I have an infected wisdom tooth. It has been bad for a while and the teeth around it are starting to get holes in them. Tonight I noticed I have pressure and a yellow streak leading up to my eye on the same side as the tooth. Now there is pressure behind my eye. I really can’t afford a dentist right now. Can I just visit the ER to get an antibiotic to treat this and then get to the dentist later when I can afford it? I’m starting to get concerned.

Brad L.

Dear Brad,

I want you to understand how serious this is. Your infection has already reached your eye. Your brain is not that far away and this can turn life threatening quickly. Believe it or not, people still die from tooth infections.

An antiobiotic will not solve your problem. What it can do is slow down the infection, but once you are out of the medication (and this is assuming they prescribe the right antibiotic for this particular infection to begin with) it will flare right back up and continue to spread.

The only way to deal with this is to have the tooth extracted…and soon. I would consider this a dental emergency.

Most dentists went into their field because they wanted to help people and make a difference. I would call around and see if there is a dentist who is willing to work with you on payments.

Whatever you do, take it seriously. The good news is a wisdom tooth does not have to be replaced. However, if you delay and the other teeth get so far decayed that they can’t be saved, you’ll also need a tooth replacement for them or your teeth will shift, throwing off your bite. This can lead to painful TMJ disorder.

Call around. There is bound to be a dentist in your area willing to help.

This blog is brought to you by Lafayette, LA Dentists Drs. Foreman and Thimmesch.