Dentist referral for a lump

[Chlobo]

I have a broken tooth that has been bothering me for a few weeks. The last few days it’s been painful and yesterday while messing around I noticed a hard bump below the sore tooth at the very bottom of my gum. It’s hard, like bone. I went to the dentist today in a panic and she felt it and took an Xray. She said she couldn’t ‘see’ anything concerning from the Xray but would refer me and send the xray to whoever they send it too when they refer someone. She said I have an infection under that tooth and the lump may be from that or it could be a bone spur from a tooth I had removed earlier on this year that is next to the painful infected one.
Obviously I’m freaking out, I’ve given myself an upset tummy from panicking so much and I can’t stop thinking I have oral cancer.

[Chlobo]

The hospital called this morning and they want to see me, now I’m even more worried. I was hoping they would say it’s all okay and not to worry. But I guess they want to check it out. Pretty terrified about what their appointment is going to involve.

[BlueIris]

Thinking of you. This stuff is scary but it's almost certainly nothing.

[Chlobo]

Thinking of you. This stuff is scary but it's almost certainly nothing.

Thanks blue, I appreciate those words. I hope you’re doing better

[BlueIris]

On and off? Taking it one day at a time.

[Chlobo]

On and off? Taking it one day at a time.

Good days and bad days, I’m glad you’re having some days that are more positive.
I keep having the urge to feel my gum a million times a day but I’m trying to refrain. I’ve tried not to google and failed. Someone said to me they may need to do an MRI and now I’m feeling sick again.

[BlueIris]

It's okay, seriously. I had to have a CT scan a few weeks back, I was scared but the results were at least mostly positive.

[.Poppy.]

Do you know when your appointment will be? My guess is that it is an infection or abscess of some kind. But they will address it, whatever it is.

My dad had an abscess in his cheek because of a blocked/infected salivary gland. I got home for the weekend and he was calling the doctor, trying to make an appointment because he couldn't figure out why his cheek was swollen. I took one look and said it was probably an abscess (my cat had one, ha). He had to get some IV antibiotics, but all was well.

Best of luck and keep us posted. I agree with Blue, it's probably nothing, especially as you have a broken tooth involved. The most basic scenario is usually the correct one.

[Chlobo]

Do you know when your appointment will be? My guess is that it is an infection or abscess of some kind. But they will address it, whatever it is.

My dad had an abscess in his cheek because of a blocked/infected salivary gland. I got home for the weekend and he was calling the doctor, trying to make an appointment because he couldn't figure out why his cheek was swollen. I took one look and said it was probably an abscess (my cat had one, ha). He had to get some IV antibiotics, but all was well.

Best of luck and keep us posted. I agree with Blue, it's probably nothing, especially as you have a broken tooth involved. The most basic scenario is usually the correct one.

Thanks poppy, my appointment is next Friday at the hospital. I’m really struggling with the anxiety. I keep looking at it and touching it and feeling scared. The lump is in the lower part of my gums down where the roots of the tooth would be.
I definitely have an infection in that tooth but I don’t understand how an infection would cause a hard lump. The dentist remarked how it was hard which is also worrying me. The said nothing on the xray seemed out of sorts apart from the infection below that tooth but they obviously can’t see that deep into the mouth with an xray. I’m in a lot of pain in my gum today so I’m starting to just feel really anxious

[CatLady1]

I have had this! An old root canal treatment failed, and the tooth got reinfected a couple of years ago. It formed a small hard lump on the gum just above the tooth, the dentist took x-rays and said that was the infection trying to 'escape' the gum. I had a new root canal treatment (which isn't painful, just a bit annoying) and all is well. I still have the lump, it's just gum tissue.