Tooth abcess, face a bit swollen.
Discussion
Back story:
Tooth had a root canal years ago, apparently its failed now. Flared up last year, took anti biotics and was ok, until this week. (i opted to leave the tooth and chance it as i have had several removed already....)
Monday morning went to the dentist and she gave me metrodiazole and have taken them since, only today has the pain really subsided.
Late this afternoon my face around that tooth has started swelling a bit, not too much but certainly a bit puffy.
should i worry? i have had this before but my face swelled up very fast and very big, actually had a black eye from it, went a&e and was given iv antibiotics.
Bear in mind I'm on the 4th day of antibiotics. I also don't fancy sitting in a&e until 3am wasting their time.
Google seems to suggest i'll die, some of it says thats if your from a 3rd world country and don't get given antibiotics and can take quite some time.
Tooth had a root canal years ago, apparently its failed now. Flared up last year, took anti biotics and was ok, until this week. (i opted to leave the tooth and chance it as i have had several removed already....)
Monday morning went to the dentist and she gave me metrodiazole and have taken them since, only today has the pain really subsided.
Late this afternoon my face around that tooth has started swelling a bit, not too much but certainly a bit puffy.
should i worry? i have had this before but my face swelled up very fast and very big, actually had a black eye from it, went a&e and was given iv antibiotics.
Bear in mind I'm on the 4th day of antibiotics. I also don't fancy sitting in a&e until 3am wasting their time.
Google seems to suggest i'll die, some of it says thats if your from a 3rd world country and don't get given antibiotics and can take quite some time.
The only treatment is relief of pressure which can only be done in one of three ways.
1. Remove the tooth
2. Redo the root canal treatment (if possible)
3. Cut the gum (if possible) to vent out the pus
If it’s not a strategically inpostant tooth (front tooth or only biting tooth remaining) then have it out.
The long term chances of success are lower for redoing a failing root canal treatment and there are often good tooth replacement options (won’t be cheap though).
Bear in mind this advice is based on general principals and not specific to your mouth
1. Remove the tooth
2. Redo the root canal treatment (if possible)
3. Cut the gum (if possible) to vent out the pus
If it’s not a strategically inpostant tooth (front tooth or only biting tooth remaining) then have it out.
The long term chances of success are lower for redoing a failing root canal treatment and there are often good tooth replacement options (won’t be cheap though).
Bear in mind this advice is based on general principals and not specific to your mouth
m3jappa said:
Thanks driller.
Was hoping you would answer, do you think Its ok with some minor swelling?
I really really don't want to lose the tooth, its on the upper jaw at the rear and if it comes out ill have just one tooth at the back (on that side) and then my front teeth.
I understand your worry. The swelling could go down with the rest of the antibiotic or you may need the aforementioned pressure relief, hard to say without seeing you. In my experience, a root filled tooth which has had this kind of abscess on it, never behaves itself and gives repeated infection until removed. The difficult part is knowing when the next infection will be and whether to take the risk.Was hoping you would answer, do you think Its ok with some minor swelling?
I really really don't want to lose the tooth, its on the upper jaw at the rear and if it comes out ill have just one tooth at the back (on that side) and then my front teeth.
Thanks, i will call my dentist tomorrow morning and ask to at least have it drained. I suppose maybe even removed, I'm just reluctant to remove yet another ( i think I've lost 9 now inc the wisdom teeth).
Don't see how i can afford or even stomach the cost of implants
may have to try a denture. Quite depressing tbh.
Don't see how i can afford or even stomach the cost of implants
may have to try a denture. Quite depressing tbh.m3jappa said:
Thanks, i will call my dentist tomorrow morning and ask to at least have it drained. I suppose maybe even removed, I'm just reluctant to remove yet another ( i think I've lost 9 now inc the wisdom teeth).
Don't see how i can afford or even stomach the cost of implants may have to try a denture. Quite depressing tbh.
Yeah I know, implants are really expensivecand not everyone can afford them. As far as having the tooth out, it depends on how much you value your tranquility. If you're prepared to have another flare up then hang on to it for the moment, as I said it's impossible to know for sure when it will go off again. Don't see how i can afford or even stomach the cost of implants
may have to try a denture. Quite depressing tbh.I hope you understand there's a lot of presumption in what I just wrote as I haven't your tooth or any radiographs.
I'm not a dentist, so whatever Driller says overules what I say, but here's what happened to me.
I had a damaged tooth at the front (between front tooth and incisor) which was root filled on the NHS over ten years ago. Shortly after the root canal filling, I was having problems with swelling on the gum and pain. I went back to the dentist whilst the gum was actually swollen, and she told me to 'see if it settles down'.
Big mistake. It did indeed 'settle down' as far as I could tell, and would only swell up for a few days every year or so. However, unknown to me, a cyst developed over several years which then needed to be surgically removed (at the hospital) under GA. The cyst managed to kill 2 adjacent teeth further back, and then during the operation one of my front teeth 'died' as well, so I now have 4 teeth in a row that are dead and root filled, with that lovely black tinge.
I would definately sort it sooner rather than later.
PS. I had the original tooth root filled properly afterwards (at significant expense) and don't seem to have had any problems since the operation about 4 years ago. Perhaps Driller could tell me whether I'm likely to?
I had a damaged tooth at the front (between front tooth and incisor) which was root filled on the NHS over ten years ago. Shortly after the root canal filling, I was having problems with swelling on the gum and pain. I went back to the dentist whilst the gum was actually swollen, and she told me to 'see if it settles down'.
