Severe dental pain - what can i do between now and the morning?

Victor

I am not looking for medical advice. I am looking for a short-term coping strategy.

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I am due to get a root canal.

Over the last few weeks, pain has been building, to the point of needing occasional pain killers. Thursday saw me take 6 Panadol Extra, only for them not to be enough. Pharmacist has given me Solpadeine and I took two about an hour ago. Pain is still somewhere between intolerable and marginally homicidal.

I've emailed the dentist explaining the situation. What can I do between now and the morning?

btkm8unsl0w5r4

For some toothaches clove oil can be soothing, other times cold water can help. Painkillers are your best course or antibiotics however hopefully the dentist can see you today and sort something out.

A bad toothache is one of the worst pains imaginable, my sympathy.

Victor

Panadol Extra didn't work. Went to pharmacy. Pharmacist gave me Solpadine. As I had just taken some Panadol, I didn't take the Solpadine. Went to bed at 8pm. Pain woke me at 11:30pm. Took Solpadine. Sent emails to dentist and dental hospital. Was still awake at 2am. Phoned A&E in main hospital. They told me to come in. Triage nurse gave me Tramadol. That reduced, but didn't stop the pain. Doctor gave prescription for more Tramadol. Went home to bed.

Got a call from dentist. Told they couldn't do anything, I'd have to wait for appointment in dental hospital. Dropped into A&E in dental hospital. They have no record of referral from dentist that was mean to be sent in November / December. Dentist's receptionist has fobbed me off several times over the last few months "you'll have to wait for your appointment in the dental hospital". Have offer of appointment with one of the practice's other dentists.

Cara Cool Usher wrote: »

For some toothaches clove oil can be soothing,

I have an aversion to cloves since childhood. More psychological than physical.

other times cold water can help.

Cold is aggravating!

Painkillers are your best course or antibiotics however hopefully the dentist can see you today and sort something out.

No apparent infection, so I don't think anti-biotics would do anything.

newbie2

Solpadine & Nurofen+

2 different drugs so fine to take together

Victor

newbie2 wrote: »

Nurofen+

I have low level asthma, so they're reluctant to give me Neurofen.

Roquentin

have a few drinks maybe to kill the pain.

newbie2

Victor wrote: »

I have low level asthma, so they're reluctant to give me Neurofen.

Me too, but i trook that combination for several months before I had my dental work done.

roll the Dice IMO

Swiper the fox

I would seriously attempt to get over that clove aversion and pick up some clove oil before pharmacies close for the night. I had a similar problem a few years ago but not for as long as you thankfully. Clove oil is amazing.

Roquentin

i remember alright one of my wisdom's was at me. the pain was unbearable. couldnt sleep.

Victor

Roquentin wrote: »

have a few drinks maybe to kill the pain.

Alcohol and pain killers are a stupid combination. Harsh on your liver, compromises the painkiller and can kill.

And I don't drink.

newbie2

pwurple

Victor, is there dental cover on your health insurance?

I had private cover on my health insurance and was waiting for a hospital appointment because it didn't occur to me that there was another option. There are private endodontists.

Atlantic Dawn

Hot water with 2 tea spoons of salt and gargle around your mouth.

Gmaximum

You need an antibiotic to start fighting the infection. Try a doctor or failing that VHI swift care in Dundrum has a dentist there. No over the counter pain relief will help

Stheno

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

Hot water with 2 tea spoons of salt and gargle around your mouth.

This worked for me tecently

Bongalongherb

I feel your pain victor. I had this pain a while back and it was friday evening when the pain hit really bad and had to wait till monday morning for an emergency extraction of the left lower molar. No sleep in almost 3 days with the pain, I was almost collapsing walking into the dentist.

I found that mixing 3 teaspoons of white salt into a half cup of luke-warm water and squishing it around the tooth for 5 minutes eased the pain for a while.

blatantrereg

yes clove oil is great. Avoid sugar, especially cola.

Bongalongherb

To be honest, Clove-oil done nothing for me and I tried everything. The salt water trick always worked on the pain though.

The salt will kill any infection as well or abscess. I wouldn't bother with antibiotics, you took enough drugs already.

Duckjob

Thing about Clove Oil is because it works locally you need to get it on or close to the source of the pain for it to work its magic, but it is potent stuff, so you need to be careful with it.

Bongalongherb

Duckjob wrote: »

Thing about Clove Oil is because it works locally you need to get it on or close to the source of the pain for it to work its magic, but it is potent stuff, so you need to be careful with it.

Well in fairness to cloves - the solid clove... if you drop a solid clove into warm water to moisten it and then insert it directly into the top of the tooth while holding it in place with your other teeth, it will seep in there and should help.

Oral Surgeon

This thread is getting out of hand with random advice from random people about a tooth that no-one has seen or diagnosed in a patient who's medical history is unknown…..

Op, if you need a root canal as you say, then you have a dead tooth that is infected or dying tooth that is causing serious pain.

If it is a dead tooth that is infected then antibiotics would help
If it is a dying tooth that is causing serious pain, then only a first stage root canal will help.
Failing that, an extraction would treat both situations.

A dead and infected tooth is identified by a swelling in the gum and usually a pain when biting on the tooth.
A dying tooth with serious pain is characterized by a dull throb, pain at night, long lingering pain….

See a dentist, its a bank holiday but some of the chains are open. Forget the dental hospital, you'll just waste your time trying to get an appointment there.

Good luck,
OS

Big_G

I agree with OS. Let's wrap this up.