Sore mouth, has anyone experienced this?

[Ouchmymouth]

To cut a very long story slightly shorter, I had a horrendous tooth abscess at the start of lockdown. Horrendous to the extent that my dentist of 30 years experience said it was probably within the top 3 worst that he had ever treated. Just for context! The pressure of the swelling paralysed one side of my face and all these months later. When the tooth was removed, it broke and I have been left with a shard of tooth or bone sticking up through the gum so the gum has not healed. In normal times I would obviously just have been able to go back to the dentist shortly after the extraction and he would presumably have sorted it out. But because of Covid they are working through a backlog of the three months that they were forced to shut and are still only able to see a small number of patients a day so are prioritising people who are in agony. And I understand that - when I was desperate to get my tooth out, I wouldn't have been thrilled to think that someone with a minor issue was getting an appointment whilst I waited.

But what will eventually happen? My gum can't heal and my whole jaw is still painful after all these months. But it's not painful enough to justify taking an appointment when they are so limited.

Has anyone ever had something similar?

Hopeful bump...

Well that was helpful.

Anyway, about the dentistry issue?

Often shards of bone break off and make their way to the surface. These often come out on their own or with a gentle tug. The dentist should and would have told you if some of the root was left behind. A further appointment would have been made if they hadn't carried on to remove it there and then. If difficult you would have been given a hospital referral, so I'm thinking that it's a bone shard. I've had them and pulled them out myself, but I am a dental professional.

Phone your dentist and take an appointment

I think you’re certainly justified to make an appointment! They haven’t completed your extraction and you’re in pain. Please ring and make an appointment.

I have rung a couple of times but they can't see me yet. They will see me but they can't do it yet.

I had initially thought it would come out on its own, or with a bit of wobbling it with my tongue, as that is what has happened in the past when I had a tooth out. But this feels very much attached.

Did the dentist tell you the tooth had broken?

If not its most likely a shard of bone. 2 things should happen either it works its way out or it resorbs and the gum grows over.

It sounds like its been a while though and I do think the dentist should be seeing you, should only take 5 mins and not an AGP so no fallow time needed. Its a complication of their procedure.

In the meantime i would use some corsodyl gel on the area to keep it really clean, and help it heal

I am also slightly concerned that you still have pain after all this time, I really think it needs seeing.

Also finally what do you mean paralysed your face? Are you having difficulty moving your face now? How long has it been?

@DanceThen

Also finally what do you mean paralysed your face? Are you having difficulty moving your face now? How long has it been?

Yes, my face is numb and droopy. It has been over six months. I have had scans at hospital to make sure there is no underlying cause or tumours or a stroke or anything. But apparently it is nerve damage related to the abscess. It really was massive - it was a tooth in my lower jaw but the swelling was so severe that it went from above my eye to down my neck. At its worst, my eye was closed over and my face was swollen like a football.

That’s awful. Is there not a cancellations list you can go on. Tell them you are in agony. I would be taking an appointment.

Did you get seen in the hospital for the abscess at the time OP?

That sounds really extreme and I wouldnt expect actual droopiness from a dental abscess, numbness can happen. I am glad you have had scans, I suppose if you have had scans they would have ruled out anything i would be concerned about so thats good.

It sounds like youve had a really major infection OP and absolutely your dentist should be being really cautious with follow up. With that level of infection, and subsequent side effects you would not be wasting anyones time seeing your dentist

@DanceThen

Did you get seen in the hospital for the abscess at the time OP?

That sounds really extreme and I wouldnt expect actual droopiness from a dental abscess, numbness can happen. I am glad you have had scans, I suppose if you have had scans they would have ruled out anything i would be concerned about so thats good.

It sounds like youve had a really major infection OP and absolutely your dentist should be being really cautious with follow up. With that level of infection, and subsequent side effects you would not be wasting anyones time seeing your dentist

Yes, I was seen in A&E at the time because the numbness and lack of movement started before it became clear that it was an infection - there was no visible swelling at that stage, and strangely enough, the pain, whilst severe, was not in my tooth, it was in my head, neck and face! I actually thought at the time that I was possibly having a stroke. Anyway, that was all ruled out and within a few hours of being discharged, the swelling started and that's when it became clear that it was tooth related.

I have been with the same dentist for about 25 years and have never had any problems, and I really do feel they have tried their best in a bad situation over Covid. I just didn't want to be seen to be difficult, but maybe I need to be more demanding. It's just that when I have spoken to them and ask about the pain, I tell them truthfully that it is painful, but not agony. It's an occasional paracetamol type of pain, not the paracetamol and 60mg of codeine at a time with ibuprofen inbetween and a wheat pack type of pain that I had for a few weeks when I was awaiting treatment!

I think you need to at least insist on speaking to an actual dentist on the phone op. I assume it's a receptionist telling you you can't have an appointment?

@doctorhamster

I think you need to at least insist on speaking to an actual dentist on the phone op. I assume it's a receptionist telling you you can't have an appointment?

Yes, it is.

Ok, this has been helpful, I think I'll just have to insist.

Okay so if you werent seen in A&E with the abscess I really thing you should have been seen in hospital, abscesses that size need proper drainage normally under GA. I think your dentist needs to see you in person first and then refer you in to the hospital.

It is not normal to have facial drooping 6 months on from an asbcess, and its not normal to still have pain. And tbh it starting with a lack of movement sounds really unusual as well, Ive never seen that. I really think you should push to be seen, this is not just a bit of pain.

How did you get on op