desperate 😭

MIL is my saviour - she has a box of 30/500 (co-codamol) in her cupboard after she had the exact same thing!! She had hers removed and has a box left. I know you shouldn't use other people's meds but I am howling in pain and would much rather stay at home. She called DH to ask how I was and said I could have them.

I would take them , just follow instructions on box.
Ive had them for extreme sciatica and they really numb pain.

Well I've taken some and I think they are conking me out as I'm quite drowsy and actually feel like I might get some sleep (I can only hope!) they're the 30/500.

Surgery is booked for next Wednesday and it can't come quick enough.
I understand now why people say tooth pain is the worst ever ever ever

Yes they help you sleep .
Brilliant relief if you have been in pain so long.
The dentists / nhs / ooh doctors should be prescribing these strong painkillers for dental issues. It’s ridiculous they can only be got by asking family members.
Hope you get a rest

OP (or anyone else) do you know which factors helped you get an urgent referral?
I'm also desperate with my wisdom tooth pain and can't bear the thought of a 6 month wait. My face is swollen and painkillers haven't touched it yet, I'm also feeling generally unwell and achey and fatigued all day, sleeping whenever the pain allows me to. I've got antibiotics.
My emergency dentist said I could go private to avoid the wait on the NHS, but I don't know how to find a dentist that removes impacted wisdom teeth without paying for multiple expensive consultations.

If you think this is bad don’t have a root canal! In 2022 I had one and it was fine taking it out (though dentist didn’t numb the area and the injection after that bloody hurt!). The pain of the root canal before thought I was awake all night! Literally banging my head against the wall!

I never normally would say this but yes to stronger painkillers of someone else. Also if it helps you sleep a small bit of alcohol, brandy or whisky.

@Daniagainagainagain I really hope the pain has subsided today, there is nothing quite like dental pain.

So I called 111 and they gave me numbers of dentists that take emergency NHS appts.
When I went the other day due to me having 6 wisdom teeth, all impacted and 2 infected they put the urgent referral through on the NHS.

I had a call from max fax (NHS) who were posting me a letter and said on the phone it won't be long (March was the current wait but might be quicker)

I have bupa PMI through work which doesn't cover dental but if referred to a hospital for surgery it does, which is the avenue I went down. So I'm booked in at Nuffield hospital for next weds. It was all very quick, I only enquired yesterday morning, was seen yesterday lunch time and surgery booked by the evening. It's a godsend and I'm incredibly lucky to have it.

But the NHS referral was going to be pretty quick - it depends on the trust / area. I'm in Surrey so if you're near me maybe it won't take so long.

Others on this thread have had their teeth out in days after the referral so I really hope someone can offer you some advice soon!

Solidarity, the pain is soul destroying.

Thank you, the pain is awful the co-codamol is the only thing that's made a notable difference, the only thing is they wear off before the 4 hours so topping up either ibuprofen in between.

Managed about 5 hours sleep which is a solid improvement from the night before!

Dental pain is the absolute end of the world, there's really nothing quite like it!

Oh you poor thing! Dental pain is terrible, hoping that you have enough stronger painkillers until Wednesday.

@Daniagainagainagain So glad you've had a quick resolution although it sounds like what you're going through is horrendous!! SO much sympathy.

I've been told it's a 3-4 month wait for the initial consultation on the NHS here, and then the surgery gets scheduled after that, so I'm going to spend the interim time terrified of this happening again, especially because I have some long-awaited holiday planned. I'm looking at private options but they don't seem to shorten the wait, and most won't deal with an impacted wisdom tooth

Omg they’re all impacted! I missed that! Let’s hope they’re easy to get out. I’ve just googled pics of different impacted wisdom teeth and the one I had and you probably had is full-bony impacted where the wisdom tooth is completely imbedded, trapped beneath your gums. In my case there was a small space where an abscess could happen in future so that’s why it came out, my other wisdom teeth including the other impacted one are still in my mouth and don’t cause any bother…. Yes some of the bone of my jaw was removed. I think it sounds worse than it is…

The only thing I would say is you sound like me, lots of teeth in small mouth and about 2-3 years ago I had to have a root canal towards side and front of bottom jaw. Opposite side to impacted wisdom tooth. The root canal was apparently very complex as it went (decay?) into roots of both teeth. I don’t know if this was due to wisdom tooth near it, overcrowding etc. I also found it hard to floss between teeth sometimes and I use flossers (floss on a stick) which make this easier.

@Daniagainagainagain how did it go?

Thanks for checking in!

So I had 5 wisdom teeth removed. The 6th was an underdeveloped 'pearl' and they left it in. Surgery took 2.5 hours and they had to take some jaw bone away.

I can't lie it's absolute fucking agony. I can't open my mouth much, I look like a hamster, I can still taste the blood and it hurts sooooo bad. But I'm glad it's done. I'm just praying I don't get dry socket. The surgeon said 13% people do per extraction. I've had 5 so I hope I don't get it as the odds aren't great!

I look like bo selecta and in agony, but all done and was a successful operation!

You need antibiotics for the infection so ring your dentist first thing tomorrow and say it's an extreme emergency etc. Explains it is unbearable and infected etc. Hopefully they can see you that day and prescribe. They won't be able to take the teeth out if it's really infected so that needs to be done first. If they can't see you I would present at A&E, saying its affecting your breathing etc.
Good luck. Dental pain is the worst. It will subside with antibiotics and then they take the bastard thing out. That will be a great relief.

@Daniagainagainagain dry socket scares me so much. I'm sorry you're in so much discomfort. Glad it's all sorted and home you heal and recover well

It scares me too! I have got stitches in the gums so I'm hoping that lessens my chances a bit!

Oh goodness @Daniagainagainagain that sounds traumatic. Really hope there is no dry socket for you and you feel better soon.

Glad it’s gone well @Daniagainagainagain . I’d recommend even though you don’t feel like it, brushing the area or using mouthwash. That minimises infection risk. You should start to feel better after a week or 2.

Also try those frozen flexible ice packs wrapped in a tea towel for swelling.

I’m sure they’ll have given you dissolvable stitches. I’d probably bite someone if they removed stitches in my mouth!

I've got some frozen ice packs and also a long hot water bottle. I can't work out which one helps more! I think maybe the cold.

Can confirm this is worse than childbirth.

@Daniagainagainagain oh blimey you really are going through it. Nightmare!

Please do not put heat anywhere near your jaw , it will make things worse. Cold packs are fine but if you put heat anywhere near where there is infection it may cause it to drain out towards the skin and worsens inflammation.

Noted, thank you!

Also I know I'm being incredibly impatient but when does it start to get better? I'm only on day 2 but the most uncomfortable thing is the swelling, my face is so swollen right up to my eyes and it's so tight.

Max fax surgery is no joke I really underestimated how savage this is!

I’m not sure about your case as a few impacted teeth were removed but I think for me with one removed, it was about 4-5 days when the swelling went down and bruises subsided. You could try arnica for bruises to heal.

I agree with the pain, I’ve not given birth but I needed all and more of the painkillers, hopefully the antibiotics help with swelling too.