What should I do about tooth? Emergency or not?

[Opheliasgoldenwine]

Hi all,

When I woke up this morning, my gum was red and hurt but I thought I'd leave it till this afternoon to plan what I'd do as I'm not registered with a dentist (moved not too long ago). I now think it's an abscess; there's a hard white pus spot and gum hurts a lot. I don't know what I should do; I'm not registered so I can't make an emergency appointment in the morning. DP thinks I need to go to the doctor to get antibiotics but what should I actually do? I can get to a hospital etc tonight but don't know what to actually do. TIA x

I'd advise doing your very best to seek out an emergency dentist, even if you pay privately it's worth it. Surely just call and register with a dentist?

Don't bother with a GP unless as a last resort; they'll either send you away or may end up recommending something which won't work. Likewise, what they can do in a hospital unless there's a dentist available is possibly limited.

Here the non-emergency NHS number (I can’t remember what it’s called, it was or maybe still is NHS 24?) will put people in touch with emergency dental care, similar to organising a GP appointment for you at the weekend. You have to go to A&E, but an appointment is booked in so you’re not waiting about for hours with people whose legs are falling off. (I’ve never used the dental service, but friends have.)

But agree with cat above, registering with a dentist would be the best bet, I don’t think a GP would really help. My DP had an abscess last year and just presented himself at a surgery that was taking on patients at 8am. They registered him, examined him at an appointment the same day, gave him a course of antibiotics, and then he was back the following week for root canal treatment once the infection had died down.

Hi ladies,
I rang 111 and have an appointment tomorrow and will register at the same time. It's really sore just now thank you both for your help

Glad you are getting sorted, OP! Hope they can fix it quickly and painlessly.

Ahhhhhhhhhhh!

They gave me the wrong number, it's closed, so I had to make a doctors one, I didn't know what to do

A dentist may well give you an emergency appointment if you're not yet registered. I was able to get a sane day appointment when not registered. I did the registration paperwork when i turned up for appointment. I recommend ringing around local dentists.

They should give you some antibiotics and pain killers. In the mean time you can take ibuprofen 400mg as this is an anti inflammatory, codeine is also good for tooth infection/abscess pain. You can get some clove oil and orajel from boots this will numb it.

I've been suffering with this for over a year now and I am booked in to have it out under sedation tomorrow , it's taken so long due to being pregnant and petrified!

How are you doing, OP? Did you manage to register with a dentist?