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

A_little_stressed!!

Thanks everyone for your responses! I forget how lovely MSErs are!
I am still in pain, but it's not got worse, I'm using Bonjella & pain killers are eating soft stuff on the other side! I tried for an appointment with the out of hours surgery but they were already booked up fo the night, hopefully fit me in 2mro.
Will the dentist be able to fix a gum problem (that might be a really silly question!) Its like theres a gap between the back tooth and gum and if anything gets in between its excruciating!

My tongue has gone down also, every1 is wondering why I'm so quiet all of a sudden, it's not normal for me!

HC_2

alison999 wrote: »

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.

I for one am always happy to wait a while if there's an emergency to be squeezed in, whether that's at the GP, the dentist or the vet. Most of us have been there, for one reason or another over the years, and we understand.

In this case maybe the dentist, the nurse and/or the reception staff won't countenance missing part of their lunch break for a patient in severe pain, but you can still try. If it's a No, then you won't have lost anything.

In my area, we are lucky enough to have excellent emergency dental care. I didn't realise that it was unusual.

A little stressed!!, dental pain is one of the worst things. Well done for managing it yourself. And good luck tomorrow.

alison999

You'd be suprise HP. Once we really did have a emergency and the dentist had asked me to cancel the next 1/2 hrs patients. There were three, and all three complained about being cancelled. I apologised and said it was a emergency and rang as soon as i could. I think some people need to look up what emergency means! Many times Ive helped genuine, REGULAR patients that are in pain and got them in asap but if Im honest, I find it hard to find sympathy for patients that havent bothered to come in for 5 years, ring up b/c theyre in agony and then get annoyed that we cant see them quickly. Also, a patient rang a few weeks ago who was had cracked a tooth. i asked her if she was having ANY problems and she said no, as soon as you knew she'd have to wait 2 weeks for a appointment she suddenly decided that she was in pain. Is this fair on other patients? I dont think so, but this is what we're up against.

Lynsey76

Clove oil is brilliant for dental pain, as it can be used in conjunction with painkillers such as Ibuprofen and paracetamol and codeine. Also Orajel - sold behind the counter - get the 'Extra' one it has 20% Benzocaine. Clove oil is cheaper though, but tastes gross! I agree that Corsodyl is a must, especially if you think it is a gum problem. Your dentist will probably tell you to do this anyway.

I had a problem with my wisdom teeth which resulted in swelling and pain. My (private) dentist told me he could remove them all at a cost of £120 per tooth! :eek: I promptly took myself off to the Dental emergency at Guys hospital, where I was seen straight away and had one tooth out, then given appointments for the other 3 teeth all for free.
Hope this helps.

SuziQ

When I worked as a Nurse advisor for NHSdirect,dental calls were the most difficult to deal with as there was often NOTHING to offer apart from pain relief advice and emergency warning sign advice. If the person hadn't yet tried pain relief we had to tell them to take it and ring back if it didn't work.We could only refer to the emrgency service oce we were sure that the caller had tried a 'proper' regimen of analgesia. Even the few Trusts that had an emergency service-it didn't really operate that way,as they often would only give the same advice we dished out! Some areas had Dental Hosps where people would queue and the first however many would be seen,the rest sent home. In some of those areas people ere often queuing all night to get seen.
In our area we have a clinic in the community which opens 1 evening a week for emergencies-if you have the emergency at the right time,you're in luck!

Alison,could you help me by explaining this 'registration' thing? My NHS dentist recently went private as the local health bods wouldn't support her remaining NHS. My children and I were all-I thought-taken on the books of a new Dental surgery locally,as Nhs patients and have had checkups,and in my case some minor treatment. Are you saying that we are not actually on her books so to speak,and that she may not see us again? I'm worried now,as I was so thankful to have immediately got us 'registered' (as I thought!) with another NHS dentist.

alison999

SuziQ wrote: »

Alison,could you help me by explaining this 'registration' thing? My NHS dentist recently went private as the local health bods wouldn't support her remaining NHS. My children and I were all-I thought-taken on the books of a new Dental surgery locally,as Nhs patients and have had checkups,and in my case some minor treatment. Are you saying that we are not actually on her books so to speak,and that she may not see us again? I'm worried now,as I was so thankful to have immediately got us 'registered' (as I thought!) with another NHS dentist.

no one is registered with a dentist. they are only obliged to see you if you have a open course of treatment (eg, you have a exam and have to go back for a filling) its so stupid. it means now that dentists dont really need anyone to cover their holidays or sickness days. all you are meant to have to do now is ring up any random dentists to see if they have any nhs appointments and if they do, they cant turn you away by saying you are not registered. most practices though will probably still see their patients as long as they keep their appointments and dont mess the dentist around, but NO ONE is registered anymore. just dont fail or late cancel any appointments and you should be ok, if youre worried just ring your new dentist on tuesday and ask where you stand.

HC_2

Lynsey76 wrote: »

Clove oil is brilliant for dental pain, as it can be used in conjunction with painkillers such as Ibuprofen and paracetamol and codeine. Also Orajel - sold behind the counter - get the 'Extra' one it has 20% Benzocaine. Clove oil is cheaper though, but tastes gross! I agree that Corsodyl is a must, especially if you think it is a gum problem. Your dentist will probably tell you to do this anyway.

I heard that long-term use of clove oil can contribute to gum recession, and that Cordosyl turns your teeth brown.

Does anyone know if these are true?

SuziQ

Thanks Alison-so glad I read this! What a daft system,as it doesn't seem to be speeding up treatment of patients in pain.I have to say that the majority of the callers I dealt with at NHSD hadn't seen a dentist sometimes for years-often as they just couldn't get registered locally.My husband ends up in intense pain sometimes twice a year as he fails to attend regulalrly for checkups.

alison999

HC wrote: »

I heard that long-term use of clove oil can contribute to gum recession, and that Cordosyl turns your teeth brown.

Does anyone know if these are true?

any stains that corsdyl leaves on your teeth can be removed by your dentist or hygienist. i usually tell people to only use it if the dentist/hygienist has told them to because its so strong

SuziQ wrote: »

Thanks Alison-so glad I read this! What a daft system,as it doesn't seem to be speeding up treatment of patients in pain.I have to say that the majority of the callers I dealt with at NHSD hadn't seen a dentist sometimes for years-often as they just couldn't get registered locally.My husband ends up in intense pain sometimes twice a year as he fails to attend regulalrly for checkups.

i know its stupid but thats the nhs for you.

Horasio

alison999 wrote: »

i get this all the time, why wont people listen? IF THE DENTIST HAS NO APPOINTMENTS THEY HAVE NO APPOINTMENTS WHETHER YOU JUST TURN UP OR NOT. The sheer ignorance of some people baffles me. Do you think they are just sat around waiting for people to turn up? So many times people come out with "it'll only take 5 minutes" THEY DONT HAVE 5 MINUTES. Also, unless you have a open course of treatment the dentist is not obligated to see you. You can thank the government for that. No one is registered anywhere. However, there SHOULD be a emergency dentist in your area. Your denist or the PCT should be able to give you there number.

What a charming caring comment :rolleyes:

No wonder some dentists have a bad name and people are reluctant to goto one, given the prices they charge on top.

Still what goes around ...........