My daughter has a fever and thought it might have to do with a tooth that was bothering her. I asked her pediatric dentist if we could come in for an urgent appointment and he told me he would schedule a regular one, which would take two weeks, but that a dental infection does not cause a fever. I’m confused by that. Am I misunderstanding something?

Lisa

Dear Lisa,

Raising children is hard, isn’t it? We worry about them all the time.

I wonder if there was some miscommunication here. Of course a dental infection can cause a fever. Any infection can cause a fever. Maybe he meant to say that it does not always cause a fever.

If your daughter is in pain, then I think she needs to be seen sooner. I would find a pediatric dentist who would be willing to schedule an emergency appointment.

If she is not in pain, then you are safe to wait for the appointment your dentist is offering.

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