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Original poster

Tooth ache, possible abscess and can't get to the dentist until Monday.

55 replies

Marne · 25/10/2013 19:26

Help, I'm in a lot of pain, have taken paracetamol and ibuprofen and still in a lot of pain. I'm meant to be taking dad for a big day out tomorrow ( got tickets booked to see a show ) so can't go to the emergency dentist until Monday. How can I get through tomorrow without being in too much pain?, I have some antibiotics in the house and have taken one ( I know I shouldn't take anything until its been looked at but I need to be ok tomorrow and if it stops me from waking up with a huge puffy face it has tone worth a shot ), is there anything else I can do or take?

OP posts:
RandomMess · 28/10/2013 11:15

I would go today they should be able to do something to ensure it drains properly?

LIZS · 28/10/2013 11:21

Try for an emergency appointment today . Just because it as burst on surface doesn't mean that there isn't more going on under the gumline . An xray and targeted ab treatment now may save the tooth and you want to avoid toxins getting in your bloodstream as that could make you more poorly.

thinkofthemoney · 28/10/2013 11:24

You really need to see a dentist soon, stop putting it off!

Original poster
Marne · 28/10/2013 12:16

I cant go today, I have no one to look after the dd's, they both have autism so would not cope if I need it drilling, dh is being a prick and wouldn't get time off, he has tomorrow off so I can go then. I'm worried they will drill it and it will hurt, if anyone touches my mouth I am likely to kick them Smile. The tooth will be extracted as soon as the abscess has gone, I hate the dentist but would rather have a extraction than a root kennel (as it will be over with a lot quicker), the tooth is quite lose anyway so will be easy to pull.

OP posts:
LIZS · 28/10/2013 12:44

They won't drill , or even extract, it while infected as it will spread. If it ahs come loose I assume you are not a regular dentist go-er. Might be worth ringing for an appointment asap , might be tomorrow now anyway.

Original poster
Marne · 28/10/2013 13:30

Thanks LIZS, im not a regular dentist go-er, I am petrified of the dentist and if I had my way I would have them all out (they would have to put me under first), I might phone now and see if they can see me, will they just give me different antibiotics?

OP posts:
gamerchick · 28/10/2013 13:37

For christ sake I feel anxiety for you just reading. Go to the dentist.. you can't ignore it.

Original poster
Marne · 28/10/2013 13:38

Just phoned the dentist and they advised that I wait another day for the antibiotics to work as they cant really do much else until swelling comes down, got a appointment for wed to get the tooth looked at (hopefully to book extraction). Not really happy as I still cant eat much and my face and neck are hurting Sad.

OP posts:
gamerchick · 28/10/2013 14:21

Just tell them you want it out.. I wouldn't do a root canal.. especially if it's loose.

Then hopefully it might cure your fear of dentists I feel your fear.. It took a really good compassionate dentist to cure me to an extent.

HettiePetal · 28/10/2013 15:14

That's really good news, Marne. You might find that the pus keeps coming....fills up and bursts again. Doesn't sound particularly nice, but it's the best thing that can happen until you have the tooth treated. If the pus has found an escape channel, then it stops it going off into other parts of your body and making you ill.

Keep on with the mouthwashes if you can because that'll help keep things clean.

Oh - and antibiotics will not cure an abscess. They'll just settle it down. The infection will remain until treatment.

Glad you're feeling better :)

HettiePetal · 28/10/2013 15:18

Sorry - I completely managed to miss all your updates after you said it had burst at 4am Hmm.

The thing is, if there's swelling the anesthetic might not work. This happened to me. I took antibiotics, thought the swelling was gone but when I went to get the tooth out, it wouldn't go numb and the extraction had to be abandoned for two weeks. This was because there was still a bit of swelling around the root.

Original poster
Marne · 28/10/2013 15:28

Thank you, I would rather they took it out ASAP because when im in pain I can focus on feeling better after (and I so want it to be better right now), if I wait until its stopped hurting I am likely to chicken out (though I don't think I will this time).

