Toothache - would I qualify for emergency dental treatment?

[wildflowerbee]

I bit down on something hard with a partially broken molar and since Thursday evening have been getting gradually worsening dental pain.
I've only managed to snatch a couple of hours sleep with the pain (which has me literally in tears), I've taken as much Nurofen as I can, so can take no more for another 12 hours or so; adult Bonjela doesn't work, just increases the stabbing pains in my head.
I'm not registered with a dentist and could only manage NHS treatment financially. There is an emergency 24 hour number but says dental treatment will only be covered if related to trauma or accident. Does that sound right? I don't know how I'll manage until Monday (can then try the mon-fri, 9-5 emergency treatment number).

Sounds painful
I would ring the 24 hour number and ask them. I wonder if it would be classed as trauma if you have a broken tooth?
Is there a walk-in centre nearby? they might be able to give you some stronger pain relief.

Thank you for replying. Yes, I think I might phone and ask them though am dithering. I'm starting to get slight swelling under my jaw too. I feel almost silly asking for an emergency appointment for toothache, but it's a horrible pain and I can't function properly.

The tooth has been broken for some time (three years) but never given any trouble and is one of those things I've always put off getting sorted out. It's vaguely wobbly now so think it would have to come out?

Sounds like you may have an infection. You really need to phone them and ask. Go on, do it now and then come back and tell me what they say.

Some PCTs say that pain isn't an emergency, only uncontrolled bleeding or swelling. Hopefully yours isn't one of these! The Out Of Hours clinic I run is triaged by NHS direct so you could give them a call as that is the only way to get seen in my area.

Yes, I've looked again and that's the type of thing I've seen on the PCT linked information for dental emergencies which has put me off.

I'm not going to call. I'm going to phone the less scary NHS emergency number which operates during mon-fri office hours. I'm cross with myself more than anything for not sorting out tooth sooner and not having a dentist or anything put by for such an 'emergency', I wouldn't have let one of my pets wait out pain like this for days
Will visit the pharmacist to see if they can give me any stronger over-the-counter painkillers.

keep rinsing with salt water every hour, it does sound like an infection so painkiller will not do much for the cause of the problem.

In my PCT one has to have chest pain or difficulty breathing to qualify for emergency dental treatment. I so understand the pain you are in OP. When I had an abcsess I would have cut my own head off with a rusty saw, my face swelled up and I cried down the phone to the dental helpline but they couldn't help me.

Try your OOH doctor for prescription painkillers until you can be seen by a dentist. i found Orajel (available from chemist) much better than Bonjela at helping the pain subside a bit.

Another suggestion though- is there a dental hospital in your area? Might be worth trying them.

fayrazzled If I had chest pains or difficulty breathing my teeth would be the least of my worries. I would be going to A&E, not the dentist.

My uncle is a dentist and tbh he wouldn't provide emergency treatment unless someone'd been kicked in the face by a horse.

In the thirtyish years that he's been practicing he does one weekend every couple of months on call (they have a rota) and he's never seen a patient.

Sorry but maybe ooh for painkillers is your best bet, or something codeine based.

Thank you.
I'm going to try the pharmacist shortly, brave it out until Monday. I do need to get some sleep, Have just had codeine suggested amongst other things too. Thankfully dh is here with the dc.

The dental hospital appears to be office hours (though there don't seem to be any costs involved at all, patients volunteer apparently). I can find two or three private emergency dentists, but I cannot justify the extra cost for that and would be using money intended for other things.

I too would be going to A & E first with those symptoms, fayrazzled