Dental problems, what to do?

[Seany]

So 4 weeks ago i had severe toothache and swelling on my face, i went to the emergency dentist who confirmed it was an abscess and gave me Amoxicillin 500mg for 7 days. I took those and the swelling went down but i still had a slight pain for a few days.

Yesterday my face started to swell up again, this time with no pain, so i asked for an appointment at the dentist i was on the waiting list for as i'm meant to go on holiday tomorrow. I got an appointment and the dentist told me that the infection was under the root but she wouldn't give me anymore antibiotics, i would just have to wait until the tooth can be taken out which could be weeks if not months.

The swelling was getting even bigger so i went back the emergency dentist today, and he has gave me another course of antibiotics, another 500mg amoxicillin for 5 days.

I'm just concerned about taking them, as the dentist i seen yesterday refused to give me any as she didnt think they would do anything as i only finished my last course a few weeks ago, but with the swelling getting worse i think i need them to stop the infection getting worse so should i take them or not? Surely its not safe to just leave it for weeks until the tooth is extracted like the dentist yesterday suggested right?

[MagpieWitch]

They don't give antibiotics often cause you can become resistant to them easily.
As for the tooth why aren't they taking it out sooner? Usually here people get their tooth out as soon as possible, and especially if it cannot be saved or treated.

[Seany]

They don't give antibiotics often cause you can become resistant to them easily.
As for the tooth why aren't they taking it out sooner? Usually here people get their tooth out as soon as possible, and especially if it cannot be saved or treated.

So should i not take them? And i'm not entirely sure why they wont take it out sooner, i know they referred me to a specialist that deals specifically with people with anxiety, so i guess i'll just get the next available appointment with him.

[MagpieWitch]

I can't tell you whether to take them or not. I am just saying usually antibiotics aren't prescribed so often because you might become resistant to them. But I can't tell you it really depends on the antibiotic and the strength of it. I am not a doctor.
But you should see about getting that tooth out before you travel and as soon as possible.

[Seany]

I can't tell you whether to take them or not. I am just saying usually antibiotics aren't prescribed so often because you might become resistant to them. But I can't tell you it really depends on the antibiotic and the strength of it. I am not a doctor.
But you should see about getting that tooth out before you travel and as soon as possible.

Yeah i understand, thank you for the advice :) i have no chance of getting it out before i travel though so i guess i'll just have to take the other course of antibiotics and hope it calms the infection down until i get back!

[travelgirl77]

I just recently had a problem with some decay under a crown and I definitely had pain and swelling. My dentist prescribed me clindamycin as I am allergic to penicillin. Clyndamycin has really bad side effects, but I knew I had to get the infection under control so I took them. It took some time to clear the infection and I had a two step root canal because when he first went in I howled from the pain with the active infection, so he had to put medicine in the tooth. Anyway, I say all of this to say perhaps you need a different antibiotic or get the tooth out because it is not just going to go away. My teeth are a nightmare and cause me a lot of anxiety, so I understand your concern. If anything I would ring the dentist and discuss your concerns. I hope you get relief soon.

[BikerMatt]

Take the antibiotics. Yes there's a big palaver about building up a resistance to antibiotics but you'd have to take lot's and lot's of them. A second round won't do you any harm.

I would also forget the dentist who you saw yesterday and on the waiting list for. It takes a couple of minutes for a tooth to numb and 30 seconds (if that) to pull it out. They should of pulled it for you there and then especialy as you're going on holiday.

[Katie55]

The first line treatment for tooth abscess nowadays is drainage and root canal treatment. If this is not possible, drainage and extraction . My dentist told me antibiotics keep infection dampened down till you can get proper treatment. Incidentally it's not true that you can become immune to antibiotics as they actually work against the bug not the body. Bugs can become resistant to antibiotics but people aren't personally. When antibiotic resistance is mentioned it means the bacteria has developed a resistance to it

[ErinKC]

Just to clarify, people don't become resistant to antibiotics, bacteria do. You have a small risk of acquiring an antibiotic resistant infection any time you take antibiotics, and the instances of them rise as antibiotics are over-prescribed across the whole population. But, taking a second course of antibiotics won't make you resistant to them.

Travelgirl, what were your symptoms? Just pain? I have a crown that's been on for about 2 years. This past week I've noticed a popping sensation sometimes when I drink something cold, and very intermittent pain - like once a week it aches for 30 minutes or less. I'm thinking the crown my be compromised... but I haven't made a dentist appt yet because my 6 month visit is next month.