Toothache!!

[ina]

If i want an appointment on the NHS, i have to wait 6 weeks. If i want to pay £30 and go privately, then i can be seen tomorrow. Its stupid.

I phoned another dentist recommended by NHS Direct and she's going to see if she can get me in tomorrow - they're registering at the moment too, so i'll register with her.

When I first lived in the UK (London, 1977-1981), that was the same: NHS, several weeks wait; private, immediate treatment. Nothing much has changed.

But you are lucky to have found another dentist who does actually register NHS patients. A few years back I tried to find one in Aberdeen - nae luck. I'm now private, but have the Grampian dental care health plan insurance (or something like that) - it's not overly expensive, and at least I'm covered for most things, including two free check-ups and hygienist's treatments.

Btw, You and Yours on radio 4 was all about NHS dental care today - might be worth listening to if you need some tips, or just the knowledge that there are others who suffer, too!

[Stonehead]

It's like my abscess - wait 12 months for the dentist to lance it (I did it twice myself in the intervening time), then wait another four months for a faltering attempt at root canal treatment, then get told nothing further can be done. All on the NHS.

But, a much more affluent friend of the Other Half's had a similar problem, went to her private dentist and had it fully treated within a fortnight. It did cost £1200 though!

I also know of someone else that needed extensive dental work as the result of a disease she suffers. She had to remortgage her house to the hilt to come up with the £15,000 required to get her work done privately. She would have been waiting up to two years on the NHS.

The NHS was invented to overcome this sort of inequality where the rich get first class and timely treatment, while the less affluent get to juggle priorities (car/house or medical treatment) and the poor do without.

Our new MSP, the "great" Alex Salmond, has made much about dental care, but having emailed him twice since he was elected I've yet to get a reply. I suppose he has other priorities since he's the First Minister and besides, like all the other MSPs I'm sure he's getting good dental care as a perk of the job!

And before anyone suggests I sign up for any of the plans, none will take me as I'm supposedly in the midst of a course of treatment. Even though the dentist won't treat me any further!

[Cheezy]

Now I'm no doctor, but I have been told by them when I was in a lot of pain (gout!) to take up to 1000mg of paracetamol plus 400 mg of iprobrufen.

They work in unison reducing swelling and temperature as well as an analgisic. If things get real bad I can recommend it (though the iprobrufen always upsets my stomach)

[the.fee.fairy]

Stoney - can't they take the tooth out?
I had an abcess a few years ago and they did a root canal and failed (it went through the root and caused irritation inside the gum), so they then took the tooth out. Admittedly, we then had to hope for the best, but it did work.

At the mment, i've managed to stop it hurting with 2 anadin and 2 nurofen. i don't like taking loads of painkillers though.

I suspect it'll turn into an ear infection soon (it feels a little irritated now).

The pliers are looking better and better!!

[Muddypause]

Cocaine. It's what dentists used to use in the past. It numbs your gums!

Any idea where you can get it?

Floating off the west coast of Ireland ATM.

[vixnpips]

try ambersol liquid.. tastes better than clove.. and you can get it in any chemist. burns a bit but then relief!!

[red]

Fee - don't you go to the dentist you thought you were registered with for checkups? surely that counts as on going?


In my area you cannot get registered at NHS dentist. I gave up some time ago and now pay for private. (I'm lucky enough to have good teeth so its not cost me too much yet, and I want to keep having good teeth!)

I did find a dentist that will treat my son on NHS if i pay private.. this is the best deal I have found anywhere locally. no chance of gettting onto NHS for me!

[ina]

I did find a dentist that will treat my son on NHS if i pay private.. this is the best deal I have found anywhere locally. no chance of gettting onto NHS for me!

There was a guy on the radio today who said that dentists couldn't put conditions like that on you. In fact, in that case (a phone in) it was even weirder - the woman had a very good dentist, privately, but wanted her son to go on NHS; and the NHS dentist insisted that she herself also went to him on NHS... But in any case, conditions shouldn't be made. So maybe it's worth enquiring about that. I think a lot of dentists try to take what they can get - making a mint out of people's difficulties!

[Thurston Garden]

I'm sure it was on You and Yours on Radio 4.

Available on the listen again function, but I can't remember where within the programme it was!

[Stonehead]

Stoney - can't they take the tooth out?
I had an abcess a few years ago and they did a root canal and failed (it went through the root and caused irritation inside the gum), so they then took the tooth out. Admittedly, we then had to hope for the best, but it did work.

They don't do extractions - no anaesthetist and too risky legally apparently (I think they keep their insurance costs lower by not doing "riskier" work). I've got my name on the waiting list to go on the waiting list at the dental hospital but that can take months.

And no, that's not a mistake. They treat all the patients on their waiting list within six weeks (thus meeting their targets). What they don't admit is that you can wait several months before you get on the official waiting list.

The pliers are looking better and better!!

Same here! I take painkillers once or twice a week when I really need to sleep, but otherwise just get on with it.

I did point out to the dentist that people can, and do, die from dental abscesses as they can lead to bacterial brain infections. She just said she'd done all she could and if I had further problems I should go the dental hospital.

[Annpan]

Stoney - This might not suit as I know you have some distance to travel but Glasgow Dental Hospital do emergecy drop in work. I had my wisdom teeth removed 2 years ago and there were people there who didn't have an appointment but were just waiting to see an oral surgeon (not quite like A+E more drop in centre)

Also I ended up being seen by a student who need lots of practice (and believe me this guy still needs ALOT of practice) It gets the job done and no charge. I also had a friend who was studying to be a dentist and he was desperate to find people who needed treatment.

I would give them a ring to see if you can be seen by a student.

edit to add - I was also told it would be months before getting on to the waiting list but they did evening surgerys to get the waiting times down and I was seen within 2 months abot 1 month later I had the first lot out, 1 month after that I had the second lot out.

Good luck, I hope you get it sorted

[ohareward]

Another good way is a piece of string and a brick.

Robin

[the.fee.fairy]

I've got an appointment at 2 today. I'm going to have to pay for it.

I got myself dental insurance yesterday, so hopefully, i can have temporary work done now, and a referral for sedation in 3 months time (which will handily coincide with when i can claim!). Knowing my luck, it won't be that easy though

Its such a cheek - you have toothache...pay for it!

[cat]

One of the best ways to reduce swelling and therefore pain that I've used (on an abcess) was one my dentist told me 25 years ago make a hot saline solution, soak a hunk of cottonwool in it and apply to the aching bit, as hot as you can stand it.
A friend was told to take antibiotics to stop the swelling of an abcess and go back to the dentist in a week, as he couldn't treat it as swollen as it was. She tried this method and went back the same evening with all the swelling gone.
You can also put a drop of clove essential oil into the water.
Hope you feel better soon!

[Millymollymandy]

Can you explain this one to me please?

When I was last in the UK you had to pay a lot of money even on the NHS for dental work.

So why not just go private (or is it that much more expensive?).

If I had toothache like I've had it in the past I'd sell my house to get dental care! My pain was the curled up in a ball in bed in complete agony, unable to move, speak, open my mouth, let any cold air in..... that kind of pain.