Big mistake. It did indeed 'settle down' as far as I could tell, and would only swell up for a few days every year or so. However, unknown to me, a cyst developed over several years which then needed to be surgically removed (at the hospital) under GA. The cyst managed to kill 2 adjacent teeth further back, and then during the operation one of my front teeth 'died' as well, so I now have 4 teeth in a row that are dead and root filled, with that lovely black tinge.
I would definately sort it sooner rather than later.
PS. I had the original tooth root filled properly afterwards (at significant expense) and don't seem to have had any problems since the operation about 4 years ago. Perhaps Driller could tell me whether I'm likely to?
^^^^ What a bloody nightmare!
Your post maybe of help to me as today i went to see another dentist, he said that i could have it re root treated, said theres about a 70% chance of success. However at quite a cost, he reckon about £800 and then a few hundred for the crown.
Would the nhs do that or is it a private specialist? ,right have to dig my dental insurance plan out and see whats covered.
More talk of implants as well, have booked a consultation with him. I think ill book with maybe 3 places for some different opinions of what i actually need and go from there.
Your post maybe of help to me as today i went to see another dentist, he said that i could have it re root treated, said theres about a 70% chance of success. However at quite a cost, he reckon about £800 and then a few hundred for the crown.
Would the nhs do that or is it a private specialist? ,right have to dig my dental insurance plan out and see whats covered.
More talk of implants as well, have booked a consultation with him. I think ill book with maybe 3 places for some different opinions of what i actually need and go from there.
Guys, this is why I said to think very carefully about things as you potentially have a situation where you spend time and money and then the tooth gets another abscess and all that was for nothing.
It’s very frustrating for everyone not being able to give the exact chance of success or failure.
It’s almost a problem that a correctly placed and maintained implant is so successful if you see what I mean.
It’s very frustrating for everyone not being able to give the exact chance of success or failure.
It’s almost a problem that a correctly placed and maintained implant is so successful if you see what I mean.
witko999 said:
However, unknown to me, a cyst developed over several years which then needed to be surgically removed (at the hospital) under GA. The cyst managed to kill 2 adjacent teeth further back, and then during the operation one of my front teeth 'died' as well, so I now have 4 teeth in a row that are dead and root filled, with that lovely black tinge.
Did the cyst not show up on any x-rays during routine check ups etc? Sounds awful - I have a root canaled tooth that flared up over xmas for a few days - its the 'not knowing' when it might happen next that annoys me the most.mattknight1984 said:
witko999 said:
However, unknown to me, a cyst developed over several years which then needed to be surgically removed (at the hospital) under GA. The cyst managed to kill 2 adjacent teeth further back, and then during the operation one of my front teeth 'died' as well, so I now have 4 teeth in a row that are dead and root filled, with that lovely black tinge.
Did the cyst not show up on any x-rays during routine check ups etc? Sounds awful - I have a root canaled tooth that flared up over xmas for a few days - its the 'not knowing' when it might happen next that annoys me the most.I went private after that and have since been much happier with the quality of service, although it is obviously more costly.
Sounds like a combo of a bad root-canal job (not deep-cleaned or sealed properly) and a patient with underlying health issues.
Losing almost half your teeth (in this day and age) is a major health issue that will be damaging your heart and brain and shortening your lifespan. Bad bacteria from the mouth flood the arteries of your body. Your jawbones will be shrinking and weakening and making all the other teeth and gums more vulnerable in the future.
You need to get the root-canal fixed and 100% cleaned (preferably at a better dentist) as a matter of urgency and then get (preferably zirconia) implants immediately in all the missing ~9 teeth to stop the jawbone shrinking and restore some facial structure and chewing strength.
Get a loan or second job or sell your car or house if you need to. Nothing matters more than your health.
Losing almost half your teeth (in this day and age) is a major health issue that will be damaging your heart and brain and shortening your lifespan. Bad bacteria from the mouth flood the arteries of your body. Your jawbones will be shrinking and weakening and making all the other teeth and gums more vulnerable in the future.
You need to get the root-canal fixed and 100% cleaned (preferably at a better dentist) as a matter of urgency and then get (preferably zirconia) implants immediately in all the missing ~9 teeth to stop the jawbone shrinking and restore some facial structure and chewing strength.
Get a loan or second job or sell your car or house if you need to. Nothing matters more than your health.
cringle said:
Yipper. What is your occupation? Please do not dodge the question as per usual
He dodged it...I thought the following might be of interest. I saw a patient this week who had a root canal done 5 years ago (by another dentist) and had been getting recurrent episodes of pain on biting. I took a radiograph:
You can see around the root on the left there is a darker area around the end of the root on the left caused by the presence of bacteria. The root filling in this root is rather defuse as well.
I cut the crown off, cut out the post-core (the French love putting these in every root treated tooth
), removed the old root filling, prepared the canals and put another root filling in. The little puffs of disinfectant root canal paste showed that they were cleaned/disinfected right to the ends:
Because I got to to the ends of all the roots (especially the infected one) this may well solve the problem but we'll still have to wait and see and it may still need removing and replacing.
Thanks Cringle, as luck would have it this was one of those that turned out ok but as you know time will tell!
I did have a probe about (NAD) and looked several times at that suspicious hairline and slight resorption in the inter proximal area and offered Class IV Ti services but she absolutely wanted to try a retreatment
I did have a probe about (NAD) and looked several times at that suspicious hairline and slight resorption in the inter proximal area and offered Class IV Ti services but she absolutely wanted to try a retreatment
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