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Original poster

Dentists

61 replies

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 05/08/2020 09:32

Has anyone been able to have a routine check up yet? I've had a problem with a crown and I'm worried that I'm going to lose the tooth underneath if it doesn't get seen soon. It's sensitive to hot and cold, tender when I bite down and I've got a metallic taste (which I've had on and off for weeks, no change to how food tastes or my sense of smell!).

I phoned my dentist and they made a note and will contact me when they are open again.

Does anyone have any idea what I can do in the meantime to try to limit the damage?

OP posts:

Wejustdontknow · 05/08/2020 12:32

Not a routine appointment but I was having pain in my wisdom tooth so phoned up, they booked me an appointment to have it checked the next day and then after seeing me one for the week after to have a filling from it removed and replaced with a different type of filling as they thought it was cracked. Unfortunately it hasn’t worked and I need to phone them back up for a referral to have it removed, as it’s a wisdom tooth it gets done at a hospital. I would recommend orajel numbing gel for the tooth for now and keeping topped up with ibuprofen/paracetamol if it’s giving you pain. I would maybe phone again as well if it’s painful enough to need pain killers as they should be doing emergency appointments, you could also try corsedol mouth wash which might help

palacegirl77 · 05/08/2020 13:17

@PinkSparklyPussyCat

I phoned my dentist and they made a note and will contact me when they are open again.

Does anyone have any idea what I can do in the meantime to try to limit the damage?

NHS dentists only have to see 20% of the patients they were to be paid the same. Expect a very very long wait.

Original poster

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 05/08/2020 13:55

Great, so my tooth will just carry on getting worse (I don't need painkillers at the moment but it's definitely getting worse) and I'll probably end up losing it.

Thanks for the tips @Wejustdontknow and I hope your tooth is OK.

OP posts:

Burpeesshmurpees · 05/08/2020 13:58

This reply has been withdrawn

Message from MNHQ: This post has been withdrawn

Original poster

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 05/08/2020 14:03

My previous dentist will love that - he used to push NHS patients to private treatment well before this! He actually gave my elderly MIL a white filling without telling her and tried to charge her for it. He'll be rubbing his hands together!

I'll see how my tooth and the taste (which could quite easily be hayfever as I've had it before) are and might have to ask DH to lend me the money to go private and I'll begrudge every penny!

OP posts:

MarcelineMissouri · 05/08/2020 14:11

My NHS dentist is not open for routine check ups but will see you for specific issues - I went on Monday.
I really hope I can take my dc for check ups soon. They were booked for just after lockdown started

Chocoqueen · 05/08/2020 14:21

I had a routine 6 monthly check up done on the nhs last week, they just didn't give them a clean afterwards.

starsinyourpies · 05/08/2020 14:23

The one I'm registered with said they wouldn't even see me if it were an emergency as I haven't been there in person since we moved to the area!

WhentheDealGoesDown · 05/08/2020 14:37

I had a routine check up in mid July, private dentist, no hygienist though, dentist just did a small manual clean on my teeth, booked in for hygienist in November. I imagine the private dentists will try and see patients if they can, also I pay a dental plan which has still carried on throughout which perhaps makes a difference

WhentheDealGoesDown · 05/08/2020 14:39

You haven't got a bit of filling missing have you OP as that can cause a bit of a metallic taste.

PumpkinPie2016 · 05/08/2020 14:43

I had a routine appointment about 2 weeks ago as did my 6 year old son. I saw the hygienist the week after as well. My husband had broken a tooth during lockdown and the same dentist fixed it. It is a private practice though.

I would ring your usual dentist again - they may just be working through a list. If they can't help, ask them to refer you to somewhere locally that can. Failing that, ring 111, explain the problem and that your usual dentist will not see you and ask them to direct you to somewhere that can help.

TheKarenWhoKnocks · 05/08/2020 14:44

I had to pay to go private. NHS here is still emergency only. Amazing how PPE is available for dentists to see their private patients but not for their NHS ones. Must be something to do with China. Ring round and get prices - you may find its not too bad. The guy I saw charged less than the NHS one I'm registered with was going to charge me for private treatment.

morriseysquif · 05/08/2020 14:47

I had a routine check up appointment yesterday but I had booked it six months ago.

Lindy2 · 05/08/2020 15:20

I've got a routine check up on Friday. It was originally last week (booked 6 months ago) but it was moved back a week so they could catch up on the urgent cases on their waiting list. It's NHS for me and my 2 children.

I'm a bit nervous but I've been emailed all the precautions they are taking and it seems well organised.

YerAWizardHarry · 05/08/2020 16:04

@TheKarenWhoKnocks it's not a supply issue it's is a cost issue. The NHS won't pay the prices necessary for PPE for patients to be seen under the NHS banding.

Original poster

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 05/08/2020 16:04

@WhentheDealGoesDown

You haven't got a bit of filling missing have you OP as that can cause a bit of a metallic taste.

I'm wondering that. The crown is a silver amalgam one and I'm wondering if something has moved/come loose/chipped.

