Severe toothache - and no prospect of treatment.

[Molly175]

Raging toothache. Dentist, like others, not seeing patients and unwilling to talk on phone.

Hoping to see emergenc dentist tomorrow (NHS) but told they won't treat eg drill etc. Best to hope for is a prescription for antibiotics.

Is this a blanket ban on dentists being open - I know it is the guidance from the BDA and probably very wise but I wonder, if the pain goes on, what to do.

Taking Solpadeine but has limited effect and of course it shouldn't be taken for too long. Garling with salt water, leaving Sensodyne on teeth. Unable to eat or drink, except water. Suggestions welcome

No treatment you musto be joking dentists!!! I got sepsis and osteomyelitis front a severe abcess.
I had to have three extractions, sinus lift and eventually three implants because of the mess. It cost me a fortune.
Dentistry is really important.

Bongela!
It works a treat to numb the pain for hours
It's really works!
Ours is sold in supermarkets and chemists.
Unsure if it is sold in the Uk

We should be up and running this week, it will be only dire emergencies, it's not as simple as putting on PPE and treating people. We have to seal off the room after every treatment and reclean may times after the aerosol settles. We also need to clear a whole department for each patient in case we cross infect. We are also treating covid positive patients which is a whole other level of difficulty!! But nobody wth abscesses etc will be left etc... I'm clinical only so not sure of triaging system sorry.

Mrsmorton you remind me of when I moved home and got a new dentist.

She examined my teeth, ranted at me very loudly and angrily about dental care and would have carried on if I hadn’t stopped her and said “but what is actually wrong with my teeth?” And she said, “nothing, i can see you look after them, but I always talk to new patients like this”.

I went back out to reception and told them to please allocate me someone less crazy. I have a nice dentist now. I’m sure a lot of people get abscesses even if they take care of their teeth.

This virus is starting to make me and my obsessive hand washing and teeth cleaning and surface cleaning look normal! 😂

I hope posters get the treatment they need and that PPE arrives soon.

Dental disease is almost entirely preventable. Its not pot luck. I hope dentists will get a bit more respect once people realise how important they are however I doubt it.

There are supposed to be dental hubs being set up, however I think it is pot luck really as to where you are if this has happened yet in your area or not.

All that can be done in the mean time is painkillers, and antibiotics if appropriate. Toothache does settle down, once you are over the acute phase it tends to come and go. People find Oragel useful

If theres an abscess antibiotics can be given, however unfortunately a lot of toothache is inflammation not infection and therefore antibiotics aren't really appropriate.

Sorry you are going through this. I really feel for anyone with toothache at this time (or any time tbh)

Thank you @Bigjobbiewheecker

Thank you Danni, not often dental staff get thanks but my team are genuinely amazing and go out their way for every patient. This week everyone has went beyond the call.

Have you any pliers? Pull the tooth out yourself. I asked DH before lockdown if he had some as I think DIY dentistry will be the way to go from now on.

Mutatedcat- seems a bit extreme

We are in extreme times with no medical care.

Please don't use pliers. They won't be fit for the job. They will probably just break or split the tooth further. And most likely cause further and more severe pain and infection.
Infection in a tooth can lead to sepsis, this crowding up the nhs even further.
There is a triage pathway. Phone your dentist and they will advise or refer if necessary

Thanks for all responses and all the very best to those of you suffering now.

I'd like to echo what SouthsideOwl suggested earlier. Oragel (extra strength) is very effective.

Finally, had what turned out to be a broken root canal filled tooth extracted yesterday. I guess I should be relieved of pain but I'm not! The site is sitll very sore, adjacent teeth too, plus I have neck and headache. Maybe the latter the result of so much solpadeine?

Was given Erythromycin which I've reacted to very badly before (I think that's a common experience). So am taking the amoxillin prescribed earlier by a NHS facility.

I wonder if this could be a dry socket - should I wait a day or so before contacting the dentist again?

I wonder to what extent dental care was factored into plans when this broke?

