toothache and actually seeing a dentist on the NHS

[markbigears]

So yesterday ahd a bit of pian in back lower tooth, woke up this morning and it's throbing.
So popped in to my dentist on the way to work to see if they can sort or at least have a look.
Not a chance. Nothing today, nothing monday .... call monday to see what we can do.
Now luckily we forget pain, but toothache is bloody painful and when you get it, it needs sorting fast.
This got me thinking, what the hell do i do if it gets any worse? Managing it with painkillers at the mo,
and about 6 out of 10 on the man pain scale.
Can you go to A&E for such things? Are there such things as emergency dentists in the NHS?
Any help appreciated

[nyt]

Buy some oil of cloves. Dab it on with a QTip. It has saved me a few times.

[markbigears]

Thanks, off to boots!

[Edition87]

You can pick it up at Boots, i will warn you though, its vile!

[C0ffin D0dger]

markbigears said:

Are there such things as emergency dentists in the NHS?

It may not be the same everywhere but in Worcester we have a drop in emergency dentist centre. I know this as I put off going to the dentist for years, lost two big fillings in the meantime, eventually the inevitable happened and I got an abscess in (under) one of the teeth. I was in quite a bit of pain with that, rang the dentist my wife had signed up with to see if I could get on their books / get sorted but not possible at the time but they told me to use the drop in dentist. Rang them, told to turn up whenever as it was first come, first serve and got looked at within an hour. Got put on antibiotics to reduce the swelling and booked in for an extraction a week later. I took the antibiotics but the had no effect so went back again early, the dentist that was on duty then decided the best thing to do was pull it out, half hour later I was minus a tooth. Pretty efficient really.

I'm now registered with a dentist and have regular check ups after learning the hard way

[dudleybloke]

Edition87 said:

You can pick it up at Boots, i will warn you though, its vile!

It tastes that bad i would rather have the toothache.

I used to use bongells and oragel, oragel is the best out of the 3.

[nyt]

Edition87 said:

You can pick it up at Boots, i will warn you though, its vile!

Oh yes - truly vile. I should have said - oops.

Try not to get it on any skin except the tooth and surrounding gum; it can burn a little.

[markbigears]

lol, just read this "after" I bought it, spread it all over, burnt SKIN like hell, tasted foul .... but has taken the pain away.
A miracle I tell thee! thanks guys for the big help

[nyt]

Glad we could help.

It is a bit like magic the way the pain is just switched off isn't it

[mu0n]

We are very lucky we have a pretty decent NHS system (sure there are the odd cases but on the whole we are lucky we have it) - however, I do think more should be done towards improving tooth care for people. Even if that means paying a small amount more in tax or taking the money from other places. Teeth are just vitally important and not enough is covered on the NHS.

[MacGee]

Access centres have been tried for emergency cases but are so expensive to run that it's just not viable. Most good practices have emergency slots on weekdays.
The new NHS contract due in next couple of years will include much for prevention.