I have a throbbing tooth which has been since yesterday and I have a bicuspid valve. Should I wait until Tuesday to go to the dentist or should I call 111. I am managing it with paracetamol but it only lasts for a few hours the the pain should back.
Al
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Alisbabas
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Toothaches an awful pain to manage. I think you should call 111 for advice on an emergency Dentist and stress you have bicuspid valve. You may need some antibiotics so definitely get some early advice don't put up with pain until Tues. Does your regular Dentist have a recorded phone message with emergency contact details? In the meantime take regular paracetamol
You could ask 111 if co-codamol (paracetamol and codeine) is acceptable with your heart condition. You can buy this over the counter at pharmacists and it's significantly stronger than just paracetamol alone. However, it's potentially addictive, so you don't want to take it for longer than three days. If you can't get to an emergency dentist for a couple of days then you'll be very glad of co-codamol. Here's what the NHS has to say,
Do ring 111 as people with valve problems are more susceptible to a secondary infection from gum/tooth infection/disease; although all hearties can be at risk.
Pain can be a warning sign of infection. You could treat the pain, and it could even go away then you think you are OK. Meanwhile, the infection is still there and it starts to spread. Months later you develop other symptoms, and it takes time (weeks/months) to get them studied, until finally somebody thinks about endocarditis (infection of the heart). Endocarditis is often difficult to diagnose, but, I was told left untreated, it is always fatal.
1/ The source of the pain needs identifying
2/ If it is infection it needs treatment.
3/ If in doubt an infection needs treatment
4/ The route of the infection needs blocking. And it needs blocking fast.
I was in a similar situation over 20 years ago I phoned the hospital help lines, and even though I had had a metallic mitral valve operation, and even though I had had endocarditis, the hospital refused to see me, saying I should see my normal dentist. A few days later I paid privately for treatment. I should have found a private dentist within 24 hours, travelling up to London if need be. Dealing with the crack a few days after the symptoms began was too late. Six months later a gum boil developed that did not respond to usual gum treatment. It needed a full blown 3D scanner to find the problem: an apical abscess full of infection hidden at the bottom of a root. I was fortunate to avoid endocarditis.
Tooth pain and tooth infections need FAST diagnosis and treatment.
I lost a filling and as it caused no pain left it for two days. In that time an infection got inside leaving me with endocarditis , I had an undiagnosed bicuspid valve so was a sitting target unknown to me !
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