Help please - toothache painkillers not working

[dahliaaa]

Has anyone got any magic advice.

I've got two teeth which need extensive treatment. (Both butchered by a 70's dentist who was later struck off.)
One cracked all the way through and needs root canal plus crown. I'm NHS patient but because the work needed is complex dentist (who I really like) said not covered by level 3 and would need to be done privately. Cost for both teeth £1500. I don't have at the moment and because pain had gone away we agreed I would wait a couple of months until had the money.

Unfortunately last night started with much much worse pain. No sleep at all last night. Tried alternating paracetamol and ibuprofen at work but didn't touch it all. Took 2x nurofen plus at 6pm. After about an hour started to ease pain a bit (enough to make it bearable but now as strong as before and unbearable.)

Rang dentist today but she was off and fully bookedThursday and Friday. Said they would call me tomorrow to see if anyway could fit me in anywhere. Added complication is that we are going away Saturday - Wednesday to see family. DH has inoperable and we really need a little break.

Sorry for the essay ! Can anyone suggest anything for tonight to help with pain? I've got fairly high pain threshold but sat in tears. There doesn't seem to be any swelling ...

As long as you don't have a delicate stomach, garlic should solve your problem. If you can lay your hands on garlic capsules take two every two hours. They work better than antibiotics in fighting infection.

Solpadeine. It's the only that touches the side for me when I have tooth ache. Available at the chemist but usually behind the counter and can only be used short term because it's addictive

dahliaa I could have had the RCT redone but am just over it now. This has been rumbling on for months (it started in April when I cracked the filling in the tooth) and has cost me an absolute fortune. That is weird that you are still having that taste a few days on.

atenco I am taking homeopathic remedies but hadn't thought about garlic.

iheartpink amazing! Mine is still really hurting, I am scared I won't make it to the end of the month. I know I can go I sooner if I need to (and I think I actually still have an appointment in on Wednesday to get fitted for the crown - ha) but am equally terrified the tooth won't numb because of the infection - I keep reading about this online (compulsive googler) but am not sure if it's true, does anyone know?

Judy my dentist told me that she can almost always get the mouth numb even with infection - but if she couldnt then wouldn't continue so you wouldn't be in a position where you are having the work done without anaesthetic.

That's good to know, dahliaaa, these antibiotics don't seem to have helped much and I just took the last one.

Antibiotics won't help because they're not the right treatment for 99.9% of toothache. Your dentist is being lazy, unfortunately there's a lot of it about.
But then some patients don't want anything other than antibiotics and that can make life difficult.

Antibiotics won't help because they're not the right treatment for 99.9% of toothache.

Mrsmorton could you expand on that please? Thank you 😊

This link explains why antibiotics as a standalone treatment, are ineffective against toothache:

www.fgdp.org.uk/_assets/pdf/consultation%20responses/ab%20poster.pdf

I wouldn't use the word "lazy" about the General Dentist in this situation.
We all know that NHS dentists are very time pressured, although this isn't an excuse.

I've just had full root canal treatment done on NHS! They don't have to go private at all. I had an horrendous infection and abscess too.

mrsmorton I have had root canal on the tooth, and am now having it extracted - the RCT didn't work as she could only find two canals. The antibiotics were to try and settle it down before it comes out. I actually asked for them as I have a severe needle phobia and am absolutely terrified of the anaesthetic not taking and needing a gazillion injections. My dentist has actually been amazing - this has been rumbling on since April, although the root canal was only done last month, and I now just want the tooth gone.

Argh, I can't stop thinking about this now and am getting into a bit of a tizz - if the antibiotics haven't really helped, should I just ring and see if I can get it howked out now? The reason next friday's booked is because the regular dental nurse is on holiday this week - she usually holds my hand during the anaesthetic and I am embarrassed about being scared in front of someone I don't know. What will happen if she can't get it numb?

(I am a grown woman in a professional job, normally a pretty sane and rational person, I feel so stupid about all of this, the dentist must think I am a total fool. Plus I am mortified at having been so back and forth there over the last few months.)

Judy don't be embarrassed they will have seen loads of people with similar anxiety.

Aboutthenight very interesting about getting it done on nhs. My dentist was adamant that the NHS funding didn't give her enough time.

Sorry that was for Afterthenight

dahliaaa. I know, I know, I just feel like such an idiot. Btw, I also had my root canal done on the NHS - it took 90 minutes and cost £85 - and had another one years ago, with sedation, also on the NHS. (I think I was possibly longer because I am an anxious patient.)

Judy
Your dentist definitely won't be thinking you're a fool. Don't be daft 😀
If you're struggling to sleep, needing pain relief etc ; give the practice a ring first thing in the morning and see if there's an emergency slot free for extraction.
Just raise your hand if you need to stop. If there is any issue with anaesthesia not working, stop & try again another day or get referred for IV sedation.

usernom it is manageable with ibuprofen and paracetamol. The pain being "referred" to the other teeth is probably worse than the actual molar. I should have had it out when I was there last Wednesday - I had to get a wisdom tooth out in May and she just did it there and then so I didn't have time to panic.

Mine took no where near 90 minutes !!!!!! Across two appointments but approx 20 mins each.

(I'm just ranting because I there is probably a bigger issue here with lots of NHS patients being forced to have expensive private treatment because 'it's not covered.')

Mine was longer because of a bit in the middle when she told me she could only locate two canals and we discussed the options - the appointment was for one hour, then a further 40 minute to prep for the crown, and a 20 minute to fit the crown. My partner had one earlier in the year, also on the NHS, he was half an hour then back for the filling (upper tooth nearer the front so didn't need a crown). We're in Scotland so maybe it is different here?

Hi all,
There is a way to cure Tooth Decay. Read the book "Cure Tooth Decay: Heal And Prevent Cavities With Nutrition - Limit And Avoid Dental Surgery and Fluoride" by Ramiel Nagel. Hope it can help you!

@Nafeeza,I imagine the problem is sorted now,this was 3 years ago!!

I know this thread is years old but does anyone know where I can get clove oil from?,I went to the dentist last week and I need root canal on my molar but the dentist said due to the restrictions at the moment it won't be possible to do the work until roughly September,he told me to just continue with pain relief,had an x-ray and there's no infection present.Im now at the point where the painkillers aren't having much effect,I've had Paracetamol,Ibuprofen,Co codamol,Asprin,Tramadol and Morphine!.I'm in so much pain I've been taking them like sweets,but I'm worried of the long term effects of taking all these medications if I have to carry on until Covid restrictions are lifted.Im willing to try anything!