Dental crown pain

[Caterpillargirl23]

I had a crown fitted a couple of weeks ago, it's been painful ever since then. The pain got really bad over the bank holiday. I'm taking ibruprofen, paracetamol and codeine.
I phoned the NHS dentist this morning and the first appointment they can give me is in 10 days, I told them I was in pain but it made no difference.
Do I have any other options but to wait and keep taking the pain killers?
I'm assuming it's not a quick fix and it's already cost a lot.
The only other option I can think of is to go private but having already spent a fortune on the crown I can't justify spending another fortune and not getting the orginal crown money back.
Any advice?

Did you have a root canal before the crown was placed?

No root canal treatment.

Very sorry you are going through this, OP. Tooth pain is miserable. Obviously, it should have eased by now. There could be a number of causes, including nerve irritation, the fit of the crown, an infection, the gum receding after the crown was placed. I couldn't say whether it would be a quick fix or not.

You might try a warm salt water gargle in addition to the painkillers.
If I were in your shoes, I would shell out for private, but that's me.

I hope this resolves soon for you.

@ShrubRose
I can't shell out for private having already shelled out for this crown, it's not as if I can get my money back for the original work.

Understood. I hope this resolves soon for you. I wish I could offer a more concrete suggestion until you can get in to be seen.

In your shoes I would go and sit in reception until you are seen. You won't be a good advertisement for the practice or the standard of care. :)

The attached is based on personal experience [shit teeth, multiple crowns and root canals]

1. You may have an infection - antibiotics needed. Possible root canal to follow
2. The crown may be too "high" and needs adjusting to the right level so that your teeth are level. Amazing how painful this can be but to be honest the amount of drugs you are on suggests 1 or 3.
3. The dentist may have completely buggered it all up and now you need root canal. You should have been warned of this if it were a remote possibility. I don't know if the same crown can be refitted afterwards. Suspect not so beware as this could get v expensive.

In your shoes I would go and sit in reception until you are seen.

This.
Good idea @TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams

@TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams thank you for the idea. I might do this, although it doesn't suit well with me. Could also phone daily to see if there's been a cancellation.
I suspect my dentist is on holiday and there's no back up.

Sit well not suit

Unusual not to have some sort of locum cover but may not have skills for your particular issue. Should be able to sort out pain management and see if there is an abcess brewing.
My sympathies, I woke on Christmas morning to extreme pain and it took days to be seen. Only for a sympathetic pharmacist in Boots could I keep my sh*t together. Dental insurance is worth every penny if you can afford it once this is sorted.

Thanks, I'll look into insurance.

There should be a guarantee with the crown, so if something is wrong you shouldn't be having to fork out again.

Under the NHS it should be sorted free of charge as the work will be guaranteed . Given the amount of pain you're in I suspect an infection. Which may or may not mean losing the tooth entirely. You should be able to see a dentist as an emergency via 111. I'd also keep phoning your own every day - maybe even twice to get a cancellation. I'm surprised that given this has come about after their own work they're not seeing you immediately tbh but it doesn't entirely surprise me sadly!

Ring 111 back and tell them you have swelling, a temp and can not do any of your normal activities.
don't let them fob you off op you're clearly in pain and need to rule out an infection. They'll have to get you booked in if you're swollen with a temperature so just say you are as 10 days is ridiculous!

@urrrgh46 It turns out my dentist is on holiday and they are also short staffed, so there is no one to do it. There's no point calling or just sitting in the waiting room.
It's been a lovely dental practice until recently with constant staff turnover, check ups cancelled and now this. I will try and manage the pain and cross off the days until I get seen.

Tooth pain is awful - 111 should get you seen for antibiotics and then your dentist can sort when (s)he returns.

This.
I would be uneasy allowing an infection to go on for that period of time.

Did you get sorted op?

I'm managing with pain killers.

There's no swelling or high temperature.
I'll update when I know what's wrong.