Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
General health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

I've got a dental abscess and need some support

40 replies

sleepsforwimps · 08/02/2009 22:31

It started a couple of days ago, it's hell to bite on, my face is swollen and i feel like complete crap.

I had an emergency appointment yesterday at the hospital where a dentist prodded my tooth and asked if it hurt and gave me some antibiotics, oh and a letter to give to my dentist who i'm to make an appointment with. That was it.

I'm being a complete wimp, i'm scared what they will do to get rid of it... I'm worrying if they will make an appointment asap or will i have to take the course of antibiotics first and then be seen...

I've had problems with this tooth in the past where a filling fell out where i'd broken it years ago and i left it while i was pregnant. After i had my baby the tooth became unbearably painful and after a course of antibiotics and the tooth refilled it eventually settled down. Now this. I'm thinking should i just have it pulled and be done with it.. part of me just wants rid of the ruddy thing so i can't have anymore problems with it, but then again i'm quite attached to having teeth.

OP posts:
southeastastra · 08/02/2009 22:32

they will just drain it

Original poster
sleepsforwimps · 10/02/2009 08:40

Saw the dentist yesterday, what a waste of time, he didn't do anything. I now have to wait over a month to have root canal as that is the first appointment they could give me. I was thinking they would have to drain it too. Has anyone else had an abscess? What treatment did you have and how quick did they do it?

OP posts:
kalo12 · 10/02/2009 08:44

the anti botics will get rid of the abcess.

i had this same thing but couldn't take anti biotics cos I was in early pregnancy, anyway i had it taken out without anaesthetic! it took four hours and it hurt like hell and now i have a tooth missing like a crone.

feel for you. Is it in a conspicuous place?

Uriel · 10/02/2009 08:48

Could you see a homeopath?

Original poster
sleepsforwimps · 10/02/2009 08:54

Its the second tooth from the back so not toooo bothered if if i had to see it go. The dentist looked shocked when i said i just wanted it out, i just don't want to have anymore problems with it. Somehow he convinced me root canal wasthe way to go, he just kept saying, "you'll have a gap, are you sure you will be happy living with a gap" arrrgghhh maybe a made the wrong decision, i keep hearing about people that have had root canal and then still had problems..

I'm glad the anti b's will get rid of the abscess it was worrying me that it should be drained, imagining my head was full of puss and where it was going to go was not a pretty thought, sorry about the tmi

How comes it took 4 hours to get your tooth out? I was told that was the quick option! I just haven't got the time or energy for all this pain and trips to the dentist having a 2 year old and a 7 month old.

OP posts:
Nontoxic · 10/02/2009 08:58

If you phone around you'll find a dentist who will see you.
The abs will stop the pain but the pus has to be drained or it will eventually flare up again and could infect the bone.

kalo12 · 10/02/2009 09:06

well it took four hours because it was so painful that i had hold of the dentists arm and only let her do it a tiny bit at a time. that was with no pain relief mind you, cos i was pg .
I lost the baby and i think that was the cause.

I had had root canal too before this. it was same tooth as yours. its not noticable,unless i throw my head back and cackle like a witch! but its the idea thaty i haven't got a full set

Original poster
sleepsforwimps · 10/02/2009 09:08

I've just phoned my dentist as it is really worrying me now leaving it so long without treatment. They have said they will phone me if they have a cancellation. So now i'm praying someone cancels and i get an appointment alot sooner than the ruddy 17th March!

OP posts:
Original poster
sleepsforwimps · 10/02/2009 09:17

kalo i'm so sorry you lost your baby. I feel like i'm in this mess because i didn't have my tooth treated while i was pregant.

I have been practising my laughs in the mirror and i agree, only my cackling witch laugh (which i don't use often) seems to show the gap.

I really can't decide whether to just have it pulled or go through the root canal. Does it affect eating/chewing not having that tooth?

OP posts:
ABloke · 10/02/2009 09:21

Root canal treatment, yikes, yes it is fine. Had it yesterday, lots of drilling and filing and a burning smell, 4 injections and I look like a hamster but, yes it is fine.

Valium anyone?

ABloke · 10/02/2009 09:22

2nd tooth from back, [thinks], it will get pulled anyway, eventually, so you can go for the root treatment, wit three years and have it pulled or just have it pulled.

Eating will be fine. Your other teeth will help you.

Original poster
sleepsforwimps · 10/02/2009 09:25

A burning smell? I'm strangely looking forward to looking like a hamster.