I don't think it's anything sinister as food and drink doesn't taste any different and my sense of smell isn't affected. My first thought was Covid but DH pointed out I complained about it weeks ago when I changed my toothpaste. It seems to have got a bit worse over the last couple of days but that could be because I'm thinking about it!

OP posts:

TheKarenWhoKnocks · 05/08/2020 16:27

@YerAWizardHarry why should the NHS give them stuff? Dentists are private enterprises. It's bloody annoying.

@PinkSparklyPussyCat if the tooth is crowned the nerve should be dead so you won't feel anything, even if the crown chips. I had a problem with a crowned tooth and that's what I was told. Turned out that my nerve hadn't been packed properly when the crown got put in, so it needed looking at again. I won't go into further details in case it's not that but that's what it sounds like and I would get it seen if I were you. As pps have suggested, maybe get a timescale off your dentist but if it's too long do look into a private appointment, some are reasonable.

CraftyGin · 05/08/2020 16:30

My dentist has been open since mid June.

I had a minor treatment early July, followed by a check up and cleaning. The cleaning was an aerosol generating procedure, so needed full PPE.

Original poster

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 05/08/2020 16:37

[quote TheKarenWhoKnocks]@YerAWizardHarry why should the NHS give them stuff? Dentists are private enterprises. It's bloody annoying.

@PinkSparklyPussyCat if the tooth is crowned the nerve should be dead so you won't feel anything, even if the crown chips. I had a problem with a crowned tooth and that's what I was told. Turned out that my nerve hadn't been packed properly when the crown got put in, so it needed looking at again. I won't go into further details in case it's not that but that's what it sounds like and I would get it seen if I were you. As pps have suggested, maybe get a timescale off your dentist but if it's too long do look into a private appointment, some are reasonable.[/quote]
I think it's something similar. I had root canal treatment but there's still some root left. A previous dentist told me it wasn't the worst root canal treatment he'd ever seen but it certainly wasn't the best! This is the second crown, the first one was replaced when I had sensitivity. I was told I needed the root canal done again but it could only be done privately and I couldn't afford it at the time so it was cleaned up and crowned again. I was told it might only last a couple of weeks as there was so little tooth left to put the crown on but 6 years later it's still hanging on, albeit with a few issues!

OP posts:

YerAWizardHarry · 05/08/2020 16:52

@TheKarenWhoKnocks not every dental practise is private lots are solely run by the NHS including paying their employees

Onmyown1 · 05/08/2020 17:39

I booked mine and the children’s check up for next week 6 months ago at our last one. They phoned me yesterday to cancel as they’re not doing any routine check ups.

TheKarenWhoKnocks · 05/08/2020 18:28

@PinkSparklyPussyCat yes it does sound similar then. By 'nerve' I meant 'root canal'. I had root work done when my crown was put in too, was fine for years then started hurting. 1st dentist said it couldn't possibly be that tooth because the root must be dead from the crown being put in. Fucker actually filled the tooth next to it. 2nd spotted the same as yours has done - yes there was root work but not done completely which is why I was still having pain and referred me to a dentist who specialised in surgery for an apisectomy ie where they go in through the side to get at the root. That was done on the NHS at the time although it was a few years ago. It was a private dentist who referred me though. (I went to him because the previous one who filled the adjacent tooth unnecessarily was my then NHS dentist who I didn't want to go back to and the waiting lists for other NHS dentists were over a year.) It's all such a bloody palaver. Can see why folks just got them all whipped out and wore dentures years ago.

Original poster

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 05/08/2020 18:56

That sounds very familiar, even down to being told it can't possibly be that tooth as the root must be dead! Hopefully my lovely dentist will be back soon and I can make a decision what to do about the tooth.

I'll never forgive the dentist that did the original root canal for the amount of pain she caused me. Not only that, she caught a blood vessel when she gave me the injection and one side of my face swelled up. To add insult to injury the cow told me my face looked a little bit puffy. It didn't look puffy, I looked like a hamster with a full pouch! I didn't know why the receptionist was giving me strange looks when I paid as I stood there totally oblivious. It was only when I looked in the mirror in the car that I realised! Poor DH was worried that people would think he'd hit me!

OP posts:

WhentheDealGoesDown · 05/08/2020 19:44

It is most likely damaged amalgam causing the taste if the crown is made of it, I have definitely had it with damaged fillings because I have sometimes worried a bit about it because of the mercury in them when I could taste the metallic of the filling,

TheKarenWhoKnocks · 05/08/2020 20:37

Ouch @PinkSparklyPussyCat that is definitely insult to injury! What a nightmare. Yes it does sound similar. I think sometimes they can do the root again but mine recommended I go to that surgeon guy for the more complete procedure and I don't think he would have said it unnecessarily because he wasn't making any money out of doing so. I hope you get it sorted. I guess if it gets worse in the meantime you can always have it pulled - the NHS ones are at least doing that. It's just a shame because there are other things they can do but they're not doing them right now. That's why I went private for my own issue - which was, annoyingly, the unnecessary filling falling out. So turns out it was not only unnecessary but crap as well! Although I have got a nice white one now.

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