theanxiousone
05-10-23, 20:12
Hi everyone. It's been awhile since I posted here, but this whole situation is giving me terrible anxiety.
About 3 weeks ago, I went to have my teeth cleaned and noticed some sensitivity on one of my gums that occurred when I ate a hard piece of chicken. My dentist took some xrays and said my tooth was a little cracked (upper left molar, way in back), and I could come back to get it fixed and get it crowned (it's an old root canal). 4 days later, I developed a pimple like bump on my gums and went back in immediately.
Come to find out, the tooth NEXT to my cracked tooth has a failed root canal and created a fistula, draining over the cracked tooth and from my gum. I was immediately put on antibiotics then made an appointment with the endodontist who did it.
Now at the Endodontists a week later, come to find out, the cracked tooth needs to come out ASAP and is moving while stuff is getting stuck inside the crack. They took 3D x-rays and said the infection looks like it is clearing, however they can see the area that is problematic. They will not touch the failed root canal because the cracked tooth will complicate things, I am told- so that needs to come out first. They said I need to schedule the extraction, then within 2 weeks come back to fix the failed root canal.
Now for the anxiety part. I cannot be seen for a MONTH for the extraction! Then I need to plan the infected root canal retreat 2 weeks from that, putting me at a month and a half out with this infection (mid november).
I called every oral surgeon I could find within 2 hours of me. There is a wait even for emergencies and I guess everyone is just being put on antibiotics in the meantime. My primary dentist put me on another round of antibiotics in the mean time after I told them the situation, but it's also messing up my stomach (despite me being on probiotics too) and now I am PARANOID about getting something like C. diff. They said we will re-evaluate again in the middle of the month once I run out of the 2nd round. My mouth tastes disgusting from this infection and the fistula. I can taste it draining despite my constant brushing/ flossing/ water picking/ salt water gargling etc.
I'm freaking out. I don't know what to do. I'm on a bunch of cancellation lists and was told to just keep calling (which I have been doing), but I really want to get this thing OUT and get the root canal fixed to get rid of all this before it causes more health issues and/or spreads.
What are the odds of this infection spreading or me getting something secondary from the antibiotics? I know so many people who ended up getting sepsis and heart issues from dental abscesses that spread and are telling me to get it taken care of ASAP, but legit nobody will take me right now, and I am at a loss. Iv'e spent so many hours and days calling offices getting nowhere hoping to catch a cancellation. It doesn't help the people I know who dealt with dental abscesses spreading keep telling me how bad it can get quick, so they are CONSTANTLY reminding me of sepsis and signs of it spreading (jaw pain I have daily cause TMJ and i'm always dizzy/ nauseous with vertigo and digestive issues so IDK how i'd ever know if it was spreading honestly).
Has anyone also had to wait a month- month and a half to be seen with an infection? I'm trying not to think about it and work myself up, but it's been difficult to say the least. I really don't want to be on antibiotics for a month and a half and have to deal with this. I have shows I'm doing and booked for (i'm self employed) and so paranoid about the smell when talking with customers. It's so noticeable and smells like a decaying animal.
I'll take any advice I can get. Ways to help, minimize the taste/ smell, anything. I feel so defeated with all this going on.
Thank you!
About 3 weeks ago, I went to have my teeth cleaned and noticed some sensitivity on one of my gums that occurred when I ate a hard piece of chicken. My dentist took some xrays and said my tooth was a little cracked (upper left molar, way in back), and I could come back to get it fixed and get it crowned (it's an old root canal). 4 days later, I developed a pimple like bump on my gums and went back in immediately.
Come to find out, the tooth NEXT to my cracked tooth has a failed root canal and created a fistula, draining over the cracked tooth and from my gum. I was immediately put on antibiotics then made an appointment with the endodontist who did it.
Now at the Endodontists a week later, come to find out, the cracked tooth needs to come out ASAP and is moving while stuff is getting stuck inside the crack. They took 3D x-rays and said the infection looks like it is clearing, however they can see the area that is problematic. They will not touch the failed root canal because the cracked tooth will complicate things, I am told- so that needs to come out first. They said I need to schedule the extraction, then within 2 weeks come back to fix the failed root canal.
Now for the anxiety part. I cannot be seen for a MONTH for the extraction! Then I need to plan the infected root canal retreat 2 weeks from that, putting me at a month and a half out with this infection (mid november).
I called every oral surgeon I could find within 2 hours of me. There is a wait even for emergencies and I guess everyone is just being put on antibiotics in the meantime. My primary dentist put me on another round of antibiotics in the mean time after I told them the situation, but it's also messing up my stomach (despite me being on probiotics too) and now I am PARANOID about getting something like C. diff. They said we will re-evaluate again in the middle of the month once I run out of the 2nd round. My mouth tastes disgusting from this infection and the fistula. I can taste it draining despite my constant brushing/ flossing/ water picking/ salt water gargling etc.
I'm freaking out. I don't know what to do. I'm on a bunch of cancellation lists and was told to just keep calling (which I have been doing), but I really want to get this thing OUT and get the root canal fixed to get rid of all this before it causes more health issues and/or spreads.
What are the odds of this infection spreading or me getting something secondary from the antibiotics? I know so many people who ended up getting sepsis and heart issues from dental abscesses that spread and are telling me to get it taken care of ASAP, but legit nobody will take me right now, and I am at a loss. Iv'e spent so many hours and days calling offices getting nowhere hoping to catch a cancellation. It doesn't help the people I know who dealt with dental abscesses spreading keep telling me how bad it can get quick, so they are CONSTANTLY reminding me of sepsis and signs of it spreading (jaw pain I have daily cause TMJ and i'm always dizzy/ nauseous with vertigo and digestive issues so IDK how i'd ever know if it was spreading honestly).
Has anyone also had to wait a month- month and a half to be seen with an infection? I'm trying not to think about it and work myself up, but it's been difficult to say the least. I really don't want to be on antibiotics for a month and a half and have to deal with this. I have shows I'm doing and booked for (i'm self employed) and so paranoid about the smell when talking with customers. It's so noticeable and smells like a decaying animal.
I'll take any advice I can get. Ways to help, minimize the taste/ smell, anything. I feel so defeated with all this going on.
Thank you!