Things went from bad to worse when Lisa Emmens, 48, from Plymouth, struggled to get an NHS dentist appointment for her son...
Black, certified dentist and advisor to Kaillo – a dental matchmaking platform. ‘Otherwise, they should call 111 for urgent dental care.
‘They might be referred to a specialist dentist or to an emergency dental clinic.’
If you receive a referral, Emily recommends calling as early in the day as possible, as appointments are allocated on a first come, first served basis.
‘Patients can buy temporary filling kits, denture repair kits or temporary cement for crowns and bridges from pharmacies,’ Emily suggests. ‘These should only be used as a short-term solution for those waiting to see a dentist.’
It is still advised to speak to a pharmacist before use, too.
There are also a few dental habits patients can adopt to maintain their oral health.
Tom recommends reducing your sugar intake, opting for a fluoride toothpaste or swilling fluoride in water to reduce tooth decay by up to 50%.
But while we wait for proposed improvements to NHS dental care, it is still unclear under whose political leadership we will see them.
Yet no one should have to go to such desperate measures.
Pounding away, my headache was growing worse. Taking another paracetamol, I tried to keep the pain at bay. Struggling with toothache in August 2022, I was at a loss for what to do.
Seven years ago, my local NHS dentist practice closed, so I registered onto a three-year long waiting list – and I was still waiting.
Not having the money to go private, I spent hours ringing NHS practices.
Waiting hours on the line for an emergency dentist appointment, I was told the practices were at full capacity.
And knowing I would only be referred to a dentist if I went to my GP or A&E, I was desperate for help.
I couldn’t chew on the right side of my mouth or have my usual cuppa – hot drinks aggravated the pain.
But seeing reports on the telly of DIY dentistry, including people pulling out their own teeth, I saw a way out.
While the reports warned against DIY dentistry, instead, I related to the people I saw. Just like them, I too was desperate for my pain to go away. So, I decided to give it a go.
But I knew it was my last resort. Reaching into my mouth, I grabbed hold of my problem tooth.
Then, through sheer determination, I ripped it out. The pain was agonising.
Nausea swept through me as I realised what I’d done. But gradually, my toothache faded.
I never forgot the trauma, especially when my son Jay, 17, complained of a toothache in October 2023. ‘Mum, it hurts so bad,’ he whined. He’d taken time off work and struggled to eat, too.
‘We need to ring a dentist,’ I said. Every day, we spent three hours ringing every local dentist – only for the phone line to drop dead.
‘There are no appointments,’ the receptionist said if we did get through.
We had more luck calling an emergency NHS dentist instead – and in November 2023, Jay was seen to.
One of his teeth was the cause of his toothache, so it was extracted.
But afterwards, a red lump, the size of a golf ball, formed under Jay’s jaw. His face swelled to twice the size, too. ‘That’s an abscess,’ I realised. Driving him to A&E at Derriford Hospital, Jay was whisked away for treatment. Hooked up to an IV drip, the doctors planned to drain the abscess.
But his treatment was delayed for four days due to other emergencies.
It was so frustrating for him – he could barely speak due to the pain.
Luckily, on 23 November 2023, Jay’s abscess was drained – the procedure took just over two hours.
Meanwhile, I stayed in the waiting room, biting my nails.
Later that night, Jay was discharged with one dressing to apply on the abscess, as it could still ooze.
Back home, Jay slept for most of the day and he could only eat soft foods like melon and strawberries.
After 10 days, Jay was feeling better. Only now, he’s been left with two scars under his jaw.
We still haven’t been able to register for an NHS dentist, as we’re both still on an 18-month waiting list.
And now, my hope for dental care has completely dwindled.