Does A+E really look like a dental surgery to you?

No really? ~
Does it? The answer ought to be " I don't think so". However with the sad state of affairs of the NHS dental system (or lack thereof [read: too many rich/greedy/smart dentists have opted out and gone totally private]) many of you out there seem to think that your tooth problem that has been ongoing for...um the last 2 months and "suddenly got worse" will be dealt with in an appropriate(and more importantly, free ) manner in your local Accident and Emergency Department. As you may have noticed we don't have any of those nice dentists chairs, or drills or pliers or any equipment to look in your mouth properly bar a pair of gloves and a torch. Most of us can spot a swelling or abscess or redness in there, but then so could any half brained 10 year old with a pen torch in their hand. They could tell you about as much as we can and probably not curse you under their breath while doing it. That's not to say we won't help you- of course we will write prescriptions for painkillers or antibiotics as necessary but in reality, you need a dentist. You would never ever go to your dentist with chest pains or problems passing urine because they really can't help. The same is true vice versa. And I can assure you, dentists know a helluva lot more about mouths and teeth than your "regular" doctor, and you may end up not losing that precious pearly white after all....