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Original poster

Dental question

46 replies

blondiebea · 27/01/2018 16:26

I have a tooth that needs root canal or extraction which I have been stupidly putting off. I have major panic and anxiety around dental work and health anxiety in general. This tooth has had a temporary filling that has held up well and fell out a week ago. Sod's law it has fallen out before I am due to go on holiday for our first wedding anniversary. I made an appointment to get it looked at before we go but last night it started to feel like my face was swelling (visibly it isn't) and was hard to bite at all. Also pain but nowhere near the level of toothache I have had in the past.

I have a big fear of abscesses (have never had one) so I fearfully made an emergency appointment at a private emergency practise.

The dentist was brutal. He said I have an infection in the bottom of the tooth and should start root canal today. I tried to explain my fear and that I would need to prepare for that and that I didn't want an extraction (which he didn't suggest) because I was flying in a few days.

He has given me antibiotics (amoxicillin) and filled it with a new temporary. He said it could go either way so he won't guarantee I won't have problems.

Totally fair enough he is just being honest. Can anyone hold my hand and tell me I may be okay on my anniversary holiday as I am taking antibiotics? He has really worried me. My husband is trying to calm me down saying they like to push treatment a bit more in private practice as its expensive, the antibiotics will be good and we have travel insurance so not to worry. I know I'm a baby but it took a lot to get there today and now I just feel scared and deflated.

OP posts:
Cowardlycustard2 · 27/01/2018 21:54

Please try not to worry root canal treatment is really not that bad (and I say that as someone that hates the dentist) I had one done last summer and actually dozed off in the chair it was that boring. Your tooth will settle down with the antibiotics and you will start to feel better soon. Just have a lovely holiday and try not to worry too much. Have you ever looked at the Dental Fear Central website? It really helped me to cope with dental phobia.

Footle · 28/01/2018 17:20

Don't want to worry you but will the travel insurance cover you for work that's already been started?

Original poster
blondiebea · 28/01/2018 20:39

To be honest the pain is so bad I think I'll have to go back tomorrow and get an extraction or some pain relief and cancel the holiday. I'm devastated. We are not due to fly until Friday morning, could they do anything to help before then? I am taking antibiotics and have a temporary but it's not helping at all.

OP posts:
idontlikealdi · 28/01/2018 20:43

Why do you need
To cancel the holiday? I had a molar extracted recently and it was absolutely fine (similar story had put it off forever and turned out the roots were too broken for root canal). The relief was immediate and I could certainly have gone on holiday! It also cost £90 v the £1500 for root canal.

Judydreamsofhorses · 28/01/2018 21:00

The first stage of RCT will get you out of pain, then you would need to go back for the second bit in a couple of weeks. If the tooth has an abscess antibiotics won’t always work (and are just a temporary fix) because the tooth’s blood supply and nerve are knackered.

I am no fan of the dentist, but due to clenching and grinding because of stress I have recently needed a whack of treatment, including three root canals. They are very boring and take a long time, but not painful. The worst bit for me was the injections.

I also had a molar extracted last summer. It was done at 10.30 on the Friday, and I went to the hairdresser at 2pm. It was a total pain not being able to eat on that side until the socket started to heal up, but I went out for dinner on the Saturday night with no issues. If you have an extraction or RCT tomorrow you will absolutely not need to cancel a flight on Friday.

caboosie · 28/01/2018 21:08

The problem being you needed RCT a while ago and where its been left it will be getting worse and more likely to need an extraction. I think the dentist was being honest with you about needing to start the treatment strait away as it would have got you out of pain and may have been better for you over the holiday. Please don't stress about root canel treatment I know people like to big it up it is actually a very dull, and uneventful procedure you should not leave an infection untreated for so long in your body even though you fear the dentist I am sending you hugs and hope you are out of pain soon X

Hoppinggreen · 28/01/2018 21:12

I had a rear molar out last year and I would easily have been able to go on Holiday within a few days.
It was quick and easy to get out and after a few days of painkillers and being careful what I ate it was fine

Original poster
blondiebea · 28/01/2018 21:51

Thanks for all the advice and your experiences are encouraging.

It is more that I didn't fancy a long haul flight with an open tooth socket and changing gauze's but it seems that would hopefully be healed by Friday. I am a massive health anxiety nut and would worry about travelling with an infection, and on a more shallow note we had planned a lot of foodie stuff for our trip and I had imagined being on liquids and soft foods Sad but you have given me the confidence to man up and go tomorrow and maybe still have a great holiday x

OP posts:
Footle · 28/01/2018 22:15

If you have a fear of infection you've been misdirecting it! Infected teeth and gums can predispose you to heart and arterial disease. Don't ever delay getting dental treatment. And I'm another who's sure you'll be fine to travel.

