[darkbrowneggs]

OK this may be a long post and only of interest to those with some medical background, but I would value opinions


I cracked/damaged back tooth on bank holiday weekend,  survived till Tues and went to dentist.  She diagnosed infection poked about a bit and took a mouth xray by which time I was in serious pain.  Said there was nothing she could do till infection gone and sent me off with antibiotics and told me to take over the counter painkillers and said make an appointment to have tooth out, not keen but because of pain would have agreed to most things so made appt for this Friday (today)


The prescription was for Amoxicillin 250mg - I was to take a first dose of 2 tablets, followed by 1 three times a day ( I weigh over 12 stone    )


Took first dose at 4pm and by 6 was feeling much better.  By midnight when first tablet due pain was coming back, but with some serious painkillers I got a bit of sleep.  Took next one in morning and struggled on.  By 4 pain bad again, but thought antibiotics would be kicking in soon. 


By evening pain much much worse.  Phoned dental emergency unit in Hereford which was shut so phoned 111 - by 10pm managed to get through to doctor by which time running v high temp sweating and trembling.  Face swollen and inner ear hurting and eye lid beginning to swell. 


111 Doc told me to double Amoxicillin dose and take second double dose at 2pm. Which I did and coupled with painkillers got a couple of hours sleep.  Took further double dose when I got up and phoned dentist.  Asked to speak to dentist but had relayed conversation via receptionist telling her I was now running out to the anitbiotics and would need more to complete a 5 day course.  Told to come in and collect prescription


It turned out to be for Metronidazole 200 and I was to take 1 three times a day and finish the 4 Amoxicillin at the rate of one a day in conjuction  As the infection was worse than the day before I cancelled the appt to have tooth extracted


Took first dose at 2pm.


Again by evening pain seriously ramping up.  Had to phone 111 again (I didnt know that the dentists now have to have and emergency out of hours service)


Managed to survive till next morning by maximum use of painkiller and warm salt water mouth washes.


Today was not bad till about mid morning and thought antibiotics were beginning doing their job, but no - the pain was coming back again so called into dentist sugery to speak to her personally.  Again long and involved relayed messages between her and receptionist saying she would see me and extract tooth at 3pm as previously arranged - which I wasnt happy about. 


Finally she came out to see me and was quite cross with me - that I hadn't contacted them  (I had no idea I could they were shut and I thought that was that) Argued about the fact that I had contacted the emergency dental unit, because I used the incorrect terminology when referring to it.  Finally said - we'll have to be quick - rushed me into her consulting room sat me in the chair and said she would take it out there and then


I asked whether the infection would be dangerous with an extraction - she said no


So I asked why she originally said nothing could be done till the infection was gone - she said that the infection MAY stop the anesthetic working


I said in that case I would wait till infection abated and finally got a prescription for more antibiotics.


She said be sure I made the appointment for extraction before I left, and when I conveniently forgot, rushed after me and shepherded me back to reception and stood behind me till I had made an appointment


NOW


What is anyone's view on this and what I should do from here.  I don't mind having the tooth out per se, though last time she took one out she left a shard in the gum which gradually worked itself out over a period of several weeks, so I am less confident than before, especially with the rather cavalier attitude of taking it out there and then without an appointment and with other people waiting and whilst I still had an infection and was in pain.

[colliewobbles]

Can you afford to go private - extraction is not that much more expensive that an NHS dentist? I wouldn't feel particularly trusting of this dentist now to be honest.

Donna

[bloomer]

get a new dentist!!!

[shygirl]

im sure tooth extraction is about £40 at the hospital.dentist.
i really feel for you as toothache is horrendous. i got quite poorly with bladder infections etc when i had bad toothache as the germs can travel round the body.

i would try to get a new dentist or a second opinion. 

[jimmy]

a minute of horrible pain vs days of pain and no sleep...

I had a wisdom tooth out a while back without anaesthetic. It was all infected and horrible. The pain of her doing it was ridiculous. It felt like my skull was going to crack.

But then all was good in the world!

