Surgery for Toothache

[Metalcherry]

my poor bro is in absolute agony since Sunday morning,
He has had severe toothache to the point that he is eating painkillers.
He finally got referred to the dental hospital because his dentist couldnt see him till tuesday and was told they couldnt do anything.
He went to his private dentist who did feck all and told him they couldnt do anything so he went to his old NHS dentist who gave him lots of painkillers, said that he needs to be referred to hospital but he cant see him for 3 weeks to get his xrays done before being able to refer him.

Can anyone suggest any alternative or other dentists who can help with this sort of thing, he is saying the pain is like eating tinfoil on a filling which hes been told is the worse pain anyone can get but the NHS doc says he might not be able to get him a hospital appointment for nearly 6 months!!!!!!

[Dr00py79]

Sounds like he might have an abscess & that's what's causing the pain. He could try Clove Oil (get it from the chemists), or rinsing the tooth with alcohol. Failing that, get himself along to the local emergency dept. of the hospital perhaps?

[bikuki]

To be honest there's very little A&E departments can do about tooth-related problems - they'll probably just refer him to the dentist. Why couldn't the dentist he's seen do anything? That sounds pretty ridiculous and I'd definitely get a 2nd/3rd opinion.

[fallen_nemesis]

what reason did the dental hospital give for not being able to do something. If the painkillers aren't helpful I'd go back to the dental hospital via phoning NHS 24 for advice and a dental hospital referral.

[Metalcherry]

apparently its a molar problem - he has cracked it and its bore down to a stub (that was the term they used) We have no idea why the dental hospital wouldnt take him - NHS24 FINALLY referred him after 7 calls on sunday but they gave him some pills and said that his local dentist would have to handle him as they couldnt take him in - again they said it would be a hospital admission.

His private is only dealing with little problems he has but when it comes to big things because he is a student they said it would be costly, i think they are just making sure he can afford it ok.
The nhs dentist cant see him for another 3 weeks to get his xrays done and has offered no advice at all how he can survive that long and the fact he "is doing his best to get him seen by the hospital in 6 months" really isnt helping him.

Hes on the verge of overdosing, he hasnt been able to eat since sunday morning and living on milk and he is eating ibrufrom (sp) and some other pain killer the dental hospital gave him.
We gave him clove oil but i have never seen him jump so high and made the pain worse.

We have checked round all the clydebank dentists but it seems to be the same...theres no way in hell someone can live for 6 months in this much pain can they???

[fallen_nemesis]

any dentist, nhs or other usually have emergency appointments (ie same day or next day for things like that) by NHS criteria a dental emergency constitutes something where painkillers aren't working and you can't sleep. That's when they usually do the dental hospital referral.

I know it's not much fun, the only thing I can suggest is pushing on and keeping on their backs till they give you a second and third opinion and offer some better pain relief if nothing else.

[bikuki]

I honestly don't know what to do. I don't understand why the dental hospital can't take him - if it were a medical problem then a hospital would take him right away, but as it's teeth I don't know. If he really can't eat or drink then I would maybe suggest going to A&E to get some more painkillers or possibly even a drip if he's getting really dehydrated. I agree, though, that it's ridiculous.

[Metalcherry]

I have been "speaking" (more mumbling from bro) with lee and hes been put on antibiotics for now - no one can touch the tooth because of how severe it is, its flamed up so badly that no one can see the stump anymore due to swollenness.

I found out exactly what is wrong with him, his molars cracked because he has a new tooth growing underneath. No dentist will touch it - we have contacted his private and they refuse even if it means paying them.

The NHS isnt even considering hospital at the moment until the xrays are done. I have been phoning round dentists and no one will take him.
We are going to attack the nhs24/dental hospital again in a couple of days to hopefully find something to help once swelling goes down a bit..
From what i have been told by my bro and mum - everyone wants to wait the 6 months, i dont know if they are wanting to wait until the tooths grown in a bit or something.
Hes able to talk a bit for now but still unable to eat or sleep and is on 10-15 tablets a day as well as antibiotics.

its not very pleasent