Judydreamsofhorses · 28/01/2018 22:19

blondie if the tooth can be saved, do consider the root canal before an extraction. I have had four hours worth over the last fortnight (two sessions on one tooth) and I almost fell asleep at one stage. I’m seeing an endodontist - root canal specialist - and was so scared about it not being my own dentist, but he has been so kind and patient, even though I cried on both visits, and on the initial consultation (my own dentist referred me because the tooth has hooked roots) where he didn’t even do anything. Good luck tomorrow and let us know how you get on.

Judydreamsofhorses · 28/01/2018 22:22

Oh, and the gauze just goes in the tooth socket for you to bite down on immediately after the extraction to help stop bleeding. You don’t need it for days or anything. I was given a spare one in case it started again but didn’t need it.

Givemestrengthorgin · 28/01/2018 22:38

You should feel much better for holiday on Friday if you have it extracted. The most important stage of healing would be over in 2 or 3 days. I'm not sure about RCT. But if you do get it extracted just sip water. Don't drink through a straw.

Original poster
blondiebea · 28/01/2018 23:44

Even if the swelling is not improving and I have an abscess? Can I still fly on Friday do you think? Sad

OP posts:
Footle · 29/01/2018 08:55

Where in your mouth is the tooth?

idontlikealdi · 29/01/2018 10:49

If they take the tooth out the infection will drain out. You will be absolutely fine to fly on Friday.

Original poster
blondiebea · 29/01/2018 16:03

I have just been to the dentist. He said that he cannot do an extraction as the swelling/infection is too bad at the moment. He was very nice. He didn't suggest cancelling my trip but did give me enough antibiotics to cover me all the time I am there.

The swelling has subsided very slowly, not much at all in 48 hours and the pain comes and goes. Maybe that will improve the further into the antibiotics. I will sort dental travel insurance too Sad

OP posts:
Judydreamsofhorses · 30/01/2018 18:54

How are you doing, blondie?

Original poster
blondiebea · 30/01/2018 19:44

Oh not great my friends.

Antibiotics don't seem to have done anything. Pain and swelling still unbearable. Have made another emergency appointment for tomorrow morning (third one this week) to see if there is anything else they can do as I cannot go on holiday in this state.

If not (I.e if they say they can't pull the tooth or root canal it tomorrow due to the infection) then I will have to cancel the trip. If they pull it I will maybe still be okay to fly on Friday morning.

I know it sounds dramatic but between the abscess pain and the holiday (our anniversary and I have been planning and dreaming about this holiday for a very long tough year) I feel so sad and helpless. Just wish they would have pulled the tooth on my first visit to the dentist last Saturday.

Dare I ask do you think there's any way I'll be on that flight on Friday morning relatively pain free? The infection must be really bad as it hasn't budged at all I am still very swollen and it's been three days on antibiotics Sad

OP posts:
Judydreamsofhorses · 30/01/2018 20:01

Oh god, poor you. I think antibiotics usually take 24 - 48 hours to really get into your system. The dentist could possibly add a different drug (it begins with M - metrinazole or something like that) into the mix, but you absolutely can’t drink on that one or will be seriously ill. The first stage of root canal would get you out of pain and drain the infection if you could manage it - even if you later had the tooth extracted.

Which tooth is it? I would try everything to save it if possible before having it extracted. I am NOT a dentist, but I think the infection can alter the ph of the anaesthetic so it can be hard to get an infected tooth properly numb, which is possibly why he is reluctant to take it out.

I feel so sorry for you. I really hope you get some relief.

idontlikealdi · 30/01/2018 21:24

What antibiotics have they given you and what dosage?

Original poster
blondiebea · 30/01/2018 21:49

Amoxicillin 500mg 3 x a day

I am (semi) allergic to the other one, the dental one...makes me very very sick and a racing heart (not that they offered that anyway)

Thanks so much for your good wishes. It's crazy how the pain comes and goes, I had 2 ibuprofen at 7 and feel absolutely fine at the moment, just packed our cases and trying to stay positive for the next couple of days xx

OP posts:
Original poster
blondiebea · 30/01/2018 21:51

I started them on Saturday afternoon (2) Sunday and Monday (3) and 2 so far today

OP posts:
Original poster
blondiebea · 30/01/2018 21:52

Sorry to drip feed...however worth mentioning that the swelling hasn't really budged (although it is more my feeling than viable) and the pain tonight was the worst it has been x

OP posts:
Judydreamsofhorses · 30/01/2018 21:53

Good luck tomorrow - let us know how you get on. (We are rooting for you - ha ha.) If you are getting relief from the ibuprofen Boots do a slow release one that lasts 12 hours, and you can take paracetamol on top of that at regular doses if you’re okay with both drugs - that was what my dentist recommended to me.

Batfurger · 30/01/2018 21:57

I feel sorry for your dentist. Using up the emergency appointments because you want to go on holiday but it’s something you could have got sorted ages ago?
Maybe have a think about that next time?

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