It's a bit early for dry socket unless you know that the blood clot has come away. I had a terrible recovery form an extraction at Xmas. Over a week of sitting with an ice pack several times a day. Take ibuprofen regularly top up with other painkillers as necessary. All the best!

How did you get it removed yesterday when they have cancelled all work in the U.K.? Every dentist around here have locked there doors and only posting prescriptions underneath the door. No emergency clinics running yet.

I'm still waiting to be seen with a dental abscess 11 days after it started on second lot of antibiotics now.

Glad your sorted x

They have to offer an emergency service. We have one. It would be immoral if there was no service at all.

@molly where did you have your extraction? Just wondering whereabouts in the uk you are, as hands on services are not set up in many areas yet

The idea is that certain emergencies that can't be dealt with by the three A's ( advice, analgesics, antibiotics), will be referred to a central service.

My tooth is really jabbing me tonight

I should have been having it out tomorrow

We have two staff working in the dental hub needing treatment, one needing wisdom tooth out, managing with painkillers/antibiotics/salty water, one with broken tooth, no pain but ulcerating area next to it and cutting tongue. They can't even be seen as so dangerous to do any aerosol treatments.

Again, thinking about all of you suffering dentally right now and hoping that the hubs materialise soon.

My broken tooth was hanging in there - now it's out and it seems I have got a dry socket after all. As treatment as such isn't possible, was given more amox and, this time, metronidazole. With the latter, I remember that a few years ago, when I had it for a different dental problem, I felt utterly wretched. A headache that would not budge and I was very, very sick and weak. I know that these are possible side effects and dread having them again, esp as the socket is still sore, resulting earache and generally very low on the little sleep I'm getting.

Hoping that the amoxicillin will do the job, along with meticulous care of that area. Dry socket won't last more than a few more days, will it?
I believe there was some residual infection.

Another shout out for orajel - it numbs at least for a while. Good luck, everyone.

Hi molly, I'm sorry to hear you're still in pain, are you doing some gentle saltwater cleaning? Not swishing but just letting the water run over that area of your mouth?

Where did you actually have your extraction in the end? And why can't they see you again to pack the wound if necessary?

@Molly175 how are you now?

I had my tooth extracted Monday! Had to travel 3 hours and pay an arm and a leg to have it out at a private dentist. I'm used to paying for a private dentist anyway but this was a whole new price level she had all the ffp3 masks, face guards etc I had my temperature checked before I went in and was made to wear full body gown and hairnet and gloves, she disinfected me etc etc. Apart from the price I'm so pleased it's done and the dentist was lovely, really lovely, I'm going to send her a thank you card

Been on my 'local dental emergency hub' list for 3 weeks now literally since the day they closed the dentists and nothing still set up. total joke (!) been phoning my dentist 3 times a week and they couldn't tell me anymore, there is nothing in my area and as far as they were aware nothing planned for my area either and apparently if your not swollen with an abscess which I wasn't, they would just keep providing antibiotics (that in my case weren't working!) my usual dentist is just as frustrated as the patients.

Id had 3 lots of antibiotics for my abscess and had been taking painkillers 5 weeks overall and at the same time full time caring for my disabled son and it just wasn't possible to give him the 24/7 attention he needed with a never ending toothache!

Anyway it's out! Took about 20 minutes to get out, I'm worried about getting a dry socket now, im on day 3 post extraction. Mouths still aching a bit and feel like shit, dribbling and speaking like a twat, it was my eye tooth aswell badly broken and old root canal tooth which has been infected before when I was pregnant, it's needed to come out for a while but my last check up he said it can stay until I save for a falsie, so I now look like something from jeepers creepers until I can get a false one which will be god only knows how long for all this to blow over. Also when I drink it keeps dribbling through the hole and out the corner of my mouth but I darent suck it incase I suck blood clot out so I look ridiculous

Hope I don't get a dry socket anyway bcos who the fuck would treat it? Can't travel 3 hours again, I have no car now!

Hope no one else is suffering x

Danni thank goodness! Where did you go in the end for treatment? I think it's good to know which private dentists are offering treatment!