I'd probably change dentist if you've lost trust in yours, but do get the tooth out sooner rather than later. And if there's a slight chance the anaesthetic won't work if it's infected, you'll know when the dentist starts pulling!

[henchard]

The original treatment, to reduce the infection first, was basically correct although it could be argued that the antibiotics should have been started at a higher dose.


Dentists do not provide a great out of hours of service (then you'll be lucky to find any NHS dentist here in Carmarthenshire) and generally try to avoid having to do any.


You now need to have it removed and the question is that you may not have confidence in that dentist in which case you should either discuss the matter with her (a good way may be to contact the practice manager and say that you are unhappy and you wish to discuss your treatment) or find another dentist (which of course could be frying pan into the fire).

[ellied]

Is there a dental hospital near you?  Perhaps attached to a university dental school?  It might take longer to have the treatment done as a teaching process but you can be pretty sure the professor will do a good job, that you'll have running commentary throughout the diagnostic and treatment processes, and that you are in the hands of someone that trains dentists aswell as being one, so would have to be of good reputation to get hired.  Also the students might learn something worth knowing which it sounds like yours does not know.

Failing that, get another dentist - travel away from home if you need an excuse of "being on holiday" to get seen as an emergency new patient.  It is pretty hard to put yourself in the hands of someone that has a. made a botch of a previous treatment and b. has treated you like an inconvenience, an irritating recalcitrant nobody, rather than someone you are paying to provide a HEALTH  related SERVICE.  Arrogance like that does not deserve reward, let alone your trust.

Anyone in any profession that treated me like that would not be getting my money or my future custom, let alone full access to removing parts of my body structure.  Even the trust aside, I doubt you will be able to relax and tension/adrenaline will reduce any painkilling effect, increase the risk of a bad experience and if the dentist is also angry/upset/resentful then their body tension will also be a factor in how they are able to do their job.

Absolutely no way, in short, I would sit in that chair, I'd rather bear the pain til I find someone that treated me like a person in pain and not a target for aggressive behaviour 

[Factotum]

I second the 'go to a dental hospital' thought - only trouble they may not see you if you're being treated by a dentist, or they may insist on a referral letter from your current dentist.

List of dental schools here

http://www.dentalschoolscouncil.ac.uk/uk_dental_schools_list.htm

Sue

[suziequeue]

This is only my OPINION.......


Sounds like a root canal infection.


Of course - the proper thing to do would be to have a root canal filling but this takes too long so it's much more cost effective and lucrative for an NHS dentist to just whip the thing out and get on to the next patient.


Go private. Get good advice from somebody that you trust in an unhurried environment.


You're worth it.


I've had two root canal fillings and they are worth their weight in gold but now I am a dental hygiene fanatic of the first order.


This is only my opinion and my experience.

[darkbrowneggs]

Well- my Jag buying dentist arrived this afternoon, and has given me the name of his best friend who happens to work in Hereford and who he said was an excellent dentist and a really nice guy..... so guess who I shall  be phoning monday.  Him to make an appointment and my now ex-dentist


I did as she suggested and tried phoning the surgery after hours and got a message telling me to phone the number I first phoned, which gave 111 as the contact, or to get in touch with NHS Direct, which even I know no longer exists, and the remains of the NHS Direct site says to contact 111


What was she on about....!!!!!


The guy who called today for the jag said it was just not convenient for her to bother with me at the time I first visited, and he also said the antibiotic doses were far too small to do any good


I did convince her to double the dose of the Ammoxicillin and at least they seem to be having an effect now.


Anyway - result - car sold and recommendation I trust for a good dentist 


This is all being typed on my new Sony Vaio which so far I love 

[shygirl]

well that was handy - or fate 

[darkbrowneggs]

what is they say
There is no such thing as coincidence 

[shygirl]

just hope the car doesnt breakdown or you may end up with no teeth at all 
hope its not too sore tomorrow, toothache is the worst thing ever 

[darkbrowneggs]

I'll let you know though it should be ok as it had only done 12583 miles since 2001 !!  Mind you he has a 4.5 hour or so journey, so time to test it thoroughly

[suziequeue]

Well done selling the Jag. Hope you got a good price for it