Tooth abcess

[chocolateicecream]

Last Friday pm I discovered a pea sized lump on my 5 yr old dd gum by a tooth that has a small filling. She was distressed and told me that it hurts. She saw the dentist who informed us that is was an abscess. She was prescribed antibiotics and arrangements were made to have the tooth removed at a later date.

After several days of antibiotic therapy there is no reduction in the size of the lump. Since discovering the abscess last Friday my dd has not complained that it has hurt.

Surely an abscess would cause more pain? She has not had any redness or swelling to the surrounding areas. She is well and seems to have no problems eating her food. I am going to take her back to the dentist this Monday if it is still there.

Has anyone else had any similar experiences or can shed some light on this?

I'm guessing that the lump is a sinus. The tooth has died and the space inside it where the nerve used to be has an infection that is draining out through a little tract through the gum. It doesn't normally hurt. The tooth ought to come out as there is a developing tooth below the baby one and you don't really want a long term infection near it as there is a possibility it could affect the adult tooth.

Hi,

My ds had this is August (he is also 5). He knocked his front tooth when he was 2 and it had turned grey but had been fine these past few years. One day out of the blue he said it hurt when he bit into things, so after couple of days we went to dentist, she said it was an abcess. Lots of gum swelling. Gave anti biotics and made a referral for the tooth to be removed. we went on holiday that same week he had the antibiotics and all was fine. When we got home the pain returned and they gave him one more dose of anti biotics and made arrangements for him to have it out quickly. My dentist said in adults abcesses are horrendously painful but usually the symptoms are mild in children. How did you get on today?

Thank you both so much for responding. Our local dentist gives little info. away. I took her back and it was drained. It is still there but the dentist said that it could take a while to go when I asked her how long it might take to dissapear. I am very keen to have the tooth removed. The dentist was unsure how long the wait would be. She did recommend phoning the local hospital to telI them that it is urgent. Surely it would carry more clout if she did that? I am worried about the surrounding area becoming infective and yes her adult tooth too. I guess that an abscess in an adult hurts much more because we have huge roots in comparison.

Fingers crossed it gets sorted soon.

Our dentist advised us to do that...ring ourselves and like you, I thought why couldn't she do that! Anyway, we did ring and got a cancellation for a couple of days later...give it a try you may be lucky

The little bump will probably keep going up and down until the tooth is taken out. I would try not to worry about the tooth below getting damaged by the infection,it is in it's own little sac and the infection is draining out.
There is no harm in phoning the hospital at least they will give you a good idea of the waiting time.