Do I need an emergency dentist?

[asblackasyoursoul]

Hi all. For 3 days I have had a really sore gum at the back where it looks like a wisdom tooth is trying to emerge.
It has gotten worse each day, I’ve been taking painkillers but they’re not doing much good.

The symptoms I have today are:
Painful gum/inside cheek
Sore to open jaw/smile
Too sore to eat on that side
Sore lymph node in neck

I did phone the dentists earlier and ask for an emergency appointment, receptionist sounded very disinterested and just said they won’t be able to see me until Tuesday.

Not sure what to do now. The pain isn’t excruciating but it’s very unpleasant and really quite sore.

Can I go to another dentists although I’m not registered? Do I call back my dentist? No idea what to do.

You're in pain so ring them
back and ask for an emergency appointment, especially If your lymph node is swollen as this can point to infection, as can pain. They ought to see you and get your going on antibiotics until they can treat you. Be firm and don't be turned back by the gorgon on the gate. Meanwhile co-codamol might help with the pain; cheap as chips and available otc. Feel better soon.

Do you have an out of hours surgery for weekend emergencies? I would call 111 and ask, it sounds like a possible infection which shouldn't be left, the receptionist was wrong there. Try holding some boiled salt water over the tooth (as hot as you can manage without burning yourself) a few times a day until it's sorted.

It will be fine to wait till Tuesday. It doesn't necessarily need antibiotics unless you have facial swelling.

Use a small toothbrush to clean around the inflamed gum and underneath it. Lots of salt water mouthrinses, try and get the salt water again under the sore gum. You can try some corsodyl gel from boots to again reduce the inflammation and some bonjela/difflam on the sore gum.

Alternate OTC co-codamol with ibuprofen regularly for pain relief

If the pain is something you cannot manage then yes you can ring 111 to find another emergency dentist, but that's your calk as only you know how much pain you are in. If you develop facial swelling then again 111 for an emergency appointment over the weekend. Otherwise Tuesday will be fine

Lost time I had dental emergency I waited 5 days. M.

I wanted to trap my head in a vice to make the pain go away.

I did two days at work and called the dentist on Thursday and went the following Monday and had the rest of the week of taking two ibuprofen and two cocodamol every four hours day and night and use Orajel Bonjela difflam and corsydyl mouthwash.

Good luck 🤞

Thanks all. I phoned the emergency on call dentist, even if to just put my mind at ease that it’d be fine to wait until Tuesday.

Dentist is also concerned I may have an infection and I am now booked in to be seen tomorrow!!

Have just been seen. I do have an impacted wisdom tooth, been given script for antibiotics for 5 days.
Really glad I didn’t wait until Tuesday now!