At what point do I decide antibiotics aren't working?

[Easilyflattered]

Spent last weekend with awful toothache, rang dentist first thing on Monday and saw dentist. He's given me metronidazole for an abscess under a molar. I'm taking ibuprofen, and paracetamol as often as I'm allowed. I've had 72 hours on antibiotics. It still hurts and I'm losing the will to live.

Do I need to see dentist again? Do I just need to keep going on these antibiotics? I can hardly think straight with this pain

No idea with dental, but I know with myself it's usually around day 3 or 4 that I notice them working.

I think the problem with this situation is that the blood supply to the tooth can be dud, so the antibiotics might not get to it. I would ring in and try to get seen as an emergency - presumably you are booked in for root canal once it settles anyway?

I’ve had the same thing before and I’m sorry to say it was agony for quite a few days. Horrendous pain!

I'd definitely ring and get an appointment before the weekend

Best to ring and ask.

I would make another appointment you sound in agony. Btw neurofen plus is brilliant for dental pain.

Thanks guys. Think I'll ring again in the morning.

Judy, yes root canal on the 7th Nov once the infection has calmed down.

And I'll try that nurofen plus, MrsJayy

The dentist should be able to open up the tooth and get rid of the infection, easily - I think the "challenge" is that the infection can neutralise the anaesthetic to a degree so it can be tough to get the patient properly numb. (I am due RCT on the 3rd on a lower molar and have spent so much time on Google "researching" that my DP has activated parental controls.)

Does the molar have any fillings or holes in?

I once got an abscess under a molar and the pain was relieved by taking out the filling as the pressure had been too much under the tooth. I then had antibiotics and treatment when the infection had gone.

Good luck and I hope the painkillers take the edge off overnight!

give it another 24 hours for the anti bs to work

you may need another course

My mother had this. She left it a bloody week taking the abx with no improvement until her face swelled up like a balloon and the hospital said she was close to sepsis. She should have been on different antibiotics all along. I'd definitely ring in the morning and see what they think.

I feel your pain! I've had several dental abscesses and it was totally all consuming agony. Agree you need to call your dentist first thing. When I had them I had to take a combination of metronidazole and erythromycin. Also with the nurofen don't take them with your ibuprofen as they are both ibuprofen. You can take paracetamol (if you're not allergic or anything like that, preferably co-codamol) but space them out with the ibuprofen and never exceed daily limits of either no matter how tempting it is! Wishing you a speedy recovery you have every sympathy but it will get better just make the call.

My GP will prescribe pain relief for dental pain quite happily (no idea if that's standard though) if you need to start a new AB course it might be worth seeing yours.

I'm normally quite stoic but toothache has had me rocking in the corner in the past.