Wisdom tooth extraction at hospital?

Cottage_Economy

Is it possible to go straight to a local dental department of a hospital and request a wisdom tooth removal?

I have two impacted wisdom teeth, one of which is giving me a lot of problems at the moment. I have been to dentists in the past who seem to rub their hands with glee when they spot the impacted teeth and subtly push me towards a private procedure. However the tooth in question has the lip to my lower nerve almost touching it apparently and is likely to cause permanent damage if the procedure is not done correctly and the nerve pulled with the tooth.

I've had three dentists in 12 years look at the ex-rays and then rapidly lose interest. Each time I have an infection in one of the teeth - not very often mind, perhaps once a year - I go to a dentist and when it clears up they tell me it's not giving me too many problems compared to other people and to leave well alone.

At the moment I've been taking co-codamol for the pain, which has been going on for about four days now and I've had enough. The wisdom teeth are now browny-black on the top and look like they're rotting, the left one especially so and that's the one now giving me pain.

Can I force a dentist to refer me to a hospital's dental department, or walk straight in and just get this sorted by a specialist? I'm so sick of dealing with dentists.

brook2jack

You have to be referred to hospital by a dentist, you cannot just walk in or request wisdom tooth extraction.

The criteria for taking wisdom teeth out on the nhs has changed and you may find that a hospital may not take the teeth out anyway.

You need to see a dentist, have up to date x rays and if you meet the criteria you can be referred for extraction. If you do not meet the criteria , even if you are referred , then the referral can be bounced straight back without you even being seen.

You cannot force anyone to refer you, or force the hospital to see you if you do not meet the criteria.

Also be warned some trusts have removed wisdom teeth extractions for the time being, along with varicous vein and tonsil removal , in order to balance budgets.

Cottage_Economy

Thanks for the quick response Brook.

Having a search around the following seem to be pretty standard criteria for NHS removal, although as you say they may have put a hold on them due to budget constraints:

• Second or subsequent episodes of pericoronitis (NOT a first episode, unless particularly severe)
• unrestorable caries
• pulpal and/or periapical pathology
• cellulitis, abscess and osteomyelitis
• internal/external resorption of the tooth or adjacent teeth
• fracture of tooth
• disease of follicle including cyst/tumour, tooth/teeth impeding surgery or reconstructive jaw surgery, and when a tooth is involved in or within the field of tumour resection

I'll go see my dentist this week to get some antibiotics if this level of pain carries on and the cleaning and salt flushes don't work, and have talk to her about extractions in my Trust's area.

The infections are not frequent - about once a year - but I hadn't seen the state of the teeth before I looked today and I was a bit shocked at how rotten they appeared. But as I said, it's the location of the nerve and implications of damaging it that frightens me, otherwise I'd have it done privately.

Sharon87

I find that strange in 2012 I got referred to the dentist for my 2 impacted wisdom teeth and got referred to hospital and they weren't as bad as yours by the sounds of it.

Go to another dentist maybe and ask for a hospital referral as you can't afford private. It did take about 5-6 months from first seeing dentist to them getting removed though. I had a consultation at the hospital and a pre admission thing, then went into hospital and got them out under general anaesthetic. If you can be flexible with hospitals then it might be quicker to get an appointment. But you need that referral first, so just ask.

beedeedee

How about ringing a Dental School? I've known folk get stuff done with no probs whatsoever.

sunnysea83

My wisdom tooth was impacted this time last year to the extent that my face swelled up to twice its size and I couldnt eat. After over a month of anitbotics (I had already been referred to have the op at the local hospital and was awaiting the appointment(. My dentist rang the MFU unit at the local hospital and asked them to see me as an emergency, due to how ill I was (this was a saturday). I went to A&E who prescribed stronger antibiotics and booked me in that Monday for the consultation, by the following Monday I had had the tooth removed.

Your dentist should refer you.

Cottage_Economy

Thanks for all your helpful replies everyone...I'll try and pursue a referral with my dentist this week and see how that goes. I'm trying a few old wives tales for pain relief as I've stopped the painkillers temporarily to give my stomach a break from them.

Hubby is bringing home oil of cloves shortly for me to try, but in the meantime i am rubbing/squirting whiskey onto/into the sore spots.

It's certainly helping to subdue the pain :rotfl:

Very effective...

brook2jack

No no no. Never put oil of cloves on anything particularly the gum around a wisdom tooth. It may well make things much worse as oil of cloves can give a nasty chemical burn.

Many old wives tales will end up making toothache worse please do not experiment and find out the hard way.

Most wisdom teeth problems are alleviated by efficient cleaning as most of the time the pain is due to food etc packing under the gum. Book an appointment with the dentist and take their advice.

Cottage_Economy

brook2jack wrote: »

No no no. Never put oil of cloves on anything particularly the gum around a wisdom tooth. It may well make things much worse as oil of cloves can give a nasty chemical burn.

Many old wives tales will end up making toothache worse please do not experiment and find out the hard way.

Most wisdom teeth problems are alleviated by efficient cleaning as most of the time the pain is due to food etc packing under the gum. Book an appointment with the dentist and take their advice.

I notice you said nothing about the whiskey

I did read that people can have a reaction to oil of cloves if they got it on their gums and lips. I might hold off on that one until I'm extremely desperate

I think i'm pretty safe with the whiskey, salt gargling, epsom salt baths and hot lavender compress on my face though. I've used all of them this evening and I'm (fingers crossed) not in a huge amount of pain at the moment. It feels good to not have to use painkillers and give my system a rest.

Phoned my dentist this afternoon, but only got the answerphone so I'll try again tomorrow.

Toothsmith

Avoid warming a potentially infected site!

It will incubate the bugs and increase their multiplication making a bad situation worse. (Think youghurt making!)

NEVER hold anything warm against an aching tooth.

brook2jack

You should never hold anything warm against your face when you have a mouth infection. It encourages the infection to track up to the skin of your face and in extreme circumstances you will be left with a discharging infection on your face which may need surgical treatment.

Leave the old wives remedies alone , they often make things much worse, from teeth having to be extracted because clove oil has burnt right through the gum down to bone, to discharging sinuses where heat has been applied to the face.