Dental treatment

[starterfor11]

Has anyone managed to get dental treatment during lockdown? I have a cavity in my wisdom tooth, was due to be referred for an extraction. Pain started a few weeks ago it was getting worse last week so contacted my dentist who prescribed antibiotics. I finish the course tomorrow but the tooth is more painful (painkillers are not touching it and it is so painful to eat) and I now have a lot of swelling on the gum around the tooth. I am going to ring them tomorrow but wonder how likely it is they will extract it?

I should imagine in your case it would be considered as an emergency if you are at the end of your course of antibiotics and there's been no improvement. I would give them a ring tomorrow morning, or if the pain is too much call 111

My dentists are only seeing emergencies, which yours sounds like. Their criteria seems to be they will actually see you if you can't eat or sleep due to pain. I had a suspected abscess on my tooth the week before last. Had a long phone consultation with the dentist who then prescribed me antibiotics. I was told to call them back if it didn't improve but fortunately it has.

If there is spreading infection they most likely will not extract it as infection would most likely stop the anaesthetic working, defo give them a ring and see if they can try something else as uncontrolled pain is considered an emergency in dentistry. What painkillers are you taking? Ibuprophen is the best as most dental pain is caused by swelling and pressure on the nerves, but obvs that's only if you are ok to take it, i.e. not asthmatic or stomach ulcers etc

Sometimes they prescribe a different antibiotic if the original one hasn’t worked. I got some ABs for an infected wisdom tooth just after lockdown and was told to ring again if they didn’t work.

very likely to extract it if you can see anyone

I really hope they will do something to give me some relief. I felt I really had to push just to speak to the dentist last week. I cant bear the thought of weeks and weeks of this.

They'll ramp up to a stronger antibiotic before referring to a regional dentist for extraction but please call them tomorrow so they can try that xx

What pain killers are you using?

A mixture of paracetamol ibuprofen and codeine.

Ouch, I’ve had this before..very painful and paracetamol and ibuprofen didn’t touch the sides..if you can get to a pharmacy try nurofen plus! It really eased my pain, it can only be bought over the counter though..fingers crossed you’ll get an appointment!

I have been given another antibiotic but it seems you will only be seen if you cant open you mouth struggle to breathe or swallow or your face starts swelling up. Uncontrolled pain is not life threatening so the dentist has said unlikely to be seen.

Result I have had a filling today.

Pleased to hear it has been sorted.

I've seen dental staff on MN saying fillings are completely forbidden at the moment because the drilling generates aerosols? Presumably all staff were in PPE, but even so, am now confused....

Private or NHS dentist?

I was very surprised too as I thought they weren't drilling. They went and changed into full ppe when the dentist said they were going to need to drill so they could fill it. It was an nhs dentist.

That’s really good news! I’ve been stressing about dentists not doing fillings.
I guess they’ve got hold of PPE now and that’s why they can do it?

When I spoke to my dentist on Monday he said he would refer me but he thought it was very unlikely they would see me. I was advise that the dentist is was referred to would ring and triage me and to expect that call around wednesday/thursday this week. They rang on Monday and offered me a appointment for the next day. I did feel I had to really push for the initial referral though.

I wonder if my dental surgery (BUPA) will go out of business, or at least shut our local branch. Now that I think about it. They struggled to get any qualified dentists in recent years so I would not be surprised. Maybe I should shop around....