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Original poster

Dentists please help - something odd just came out of my gum..

34 replies

santaslilhelper · 21/05/2012 22:49

I've had two failed root canals.. awaiting an appointment with a specialist at the hospital.. just finished 2 courses of antibiotics for yet another infection under my crown that won't seem to go away..

Today I've had a horrid taste in my mouth and odd feeling in my gum... so I pushed my gum where it felt odd and oh my laawd out poked a thin, hard, orange object out of the side of my gum. I managed to get hold of it and pull it out Shock It came out of the hole where pus drains from Shock How worried should I be by that?! Confused

OP posts:
BeaWheesht · 21/05/2012 22:54

Oh, orange as in bright orange or orange as in maybe bloody? Could it be a bit of broken tooth / filling? Am not a dentist obviously.

sounds klaxon

BeaWheesht · 21/05/2012 22:55

Ps iiwy I wouldn't be overly worried unless you had a fever etc. Could it be a bit of food or something?

hiddenhome · 21/05/2012 23:00

Sounds like a broken root canal drillbit Confused Have you examined it properly? Does it look like plastic?

Original poster
santaslilhelper · 21/05/2012 23:03

yes plastic looking, jagged at one end smooth at the other, suspiciously looks like somthing broken off Shock

OP posts:
hiddenhome · 21/05/2012 23:06

It sounds like a drillbit Shock I remember seeing them when I had my root canal work done.

Keep it, complain and get ready to sue! Was this work done at an NHS place?

hiddenhome · 21/05/2012 23:07

Bloody hell, don't let these people anywhere near your mouth again! You'll need antibiotic cover and some Corsodyl mouthwash to try and clean everything up. Use salt and water in the meantime.

Original poster
santaslilhelper · 21/05/2012 23:09

yes NHS, bloody hell the end of a drillbit has worked its way out of my gum Shock am now trying to work out how long it's possibly been there, no wonder I have had reccurent infections...

OP posts:
GhostOfAWasp · 21/05/2012 23:10

Oh dear god that does not sound good! Definitely time to kick off...

hiddenhome · 21/05/2012 23:14

some info. here

This is so bad. I'm really shocked for you. I've had shoddy NHS work before, but nothing like this.

You really need to get to see someone who's properly qualified. Are you due to get some help soon? Please don't let these people near you again. You need competent treatment to put this right.

Whereabouts do you live? Can you afford private treatment? I ended up going private due to NHS cockup. I can recommend somewhere in Cheshire if you're that way.

hiddenhome · 21/05/2012 23:19

If you can afford it and you can get to Manchester, I can recommend this endodontist here he saved two of my teeth quite a few years ago after bad NHS work.

Original poster
santaslilhelper · 21/05/2012 23:29

Thanks for the info, not sure, but am I slightly lucky it has come out on its own!?

Basically I was referred to a specialist at the beginning of January but somehow my referral got lost... that seems to be due to the Maxillo Facial department moving hospitals around xmas, or so they say, they have admitted other patients have complained about lost referrals done at the same time.. (I'm in Kent btw) I now eventually have an appointment for the end of June.. after 3 infections this year and the dentist evenually referring me again at the beginning of this month. I am so pissed off, I've had trouble wit this tooth for nearly 4 years... maybe I should just try and speak to the specialists secretary tomorrow? oh god I suppose I still need to see my dentist for more antibiotics..

OP posts:
hiddenhome · 21/05/2012 23:35

You'll probably need antibiotics or it might become abcessed Sad Kent is too far to get to Manchester for dental treatment. You'll need to push for your appointment with the hospital. I suppose it's lucky that it's come out on its own, but if it's come out, that means there's a way in for potential infection, so be careful. Don't eat on that side. I'd also use a straw for drinks too. Salty water is a good mouthwash, but you'll need to have it repaired ultimately. Feel sorry for you 'cos I know how nasty it can be. I had trouble for about 18 months and that felt bad enough.

You need to speak to somebody regarding the dentist who has done this to you though.

Princessofdarkness · 21/05/2012 23:47

Oh my god!!!!!!

Original poster
santaslilhelper · 21/05/2012 23:53

hiddenhome, thanks so much for posting, I have done the mouth wash, oddly my gum/tooth feels alot better since the potential drill bit came out! so hopefully it won't flare up, I'm so sick of this tooth Sad

First I suppose I need to find out exactly what the orange thing is and then start finding out who I need to complain to.. then I need to find us a new Dentist!

OP posts:
gingeroots · 22/05/2012 07:38

Think GP would give antibiotics if you want to hold fire on re visit to GP .

Original poster
santaslilhelper · 22/05/2012 09:16

Has anyone else experienced something break off in the gum? I could do with some advice, I'm currently trying to get hold of my dentist..

OP posts:
sashh · 22/05/2012 09:38

That's the stuff they use do to a root canal filling - it should not be comming out.

Original poster
santaslilhelper · 22/05/2012 09:43

Is that what it is?!! I had no idea what the stuff would look like they fill it with, omg then how did that work itself horizontal in my gum? Shock I'm going armed with it to the dentist this morning, but he's not having it, I'm keeping it as evidence!

OP posts:
Original poster
santaslilhelper · 22/05/2012 10:25

Are there any Dentists or Dental nurses around that could advise me? I have an appointment later this morning, should the Dentist be pushing to get me a quicker appointment at the hospital or would that be down to me?

OP posts:
twoshineyshoesahhaeyetoeye · 22/05/2012 10:42

Not a Dentist or Dental nurse but have had a few root canals done and sashh I believe is right, its used for root canal treatment...actually I think it might be the little file thing they use to clean the canal... using that up and down cleaning out method. The different colours are for different width sizes. Your orange one has obviously snapped of and when the dentist has finisihed the cleaning they have obviously packed the tooth with this still inside the canal. Though how it got out of you root into the gum and then out the side is beyond me..... You could have a hole in the root for this to be feeding out from. Therefore no wonder you have had trouble with that tooth...I think there must be some form of infection in there or if not you have been really lucky. Good luck with the dentist.. I would be furious if this happened me. How unfortunate for you.

sashh · 22/05/2012 11:16

When I had a root canal done I askedd the dentist about it, she showed me - well they look like plastic tubes only solid - they put them inthe root and burn/melt them to get them to stick together.

Ponders · 22/05/2012 13:41

\link{http://www.uclh.nhs.uk/OurServices/ServiceA-Z/EDH/RESDEN/ENDOD/Pages/Home.aspx\might be worth ringing Eastman Dental Hospital in London?}

(thanks to hiddenhome for "endodontist", not a word I'm familiar with!)

I had quite a bit of work done there when I had massive gum/root problems, but that was years ago, when NHS was not like it is now Sad

hiddenhome · 22/05/2012 17:52

NHS dentistry is positively dangerous now Sad I've had some right experiences, with the poor kids as well. Terrible. We just go private now and our dentist does NHS work on the kids, but they seem competent.

Hope you get sorted out santaslilhelper

Grumpystiltskin · 22/05/2012 20:30

Hidden, I actually can't believe you tar a profession of some 20000 with such a broad brush. You should be ashamed. OP o will try to expel more when I get off my phone. Don't worry, it's not as bad as hidden has made you think and worry.

Grumpystiltskin · 22/05/2012 20:31

Explain, sorry