Tooth abscess antibiotics given but not root canal available, will it come back?

[Fightingback16]

Two weeks ago one of my teeth died (Pre-molar) and abscessed overnight. My face was swollen one side and numb and weird.

I was given antibiotics which I took and the swelling has gone and not come back so far. I’m sg myself thought because there isn’t any treatment available. My dentist who prescribed the antibiotics said I need a root canal to solve the infection.

When I press above the tooth it still feels odd and numb.

I’m freaking out that it’s going to come back and spread to my brain. Am I being stupid. Will those antibiotics keep it away for a while?

Hi. I have the same thing, and have had for years! Root canal needed and a small abscess/infection in my mouth. Antibiotics will work to take the swelling down, and make things more manageable, but I would be very surprised if it gets rid of the abscess altogether. I have told my dentist that I won't get the treatment for as long as my mouth is pain free - which it is, thankfully! - and she seems happy with that. Not sure if this has answered your question, but hope it helps, and that you're better soon!

Yes it will come back at some point. You cant really say when however.

If you are really worried you can have the tooth removed which will prevent it ever coming back. With an abscess that size the chance of success with root canal is limited. You can also have the abscess drained if it reoccurs and the tooth dressed which can keep it at bay until the full root canal is done.

That size.....does it sound big?

I can’t get anything done during lockdown unless I have a dangerous swelling with airway compromise my dentist told me.

Not true, I had an extraction done on an abscessed premolar last week. They are a risk for sepsis, especially if you develop a drainage tract on the gum as I did.

Bacteria will still be getting into whatever hole or crack in your tooth caused the abscess so eventually you'll have an infection again....could be ages, could be next week. They can't drill at the moment so there was no way to remove my old filling and clean out the tooth so I opted for a extraction.

I had a deep filling end of last year. I got pulpitis and dentist was keeping an eye on it to see if it went. It literally just died overnight and my face blew up by the side of my nose.

He is hoping it stays away until they re-open but it’s scaring me thinking I’ll get sepsis overnight or something.

An abscess that causes your face to swell up is quite big yes.

If you have a swelling thats blocking your airway thats when you go to A&E. A few dentists have been saying this is all that will get treated but its not true, if you have a swelling thats compromising your airway the dental hubs will just send you straight to a&e. Dentam hubs exist to treat abscesses toothache that are not severe enough to go to a&e

A facial swelling can be drained by the hubs, and the tooth removed. You need to do this before it spreads really. Your dentist shohld be referring you to the hubs now.

If you got pulpitis that was when your tooth died, its been dead a while.

The source of the infection is still there so it will come back.
I would ask for the tooth removal. They can still do that I believe

It was literally painful the minute the anaesthetic wore off. That was many months ago now. It was sensitive to hot and cold. Then over night the other week it wasn’t sensitive anymore, it felt very odd, like the feeling when the anaesthetic wears off. One side of my face felt numb. The swelling was just by by my nose and cheekbone. The swelling has completely gone but it feels odd when I press the root of that tooth.
I have no pain when I tap the tooth now.

This is all freaking me out. I came out of an abusive marriage last year with a lot of dental problems. My private dentist was really helping me through it. My nhs dentist was really rude to me and wouldn’t treat my teeth even though I explained I’d been suffering for 12 years. It’s a few of the molars they have deteriorated . I have 2 half finished root canals with temp fillings in. One has started to get heat sensitive

I get an abscess under one of my front teeth, sometimes once a year sometimes 2/3 (2nd week into lockdown this year )
I take the antibiotics it calms down and I wait for the next time. Dentist offered to remove it and he said even that might not cure it so I just leave it and treat as and when

I wish we had some kind of idea how long dentists would be closed for, I’d know whether to leave it for now and wait.
After everything I’ve been through with my husband I really don’t want a front tooth removed .

