heeeeeeeeelp any dentists about?

[mycatsaysach]

bits of my teeth are breaking off - argh

have been ill with me for last 10 years and have tried to get treatment/visits at home as have been too ill to go to surgery.no real pain but pieces of teeth are just coming away - just happened now this is the third tooth affected.

any ideas - could this be due to illness maybe or general decay (eeew) - i have to go and see a dentist i know but its not that easy round here to get one.

i would be really grateful for any advice.

bump anyone about?

ok last bump

get thee to a dentist - pronto! This can be treated - but sounds like it's urgent. Over the weekend, your local PCT/hospital should have an emergency dentist on call (where I live, it's at the local A and E over the weekends and in the evenings).

Google or phone NHS Direct - they should have the details - indeed, the NHS website should help:

www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/1776.aspx?CategoryID=74&SubCategoryID=742

Good luck - I had horrendous problems recently - some treatment and anitibiotics got it sorted.

oooo thanks cerys - what was wrong?

hi, sounds like yeah you have to go and see someone. good advice in post above.

could be existing fillings that have snapped off taking more tooth with them or new holes caused by decay but it really is impossible to tell without looking so hope you get to see someone soon!

gd luck.

If your teeth are breaking, it just means that they have been weakened somehow, either by neglect (not brushing enough/not getting problems treated etc) or because you might have been clenching or grinding them, maybe without realising? Or some would say it can be from a lack of nutrients, like the old saying about losing a tooth for every baby, but I don't know if I hold with that or not.

You have my sympathy, one of my front teeth just came off - it's a crown though! I will have to look like a witch till Tuesday, nearly told DP not to come over as I don't want him to see! Argh.

I don't think you need the emergency dentist though unless they have all broken today - which would be weird - or if you have any pain. Try to get an appointment asap though to check out what's going on.

thanks everyone - i'm glad its not painful

mycat - glad you're not in too much pain. (I had secondary infection following root canal .... arghhhhhh...)

NHS Direct (not usually a fan of theirs but they can be quite practical) should advise about emergency dentists (if you're worried) or others in your area that take NHS - perhaps even ones that do home visits if you're finding it difficult to leave home right now.

Stating the obvious - but just take soft food till sorted - and brush very, very gently. Don't forget the gums from whence all too many problems come! I've had so many problems - I'm beginning to sound like a dentist! Though I'm on a tiny fraction of their income!

Gentle warm water salt gargles and warm water gargles with some myrrh oil (natural antiseptic) all good if sore and, of course, that stand by - clove oil - warm hotwater bottle to cheek afterwards could ease the stinginess of clove - but, boy, is clove effective.

Hope all goes well for you!

will do thanks cerys

Are you actually in pain? If not then you need to find a practice to take you on for a course of treatment. This is not an appropriate problem to contact NHS OOH dental care with. They will just patch you up & not fix the problem or address the cause of the problems. I know this because I am an NHS OOH dentist.

Are you in England?

no pain yes in england grumpy.i need to find a practice.does this sound like a gum problem to you?

Not really although often people don't realise they have gum disease. I think there is probably a bit of decay, maybe some old restorations, a bit of wear & tear & maybe some grinding.

In England, the PCTs commission NHS dentistry and at the start of a financial year there should be plenty available. Call your PCT dental department (they will have one) and ask them for a lit of NHS practices taking on patients. NHS choices website can help too.

Most mouths that haven't been to he dentist for a long time can be got upto scratch with 2hrs of treatment an an ongoing care plan (hygiene etc).

Good luck finding a practice.

thanks