Mounth in agony - dentist can't see me for a week - what can I do?

funguy

Most areas have a dental hospital where people without dentists/people with emergencies can be seen. Our area has one (this is not a hospital with medical type patients but a seperate building) and people have to queue up and get seen on a first come first served basis daily. no fees etc payable. They will do any immediate repairs/treatment to allow you time to see your own dentist in a week or months time. maybe worth phoning any local dentist to ask if there is such a facility available in your area.

Unfortunately the government harassed the dentists so much that the majority of them stopped nhs work and this is why we are all in the situation we are in now. I had to wait weeks to even get an appointment at my nhs dentist recently......unfortunately the government look like they are about to do the same to GPs in the future too so it looks like theres similar to follow.....

Good luck with getting some help soon...my one piece of advice would be to try some corsydyl mouthwash (available from tescos and the like). i think thats how its spelt - its antibacterial mouthwash and can help with gum/oral infections - wont treat an abcess tho....

nearlyrich

I had a sudden attack of toothache when my dentist was closed, NHS direct got me an appointment at the nearest Dental Centre I had to pay the NHS fee which is just over £15 but you have to pay at least that to see your usual NHS dentist,

A_little_stressed!!

Thanks everyone, I'm going to ring and try and get into the 'out-of-hours' surgery 2mro, it's my only chance really! I have to do a presentation at work on Tues and no1s gna know what I'm saying if I don't get it fixed!
Whats worse is somehow it's swelled my tongue up, which now rubs on my teeth and has cut all the side of it!! If I don't get anywhere I reckon vodka will cure it, it's a cure for everything isn't it?!

alison999

Marker wrote: »

alison - people dont turn up for appointments all the time, so yes they do have the odd 5 minutes from time to time, also if people turn up late then there is a window to see someone else.

If they have a window to see you THEY WILL. Or maybe its just my very nice dentist who is concerned??

if you turn up at a time when someone has missed a appoointment then you are extremerly lucky. what most patients dont realize, or dont care to think about is the knock-on effect. the dental practice will probably run late for the rest of the morning or afternoon. this !!!!es everyone off. its not just the dentist that loses part (or majority of) his/her lunch break, its his/her nurse and all the reception staff that have to put up with every other patient complaining about them running late. im going a bit off topic with my rant here but when patients say its a 5 minutes job, unless they just need a perscription it usually isnt. most patients that are regular and that take the treatment that the dentist has advised would be "squeezed in" BUT under the nhs, unless you have a current course of treatment your dentist DOESNT HAVE TO see you, b/c the government did away with registration, all they have to do is offer you the next available appointment. id also like to add that just b/c a dentist cant see you doesnt mean they arent concerned. dentists have hundreds of patients and they cant see everyone 24 hours let alone within a week.

alison999

A_little_stressed!! wrote: »

Thanks everyone, I'm going to ring and try and get into the 'out-of-hours' surgery 2mro, it's my only chance really! I have to do a presentation at work on Tues and no1s gna know what I'm saying if I don't get it fixed!
Whats worse is somehow it's swelled my tongue up, which now rubs on my teeth and has cut all the side of it!! If I don't get anywhere I reckon vodka will cure it, it's a cure for everything isn't it?!

if the swelling gets so bad that it effects your breathing you should go to a&e.

funguy

Remember that if you are referring to the "out of hours" GP surgery then the doctors are under no obligation to see or treat you....legally they are not covered for treating dental issues so are in their rights to not see/treat you. They may offer pain killers but i would strongly suggest you see if there is an open access dental hospital anywhere near you.

PS - try the corsydyl mouthwash if all else fails.

LondonDiva

if it's that bad, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE visit your dentist and ask for an emmergency appointmtnet.

If they do not have one, go at once to another dentist to be seen.

funguy

LondonDiva, her own dentist has already offered her an appointment for next week - i suspect that is their next available emergency appt. I suspect other dentists will not offer an emergency NHS appointment to a patient not even on their list before the appointment date the Op already has!

I do not agree with the situation we have with dentists but thats the way it is now...

cheerfulness4

A little stressed - Alisons right, get to A & E if the swelling gets any worse or to your dr. Mine did the same when I had an abscess and it did effect my breathing. My face really swelled as well and I was dribbling and eyes streaming. It can get very nasty while waiting for someone to see you. Panic stations at dentist when he eventually saw me and he told me I should have gone immediately to the hospital.

mr_rush

go to the hospital or GP depending on how bad you think it is.

Bear in mind a lot of doctors refuse to see dental problems

I think if someone comes in who is in obvious pain then they will be offered decent pain killers. When I was seeing dental problems in A&E it was usually guesswork. Once I phoned a dentist friend for some advice.

Call NHS direct and check you are on the maximum dose of over the counter pain killers.