www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/dentist-coronavirus-uk-private-nhs_uk_5ebd02c3c5b60ff1a4b2e3e8?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvLnVrLw&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAMSStI1ozHatT6Ut_pplxzMlzGiIDEtZht_pG3urYMfaWnaBW7IwaJg79Go3ASdxbc5mJWGJ5_fpd8P7ZKAs_kxTjwzA8cPlDOaHUxbQq276rD-blrlxeoD0JbU4rajhxyjL6fG3BUI2y1UOnkz6VvpZRPhLvbVx84RttzlFa_DJ

Oh bloody hell. I’ve been through hell and out the other end. I have PTSD and terrible anxiety and my dentist has been amazing with me through my work so far. Not fair on them at all and all the patients. Did they simply just forget we have teeth! Took a lot for me to build trust with mine.

I had an abcess on one of my wisdom teeth, and the dentist managed to "save it" with a periodontal chip, but warned me that the pocket below the tooth would probably become re-infected and I would lose the tooth. She is astonished, but it hasn't happened. I treat is myself. one 500ml bottle of Listerine (ideally the one with alcohol base, as it works better with the oils), add ten drops of tea tree oil and five of clove oil. Shake it really well every time you use it. Twice a day rinse with it, but use a "pulling" method, pulling and pushing the mouthwash around and through your teeth. Spit out. Do not swallow!

My question is how many courses of antibiotics can my Dentist prescribe as have just finished a 2nd course and altho swelling has reduced on cheek, still have pain and tenderness in upper jaw ..

The last time I had a tooth abscess I had five courses of antibiotics before the swelling marginally subsided in order to allow the dentist to do the extraction.

It will get re-infected at some point - I speak from experience and the pain was worst things I've ever experienced.

The root canal treatment wasn't as bad as I'd expected and I wish I'd just had it done in the first place and hadn't put it off.

Not in your brain. Worst case infection lingers or returns, more meds, possible sepsis but not usual. Hopeful we can have root canal in future.

@Moondust001 I tried your method just now, it tastes awful and very strong...hope it works for now!

Really corsodyl or salt water or peroxyl will work better than listerine mixed with clove oil and tea tree.

Listerine is basically breath freshener. It does fuck all for your teeth and gumsu

*Really corsodyl or salt water or peroxyl will work better than listerine mixed with clove oil and tea tree.

Listerine is basically breath freshener. It does fuck all for your teeth and gumsu*

This displays a remarkable lack of understanding of, well, just about anything.

@Fightingback16

Yes, but you get used to it. And I have never had any reinfection in my tooth - it's now six years.

I had a molar t
Infection and my cheek swelled. A root canal saved it so its not doomed to be a filure without seeing xray.
T
It could get reinfected. Please try a low or no sugar diet and up the hygiene until you can see a dentist. Much sympathies to you.

@RobinHumphreys we have an empty Bham Nightingale Hosp which you would think they cud utilise for Dentistry as surely all Dentists feel 'forgotten' in this crisis and to wait up to a year + for appt for treatment (unless extraction,) people will start DIY...have sterilised some objects...

@Moondust001 really? Do enlighten me

To the use the mumsnet classic are you always so rude? Dont write such a condescending statement and then not back it up 🙄

Corsodyl is antmicrobial mouthwash, as is peroxyl. Both proven to work on oral bacteria. Yes tea tree/clove oil have antmicrobial properties but your basically going to all that faff for a disgusting tasting mouthwash that may or may not work, with a random base of minty flavouring. When theres several proven to work mouthwashes.

An abscess caused by an infected pocket is completely different to an abscess caused by a dead tooth, you cannot treat them the same anyway. I really dont think you know as much as you think you do.

I can’t take corsodyl it completely wipes my taste buds away.

Sounds like I’m just on a waiting game and by the time they open if they just doing extractions and not root canals then what’s the point! My private dentist said he would get me in ASAP but he still has to wait. This is ridiculous.

I feel a bit silly for worrying about teeth when people are waiting on chemo etc.....the whole world can’t stop like this!