Abscessed Tooth

[paddock36]

kla37 I'm as serious as a heart attack! When the dentist mentioned it I thought, "Oh, ok that sounds like a good idea" and then she said $2,000.00 and I had to tell my son that we could check on re-doing the root canal but I just couldn't afford the implant. My son is 16 and I also told him if he really wanted the implant we could save the money but he would have to choose an implant or a car 'since I wouldn't be able to afford both. My DH said if he paid 2,000.00 for an implant it's not going to be for a tooth

.

 

[Mahonri]

Pen Vee K is standard for tooth infections, but if it's in the "dangerous triangle" around your eyes or nose, then it is considered SERIOUS and should be treated as such.

If I were you I would take TWO tabs every 6 hours for the first two days. You may get diarrhea but at least it will be working on the infection. (Be certain you are NOT allergic to penicillin)

Sometimes when there is an infection like the one you have described, a stay in the hospital for a day with IV antibiotics are often in order.

Good luck.

Mahonri, D.D.S.

 

[pbjmaker]

I'm glad you got some help and it wasn't hurting you. I had a broken tooth for almost a year that became abcessed last November. I couldn't get it fixed for about 6 weeks - luckily I had a dentist that got me on good pain meds and antibiotics right away. That thing hurt so bad it kept me up at night and put me into tears.

I

my root canal.

 

[Frosty]

Good call, Mahonri! So a D.D.S. with poultry? I bet your hands aren't as soft and clammy as that ER doc was! I mean... not one callus! It was kind of creepy IMHO.

Saw the dentist today. First he said he would have prescribed Clindamycin, and that in his experience Penicillin doesn't do much. I saw him this morning around 9, he gave me a choice between a root canal or pulling the tooth. Apparently there is enough bone loss around the tooth that even if we go with a root canal, it may only buy a few years so I said to take it out. He wanted me back at 4 PM to do that. But after shooting as much anesthetic as he could, everything was numb except that tooth. He wants to check it tomorrow and see if the infection is down enough to do it then (something about infections changing the ph and interfering with Novocaine).

Anyhow, he wrote a prescription for the Clindamycin, then was looking at my face really closely and said that it looked to him like the swelling was going down. He said I might be one of the few that Penicillin actually works on (maybe because I can count on one hand how many times I ever took antibiotics?) So he told me to take two at a time at least until I go in tomorrow (where did I hear that before?

)

And he told me to make sure that I took all of the antibiotics. I told him that I know about super bugs, and I intended to. Now maybe I should rag on him and tell him that maybe he could use a needle smaller than 16g. At least it felt that big going in!

And I kept a straight face when I told the folks at the vets office (had a cat there today) that I was going for the removal vs the root canal because I had to save for the spay/neuter project next month. The looks on their faces were priceless!

 

[Mahonri]

Glad the PVK is working, I've never seen problems with it. On the other hand, Clindamycin is not as broad spectrum either and is usually only used in folks with a PCN allergy.


Good luck with the extraction. I always like for my patients to have at LEAST 48 hours on antibiotics before I remove a tooth.

 

[theoldchick]

Abscessed tooth! Yikes! I've had two in the last three years. 1st dentist prescribed antibiotics and loritab which did nothing for the pain so I took Nyquil and I felt much better. That molar had a crown applied and is doing fine. The second abscess was on the other side lower molar. This particular dentist (1st dentist passed away) said no antibiotics were needed, put a temporary crown on and by the next day I was in head - banging pain. The swelling nearly closed off my trachea and the ER doc was ready to intubate me so I could breathe. When the infection was under control I underwent a root canal and the tooth survived.

 

[country lady]

We are so lucky to have mahonri on BYC for his kind dental advice. DH is dealing with this very problem and was in great pain. Our dentist of 30+ years gave him antibiotics and a pain killer yesterday. Today he is much better and the swelling has gone down. DH will see a specialist tomorrow to remove the back tooth. The dental hygienist told me the tooth has long roots and needs to be extracted by a specialist because of the sinus area--not something our dentist prefers to do in his office. Is that part of the dangerous triangle that you mentioned, Mahonri? (I haven't read all the comments)

 

[Frosty]

Ugh... Tried again today, everything goes numb except the tooth that needs to come out. It very much ISN'T numb. So tomorrow they are goint to use general anesthesia, in the mean time the dentist told me that they are going to put me on another antibiotic in addition to the pen vk. Then he said it was Flagyl... I told him I could also pick it up at the pet store, it's called Fish-zole. Just struck me as funny since we were just talking about Metronidazole over in the turkey section...

 

[JustAChickenLittle&More]

Ok here's a story to make you take your butt to the ER now. I had a friend who sold real estate in Florida and I was searching for a house. She was perfectly fine when er theI left her the day before. Didn't even know she ever had a toothache even. Long story short, she ended up in the hospital with an absess, for 6 weeks, and she barely made it. Apparently they thought she was gonna die before the antibiotics kicked in. So get to the ER. I know its a pain. I spent many nights there when my kids were babies, and still do with foster kids at times. But..you gotta do what you gotta do. Besides your babies (ANIMALS) would miss you, wouldn't they?

 

[Mattemma]

I am not a big fan of ER's due to mis-dx ,long wait time,and huge bills,BUT if that is the only option then go. If you are not getting better go somewhere. I just took my ds on Sunday,and we got the first of many bills for it today. I will pay $20 a month if a can.The important thing is he is better.

Your health is important.
If you wait to long sometimes it is just too late,or complications are far worse. I hope you get it pulled and healed up real soon!