OP posts:
ABloke · 10/02/2009 09:27

yes, that hamster look is only on the left cheek atm.

and

No gargle drink anymore and I was shouted at for my mouth shaking....dentist could not get impression.

If I could have spoke at the time I would have left him an impression alright. Possibly not of the dental kind......

Sorry, this is not helping you!

It will be fine.

piratecat · 10/02/2009 09:36

the antibiotics will help get rid of the abcess. I guess the dentist wants to save the tooth.
I had a root canal done on a bad tooth about 20 yrs ago. That tooth flared up just b4 xmas and i to had an abcess, it is so painful.

Two lots of antibiotics later, and then it was taken out, it wasn't worth saving.

I would go for the root canal, as your tooth could last you ages yet. Mine was second fromt he back too.

Nontoxic · 10/02/2009 09:59

I've also got root canals that have lasted years - but I don't understand why you're holding out to see your own dentist - it's surely worth at least trying to get it out of the way.

piratecat · 10/02/2009 10:03

i had to wait tho, 2 weeks on anitbiotics and painkillers, to see my own dentist, as it's the only nhs dentist in the area.

Original poster
sleepsforwimps · 10/02/2009 10:13

I thought because i'm an nhs patient with maternity exemption i would have to see the dentist i'm registered with?

OP posts:
whinegums · 10/02/2009 10:40

sleeps, is there a dental hospital near you? You might be able to get an appointment there more quickly, and you wouldn't have to register with another dentist. It may mean a student would be involved, but they are supervised, usually by super duper dentists.

Having had abscesses and teeth removed (hence my name! And I have a terrible fear of dentists), in this case with it being near the back, I would have it taken out if I were you. I have had root canals for my front teeth, but back ones removed. You'll get used to the gap very quickly, and IME pain and recovery is better for a removal than a root canal - which may require several visits too.

I feel for you - I've never experienced such terrible pain as with an abscess, and that includes giving birth!

macherie · 10/02/2009 10:58

I had an abscess in my wisdom tooth over Christmas, the pain was awful. Antibiotics took about 36hrs to kick in. At the chemist you can get a mouthwash called Diflam, which will numb the pain until the anti-biotics start to work, and take nurofen every 4 hours. The anti-bs will get rid of the abscess, in my case I had the tooth removed as it was at the back. I was so relieved it was gone. The extraction to 60 seconds, and I had no pain afterwards, didn't even need nurofen.

Original poster
sleepsforwimps · 10/02/2009 12:16

I'm all confused now, i read one of your posts and decide root canal is worth having a go at, then i read another and want it out.. At this rate when the dentist phones it'll depend on the last post i've read how many teeth i end up with. How about i just whimper in the corner in pain feeling sorry for myself and you all decide for me? Is there one of these with less teeth for me to use if i do have it whipped out?

OP posts:
Nontoxic · 10/02/2009 13:20

If you go to the dental hospital or see another dentist, at least you'll have another qualified opinion rather than listening to us lot.
I don't know what the rules are, but you might find that you can see someone else on the NHS as a preggie person.
Until you ring around you'll never know.

elsiepiddock · 10/02/2009 14:06

I have had two root canals.

It doesn't hurt but it does take ages and is very expensive.

I have had one 'fail' recently though and my dentist implied this is not unusual, so for a back tooth, extraction may be a safer bet.

jeghead · 10/02/2009 21:08

just curious if anyone here can answer a question about an abcessed tooth. i have facial swelling and a broken tooth to the side of my front teeth. it is painful and i had been taking penicillin but all the swelling did not go down. the dentist said all the swelling had to go away first. i started on amoxicillin (500mg 4x a day) and it seems like it is getting worse. they say you can actually drain it yourself. the problem is i have had an abcessed tooth a long time ago, and i do not see a head on the abcess where pus could drain nor do i have a bad taste in my mouth. the swelling seems to be right above the tooth and feels hard not soft like an abcess. would appreciate input please.

thanks,
jeghead

paddyclamp · 10/02/2009 21:17

I had this too jeghead..think it means the tooth has died..i had root canal and it sorted it out, lump went and everything's been fine ever since!

LightShinesInTheDarkness · 10/02/2009 21:21

kalo - what a dreadful story. What on earth possessed a dentist to let you go through such a thing?

I had an abscess and was warned that root canal treatment is not always completely successful, and I may end up having the tooth removed anyway.

I opted for anti-b's to calm the infection, then had the tooth removed under sedation at a special clinic. Not pleasant, but bearable and a huge relief not to have the pain.

Good luck with whatever you decide, as it is hellish.