emergency NHS Dentist?

zaksmum

Family member has severe toothache for a few days now, getting worse. Taking as many painkillers as allowed but on other meds so has to be careful.

He does not have a dentist so called 111 for an emergency referral. They sent him to a dentist who charged £23 to have a quick look, announce the tooth was fractured and she could do nothing as the tooth would split/break off near the root if she tried to remove it. Are NHS dentists allowed to charge just to have a look and say there is nothing they can do?

Referred him to a more specialised dentist who was supposed to ring him today. Nobody rang so he called them back. They promised to call in an hour or so, and again nothing happened.

Their number is now constantly engaged.

The local Dental Hospital are not accepting walk ins due to Covid. Please does anyone know what else can be done to get the tooth seen to?

sammyjammy

It sounds reasonable, if they had attempted to remove the tooth sounds like they would have made things worse.  The charge is the same for a routine check up so again sounds correct.

All he can do is keep trying to contact the other dentist, if funds allow they could always try and see a private dentist but they are just as likely to be busy.

zaksmum

Private dentist is quoting £250 for a "simple" extraction and £450 for "other" extractions. He has now got an agreement with the dental hospital,  to come in at 8 30am tomorrow but no guarantees they will see him. If they won't see him I don't know what he will do

comeandgo

When I had absolute tooth ache and pain killers did not work I found taking a mouthful of very cold water, holding it in the mouth beside the aching tooth and spitting it out when the water warmed up helped reduce the pain.