Tag Archives: antibiotics for a tooth infection

Emergency Dentist

Dentist Can’f Find Why My Tooth Hurts

I go to my dentists every three months. This time, about two months after my last appointment, I started having a horrible toothache. I scheduled an urgent care appointment with my dentist. He said there was not any evidence of an infection on my last x-rays.  He also didn’t see any cracks in the filling that I have on the tooth which hurts. Because of that he doesn’t really think there is a problem. However,  as a precaution he prescribed me some penicillin and told me that if it stops hurting I won’t need to worry because there isn’t an infection.  Do you know if that will apply if the pain comes back after a while?

Gracie

Dear Gracie,

Woman holding her jaw in pain

 

I’m going to recommend that you find a different dentist. There are too many things wrong with the way your dentist handled this. Let’s start with him “diagnosing”. your problem.

He looked at your old x-rays and said he didn’t see any evidence of an infection. Well of course there wasn’t any evidence on your old x-ray. You didn’t have any pain then so there very likely wasn’t a problem.  What you needed at that point was an x-ray that shows the root tip which can tell you if there is any problem with the pulp.

Then, he just decided that because he didn’t see a crack on the filling that there wasn’t a problem.  That is one way to check for a problem. Here are others he should have checked before making a decision:

  • He should check for pain when tapping.
  • He should also do a hot/cold test.
  • He should try an  electrical test.

I’ve saved the worst for last. He said if the tooth started to feel better that you didn’t need to worry because there isn’t an infection. Well, I’ve got some news for you. The antibiotic would make it feel better because there is an infection and it is slowing it down a bit. Once your antibiotics run out, it will flare back up. This will quickly turn into a dental emergency.

I’d like you to find a different dentist. You can search for “best dentist” in your area, but be sure to check why people are calling them that. It could just be fast appointments.

This blog is brought to you by gentle dentists in Lafayette, LA Drs. Foreman and Thimmesch.
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Emergency Dentist

Antibiotics for Tooth Infection

I had a severe toothache and went to see a new dentist. My regular one closed permanently shortly after the quarantine started. He was close to retirement anyway. This dentist gave me an antibiotic that I was taking three times a day. My tooth started to get better, but now has gotten worse. What do I do now? I have never had this happen before.

Alice

Dear Alice,

Woman grabbing her jaw in pain needing an emergency dentist

I hope your new dentist didn’t think giving you an antibiotic was enough. He should have scheduled a follow-up appointment with you to have a root canal treatment. If he didn’t, that is a real problem.

An antibiotic is useful to hold off an infection until you are able to have the treatment you need. However, it does not heal the tooth. The only way to do that is for the dentist to get in there and physically remove the infected pulp.

If the tooth can be saved, you would do that with a root canal treatment and many times a dental crown will need to be placed as well. If the tooth can’t be saved, then you’d need a tooth extraction.

It is a bad sign that the infection started to get better and then progressed again. This is a dental emergency and needs to be seen right away.

If You Lose the Tooth

My guess is you will still be able to save the tooth. If, however, you get back in and it isn’t possible, then the tooth will have to be extracted to keep the infection from spreading. Dental infections can turn life-threatening.

When a tooth is extracted, it is important to replace it. If you don’t, the other teeth will shift and tip into the open space, which will throw off your bite. In some cases, it can lead to TMJ Disorder and daily jaw pain and migraines.

Hopefully, this dentist didn’t cost you a tooth.

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