Covid positive but I need emergency medical help

[Dentistwithcovid]

I tested positive for covid at the weekend and don't come out of isolation for another 5 days. But I've broken a tooth and the nerve is exposed. I am in agony. I cannot take any painkillers or antibiotics besides paracetamol as I have severe allergies which cause anaphylaxis.

I badly need emergency dental treatment immediately but I have covid! I can't find any information anywhere about this and can't get hold of 111 - does anyone know what I should do?

Call 119 and get their advice and hopefully a referral to an emergency dentist who’s happy to see a Covid positive patient ASAP.

I work in oral surgery in a hospital and we wouldn't treat a covid positive patient for dental treatment and we haven't during the entire pandemic they have had to wait unfortunately. I'm sorry you're in such pain just wanted to be realistic. Alternate ibuprofen and paracetamol to the max dosage or coedine if you can tolerate it.

111?

Yes call your dentist in the morning if you have one. They will be working in PPE anyway.

I work at a GP surgery. We have a "hot room" for Covid + patients who need to be seen. It means you don't need to come in & wait with everyone else.

You need to hang on for 111. They will be able to tell you if there is anywhere that would be able to remove the tooth for you given that you are Covid positive.

Have you tried phoning your dentist though? They may have an answer message with an emergency number on. Ours just says to phone 111.

Call 111. And emergency treatment (including dental emergencies) is one of the reasons you can legally leave home during isolation.

emergency dental repair kit?

We wouldn’t see you in practice but they might at a dental hospital?

Agree with @LynxGiftsetAndSocks your best bet is to get a dental repair kit online next day delivery until you out of isolation and can see a dentist. Maybe call tomo to get the apt booked in but a repair kit online to cover the nerve

I can’t imagine any dentist will see you
But if you turned up at a and e they would have no choice 😔

There's national guidance in place for this. In essence, you can be treated on a 'respiratory pathway' by any dentist using enhanced PPE. The SOP is at www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/publication/dental-standard-operating-procedure-transition-to-recovery/

I am surprised that @20viona's department isn't working to this!

If you have a dentist, they are your first port of call. If not, then 111.

Jeez how awful if a dentist won’t see you!!

I wonder how bad a medical situation needs to before a Covid positive patient can be seen? Wouldn’t like to be the one making that call. Scary stuff.

You poor thing OP. I hope you can get it out ASAP.

@Motorina

There's national guidance in place for this. In essence, you can be treated on a 'respiratory pathway' by any dentist using enhanced PPE. The SOP is at www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/publication/dental-standard-operating-procedure-transition-to-recovery/

I am surprised that @20viona's department isn't working to this!

If you have a dentist, they are your first port of call. If not, then 111.

Completely agree with this post. I'm also in a dental hospital and we worked all the way through and had a 'red pathway' for covid patients.

Alternate ibuprofen and paracetamol to the max dosage or coedine if you can tolerate it.

I cant take any painkillers. I'm allergic to them.

To be fair to my knowledge i haven't actually been in the situation that a covid positive patient has required any treatment on a day when Iv been on clinic. (Not to say this hasn't happened on a day I haven't worked).
But Iv had patients call and be rebooked due to having covid, they get PCR tested before GA and the procedures have been cancelled if they are covid positive.
In a dire emergency, swelling compromising airway etc absolutely of course they would be treated.

Also this doesn't mean I agree with any of this.

Surely someone has to see me. What if it becomes infected?

I’d phone round every dentist in a reasonable radius tomorrow to try and find someone OP.

@20viona

I work in oral surgery in a hospital and we wouldn't treat a covid positive patient for dental treatment and we haven't during the entire pandemic they have had to wait unfortunately. I'm sorry you're in such pain just wanted to be realistic. Alternate ibuprofen and paracetamol to the max dosage or coedine if you can tolerate it.

Kind of you to respond and be so straight. But why not? As medical professionals are you not able to treat your patients while protecting yourselves?

DH is currently positive and needed staples from a head injury removed this week. He called 111 and they booked him in to a ‘hot hob’. Basically a walk in centre set up for dealing with positive patients, there is a protocol for treating positive patients, please do persist with 111. It took a bit of persistence but he did get them removed this morning. I hope you get it sorted, sounds awful.

A&E is not the place for teeth. You need to go to a dental hospital but I agree with Others that you shouldn’t just turn up and spread covid. I also understand dentists not wanting to see you (sorry) because that one intersection with you could cock up 30 patients apts never mind their own personal life. What painkillers or whatever would you be given if you needed surgery? Something must be available from the GP??

As medical professionals are you not able to treat your patients while protecting yourselves? Presumably not, or they would?

Get something like this

I've spoken to 111, they've agreed it's an emergency and I'm being seen first thing tomorrow at the emergency dental hospital.

Good stuff, pleased for you.

@Dentistwithcovid

I've spoken to 111, they've agreed it's an emergency and I'm being seen first thing tomorrow at the emergency dental hospital.

Oh really pleased to hear this. Hope they sort you out. X

Thanks everyone.