How Long Should I Wait?

**Ana Gram** · 07-12-2007 08:10

A piece broke of an impacted wisdom tooth about a month ago. I got in for an emergency appointment at the Dental hospital (public) on the 15th Nov and was referred "upstairs" to the surgeons as they can't take the tooth out in the chair.

I am cranky all the time because of the discomfort, I feel sick most of the time, I have lost a few kilos because I can barely eat. I have an open tooth sitting there getting worse every day and I haven't heard one word from the hospital.

How long do you think is a reasonable amount of time to expect to hear from them?

**Oblena** · 07-12-2007 08:14

I would ring up and find out what the expected wait is going to be, just so that you are not hoping for it everyday. If were going to be longer than I wanted, I would go back to the original dentist and be a 'squeaky wheel' in the hope that they would realise I was in so much pain and that it was now having a severe impact on my overall health. Maybe then the wait would be quicker.

Good luck - sore teeth etc are the worst.

**Mamaduke** · 07-12-2007 08:26

Give a call to your local member of Parliament (if they haven't already gone on their Christmas break

) and get them to help you, that's what they're there for.
Explain how long you've been suffering with the pain and that you're a single Mum with no nearby family to help and how difficult it is to function properly when you're in so much pain.
After you've done this then keep calling them every couple of days to find out what they're doing and if they have any updates...I'd be doing this with the hospital as well.

**Ana Gram** · 07-12-2007 08:28

Originally Posted by OblenaandMullet

I would ring up and find out what the expected wait is going to be, just so that you are not hoping for it everyday. If were going to be longer than I wanted, I would go back to the original dentist and be a 'squeaky wheel' in the hope that they would realise I was in so much pain and that it was now having a severe impact on my overall health. Maybe then the wait would be quicker.

Good luck - sore teeth etc are the worst.

The trouble is there is no number to call. The dentist I saw was an emergency dentist and the only way to get an appointment is to do triage over the phone. When I asked him when I could expect to get the teeth out, he said 4 months and that is for emergency work. I am now thinking that it is a 4 month wait for them to actually get back to you.

I think I am going to have to try and get a loan and get a real dental surgeon to do it rather than wait for months under the public dental system.

**Ana Gram** · 07-12-2007 08:33

Originally Posted by Mamaduke

Give a call to your local member of Parliament (if they haven't already gone on their Christmas break

) and get them to help you, that's what they're there for.
Explain how long you've been suffering with the pain and that you're a single Mum with no nearby family to help and how difficult it is to function properly when you're in so much pain.
After you've done this then keep calling them every couple of days to find out what they're doing and if they have any updates...I'd be doing this with the hospital as well.

I was thinking about that as my next step as I have emailed the hospital and still heard nothing.

**punkbaby** · 07-12-2007 08:33

Hassle the cr@p out of them. I would ring still or go in there and ask whats going on, if you ring you will get onto the surgeon you just have to really get onto them. Otherwise you could go in and wait again and hopefully they will get things moving. Do you have to take antibiotics or anything? With blaze he had two teeth really bad causing him lots of pain etc and my gp wrote me a letter and when we went to the clinic they put him in two days later. Just a thought. If you are in lots of pain and your gp can vouch for it (not that they should have too its obvious you are) it seems to get things moving thats all if its affecting your health plus your a mum, you need to look after ruby too.

Mind you when i was living off penecillian they told me it would take 18 months and told me they would only do it in the chair (which wasnt an option for me as they were hacking into my jaw and i have a big enough phobia as it is) so i took out a loan myself. Most dentists will let you pay it off, its the anethiest and the private hospital that want the money upfront.

**Ana Gram** · 07-12-2007 08:37

Originally Posted by punkbaby

Hassle the cr@p out of them. I would ring still or go in there and ask whats going on, if you ring you will get onto the surgeon you just have to really get onto them. Otherwise you could go in and wait again and hopefully they will get things moving. Do you have to take antibiotics or anything? With blaze he had two teeth really bad causing him lots of pain etc and my gp wrote me a letter and when we went to the clinic they put him in two days later. Just a thought. If you are in lots of pain and your gp can vouch for it (not that they should have too its obvious you are) it seems to get things moving thats all if its affecting your health plus your a mum, you need to look after ruby too.

Mind you when i was living off penecillian they told me it would take 18 months and told me they would only do it in the chair (which wasnt an option for me as they were hacking into my jaw and i have a big enough phobia as it is) so i took out a loan myself. Most dentists will let you pay it off, its the anethiest and the private hospital that want the money upfront.

I'm off to the doctor today as I think it is infected again and the chemist won't give me any more pain killers.

My problem is that they can't be pulled out in the chair, I have to have surgery due to the haemophilia.

**punkbaby** · 07-12-2007 08:46

Well they should get onto it more ffs thats so wrong. As your gp to write you a monthly script for pain killers i had a script written for 5 weeks at a time for penecillian and panadeine forte, they have to get it authorised but at least you can be somewhat comfortable till they get you in.

If you could i would sit there everyday and hassle them, surely they will do something.

Good luck....ohh the stupid part is even if you go private 9 times out of 10 you will have to wait at least a mth unless they have a cancellation.

Wish i could help you there is nothing worse than dental pain

**Mamaduke** · 07-12-2007 08:50

Originally Posted by chellegoth

I think I am going to have to try and get a loan and get a real dental surgeon to do it rather than wait for months under the public dental system.

You shouldn't have to but I think I would be going down this road just to get it over and done with. With Christmas/New Year coming you'll be completely stuck if it really starts playing up.

You could always try our new Prime Minister's office, I've heard he has all the answers. :tongue:

**Ana Gram** · 07-12-2007 09:11

Originally Posted by Mamaduke

You shouldn't have to but I think I would be going down this road just to get it over and done with. With Christmas/New Year coming you'll be completely stuck if it really starts playing up.

You could always try our new Prime Minister's office, I've heard he has all the answers. :tongue:

Well I will be in Canberra