I had a few teeth out just over a year ago, requested to have them done at hospital and they were brilliant, they had trouble numbing my mouth and in the end I had to let them pull it even though I could feel it slightly, it was horrid, one came out easily and the other required the dentist to straddle me and someone to hold my head, I stupidly drove myself to the hospital (35 miles away) so had to drive home whilst bleeding everywhere. I was meant to go back to have 2 more out but I never went back, I don't really know why as it wasn't as bad as having fillings (i'm just a wimp when it comes to dentists).

OP posts:
digerd · 28/10/2013 21:46

OP
The dentist had to straddle you to pull the tooth out ?Shock
I too have had tooth trouble many times and I dread it all.
If the ABs are called Metronidazole, which is what the dentists prefer to give for infection, they do make some people really sick as they did me.
But normally you take 1 x3 a day at regular intervals or 1x4 daily.
One I was agony with and went to dentist in lunch-hour at work. They said they could try to save it by draining it, but I said just take it out I can stand it no longer!

Good luck. 2 paracetamol every 4 hours did help me for the pain, but all abcesses were under the root in the jaw bone which swelled up.

Original poster
Marne · 29/10/2013 09:13

The antibiotics are doxycycline ,I have to take 1 a day. The main abscess kept bursting in the nigh but now I'm up it has stopped draining ( has refilled but not as big as it was ), not sure what the dentist will do tomorrow other than give me more antibiotics ( as I only have 2 days worth left ), I hope they don't touch it because its still very painful.

OP posts:
Mrsmorton · 29/10/2013 11:14

What an entire load of bollocks myths being trotted out on this thread.

How is it now OP?

LIZS · 29/10/2013 11:17

It needs looking at and xray . If it keeps refilling the infection isn't going.

Mrsmorton · 29/10/2013 11:32

Are you a dentist LIZS ?

Why does it need an x ray? What would the justification be for that? What tooth is it that is causing the problem?

LIZS · 29/10/2013 11:35

no I'm not but had my fair share of similar. Would suggest an xray to see extent of problem but feel free to disagree.

Mrsmorton · 29/10/2013 11:42

Being treated by a dentist and being a dentists are moderately different. This is why there are so many myths and to be frank, complete lies on threads like this.

I'm waging a one dentist campaign to get rid of comments like "the dentist straddled me" "he had his knee on my chest" "I've got weak enamel/gums" "you need antibiotics" "they can't do anything whilst there's an infection" "the dentist drilled too deep" and myriad others besides.

LIZS · 29/10/2013 12:54

Fair enough . However until op has seen a dentist one can only speculate as to what might be the problem and treatment. Good luck tomorrow op.

Mrsmorton · 29/10/2013 13:13

So stating "it needs an x ray" or "they won't drill it" are to be honest complete wild guesses by people who have similar dental qualifications to my 16 year old niece.
Just saying.

LIZS · 29/10/2013 13:44

I've not been alone in simply trying to encourage op to see a dentist asap, and suggest ways to cope in the meantime, rather than wait and see. Maybe her dentist will advise differently but she won't know until she actually goes. In the absence of a professional opinion we can only comment from experience. Sounds like you can lend a more authoritative opinion though

Mrsmorton · 29/10/2013 14:28

Quite, as a dentist who runs an ooh clinic 52 Sundays a year I feel I do have an authoritative opinion. The trouble is that many (50% ish) people who access this ooh clinic have read forums like this and are more minded to believe your posts than my evidence based diagnosis and treatment plan Confused

digerd · 29/10/2013 16:23

Mrsmorton
It was 30 years ago so can't remember if they x-rayed my gum/tooth root as I was in such agony. But when they took it out the abcess was enclosed in a membrane and was a small round bauble looking thing hanging/attached to the root. I remember saying "Oh." There was no infection in the gum itself. It was one of the small incisors at the bottom .

Original poster
Marne · 29/10/2013 16:45

Hi, it's a little bit better today ( weeping which is hopefully a good sign and has shrunk a little ).

mrsmortin , I am interested to hear what you have to say and what you think they may do tomorrow, partly because I'm petrified and partly because I have to take the dd's with me and I don't want them to have to see me have a tooth pulled, I have 2 days worth of antibiotics left, abscess is still obviously there but is improving but I think I may need a few more days of antibiotics before swelling has gone.

OP posts: