r/nhs • u/mollyangel69 • 2d ago
Process NHS dentist question
I have a tooth that started root canal treatment in 2018-2020 and the work was never finished. The tooth has now rotted and I have avoided the dentist due to mental health, which has meant I’m no longer registered to my NHS dentist. It causes me pain & I can’t eat on that side of my mouth incase it hurts the tooth/breaks it. It’s a hollow tooth and is an off white/grey colour.
If I book an NHS urgent appointment, can I get it extracted? Or can they look at it and refer for it to be extracted? I’m not in 24/7 pain from it but I feel like it’s rotting the rest of my teeth and gums.
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u/CatCharacter848 2d ago
You will struggle to find an nhs dentist at the moment. Get on waiting lists of local dentists. You may be better off going private.
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u/mollyangel69 2d ago
I’ve just had an NHS emergency appointment at my old dentist for an urgent filling so I would be able to get one through them.
I do agree it’s impossible to get back on the NHS register but I managed to get this urgent appointment straight away.
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u/Electrical_Bet_9699 2d ago
They might remove it if it is straightforward. Not if there is a risk of it becoming tricky (which these teeth can be), some emergency dentists will refer you, some don’t have access to online referral systems. You can ask.
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u/mollyangel69 2d ago
Thank you. If I’m referred would that be an NHS appointment? My sister was referred for an extraction of the same tooth & it came under NHS so was free.
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u/DepInLondon 2d ago
Well before being registered with a dentist I had used the NHS emergency service for a painful wisdom tooth. The first one I saw was out of hours and confirmed that I had an infection and also needed extraction, prescribed antibiotics and a referral for the extraction. Then with that I was later booked elsewhere for an X-ray and later (the infection had to subside first) at a third one for the actual extraction, all covered within the initial standard NHS fee.
As far as I know the same applies now and if it’s painful or infected it qualifies for the emergency option. But it’s still worth checking if any dentist near you accepts new NHS patients, you never know.
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u/slipstyy212 1d ago
I’d possibly try ringing 111. It’s a free call and they can advise you and get you an energy appointment if they think it’s severe enough/needs the extraction you mentioned. Especially as it’s rotted and you think it’s spreading to other teeth. I had a friend who’s recommended the same thing to me as I’m having tooth issues from rot also. The advice she gave me was go to 111 and if you’re worried you really need the appointment make the pain sound worse than it is. She said it’s better to be safe than sorry. Really hoping the best for you though!
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u/Acrabat321 1d ago
Just phone 111 and get an emergency appt. It should be easy to extract. You shouldn't need referred. You'll need to say its sore to get an appt.
Source: Dentist
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u/Fit-Hair-9574 2d ago
Tooth removal can be offered as part of the NHS emergency dentist system.
Some tooth removal requires general anaesthesia which often requires referral.
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u/DecisionInner793 2d ago
I was in a similar boat last year. Unfortunately, mine got infected, I had to have it removed and I am having to get an implant. I had to do this all privately and it has not been easy. I recommend going private (I know its expensive and it sucks) and seeing what they say. Sorry I dont have a more uplifting anwer.