To phone 111?

[BitchHazel]

I have a massive dental abcess. I'm not in any pain but my face is so swollen on one side that it's affecting my vision.

I don't want to clog up 111/ go near the hospital if I can help it. I know I could phone my actual dentist in the morning but I am in healthcare and we are on our knees as it is without me taking time out for an appt.

I need antibiotics before I will be able to have dental treatment anyway. Will a pharmaxist prescribe these given the circumstances?

Tried the usual salty water, ice pack etc. Is there anything else I can do to get rid of the infection?

I heard a dentist on R4 complaining they hadn't been given any definitive advice on what they should be doing. I am due for an ordinary check up which hasn't been cancelled yet. The only thing they've been advised is nothing with aerosol effect, which seems to me with suctioning and proximity to be madness. Emergencies yes.

111 have a separate section for emergency dental work, it’s a separate button when you call. You need to be seen by a dentist.

Thanks Dish. The swelling has gone down a little already and my vision is better - my eye is still weepy but not closed over any more.

If I'm concerned tomorrow or through the week I'm sure I can call my own dentist for more advice. If anything really concerning flares up again I'll definitely go to A+E. I just felt that with the way things are in hospitals atm it was best to avoid that.

I feel a bit stupid for not knowing what to do but I've obviously never had a pandemic to consider before.

I'm glad your vision is better and your eye is opening.

And I completely understand avoiding hospital. And if it wasn't for your eye absolutely I wouldn't be advising A&E.

You do need antibiotics though. Abscesses that close the eye can spread and form something called cavernous sinus thrombosis. The first sign is vision loss. That's why I am worried, I would ideally like IV antibiotics.

If it starts to get any worse again please go to a&e. And please ring your own dentist on Monday and get some antibiotics if you can't go back to the emergency dentist.

*Dish please don't misunderstand me. In times like these the OP may not have been seen, in which case my advice was correct. Besides she wasn't actually given antibiotics so not a necessity after all. Unless you know better than the medics of course.

It sounds to me like the swelling was affecting vision, not the fact the nerve was being blocked so no need to get all hysterical and try to panic the OP Dish I think we have enough going on atm without the need for hyperbole. See how you go OP and of course if it doesn't get any better then see if you do need antibiotics, but I've had quite a few abscesses and I was only prescribed antibiotics in 50% of the cases. Getting rid of the cause (pulling teeth) is often sufficient. I believe medical opinion for simple abscesses is to try and avoid antibiotics where possible.

Ds had an abscess a while ago, had antibiotics to clear it before working on the tooth, and after a few days his face swelled up within hours on one side. Dentist sent us to A&E, A&E sent us to another A&E, who sent us to maxiofaciall (sp) who took him to theatre to drown the abscess- it had tracked down his face and under his jaw. I knew they could be bad, but never that bad. Hope it clears for you!!!

@Arfarfarf I am a dentist. I work in a maxfacs department and deal with people in a&e with big facial swellings OP would absolutely have been seen.

I'm not trying to scare the OP, I'm trying to make sure that everything going on doesn't prevent her getting appropriate care, and potentially have serious consequences. An abscess that size needs antibiotics.

Don't accuse me of being hysterical when I know what I'm talking about (Unlike you)

dish you may be a dentist but you were being hysterical nonetheless. Other dentists disagree with you. Did you see the abscess? No.

Ouch, no advice but lots of sympathy and best wishes for a speedy recovery.

There is absolutely nothing hysterical about dish's posts. And I don't see any dentists disagreeing with her. Everything she's posted is what we were told when I worked at 111.

Anyway, I'm glad you got seen and treated op. I hope you're on the mend now.

dish you may be a dentist but you were being hysterical nonetheless.

I'm embarrassed for you.

@Arfarfarf I wasn't being hysterical. I didn't see the abscess but op says it's affecting her vision. That's a big fucking abscess, and affecting vision is something to be concerned about.

Like I said 3 scenarios where I am worried

1. closing the airway
2. closing the eye
3. septic

I am worried about 2 because it risks cavernous sinus thrombosis. The first sign is affecting vision.

Everything OP has written suggests this is a worrying abscess. Please don't accuse me of being hysterical when I want to make sure that OP gets appropriate treatment, you are giving out advise you are not qualified to give which actually could be dangerous. Like I said I see the patients in A&E with big swellings, very rarely do they concern me. This one would.

Anyway, I hope you are a bit better today OP

Dish the OP has been seen in A&E, by someone who has seen her abscess, and they, like many dentists who have seen me with an abscess, did not deem it appropriate to give her antibiotics. Are they all giving out medical advice they are not qualified to? You are giving out medical advice without seeing the patient. And in a hysterical manner too. That's really unhelpful and unprofessional.

Marginalgain don't be.

Perhaps do a search for dentist did not give antibiotics on Google. You may be surprised.

I won't be

Thought I would check back in and let you know I've survived the week. My dentist's surgery has closed and i was unable to reach them even on the phone.

I've taken great care to keep my mouth clean and rinse with salt water regularly. The swelling has completely gone and my vision is fine, I'm still a little sore from the jags.

Dish Thankyou again for your advice, I have a tendancy to downplay things and I'm glad you posted to alert me to the fact that this might turn out to be very serious. Thankfully it hasnt come to that but I know now what to look out for and be vigilant of.

Arf I think you are being very unfair and a bit rude. In times like this it is not hysterical to err on the side of caution - especially when everywhere is busy and overloaded and it could take a while to be seen. I'm glad there was someone qualified here to advise me.

I'm sorry if I came across as rude. Whilst not a dentist I am a medical professional and we tend to try and stay away from antibiotics as much as we can these days, for obvious reasons. Hence I was piqued when Dish kept pushing for asking for antibiotics when you were already seen and not prescribed any. Anyway, I am glad all is well

Thankyou! Hope you are safe and well too