Abscess after extraction
Posted , 10 users are following.
I have had a hard lump in my cheek(under skin above top teeth) which is not visible on gum ever since I had root canal 12 months ago, wasn't hurting but extremely irritating and my face would swell from time to time. Anyway I was told by my dentist the tooth was infected and I had it removed yesterday. My dentist told me removing the cause of the abscess(the tooth) would get rid of the abscess. Today I can still feel the lump in my cheek and it seems to be more swollen/ hard than usual. Any idea what is going on? Will it go down in time or should it of come out with the tooth? Thanks
0 likes, 14 replies
lily65668 natalie22106
Posted
It's normal to remove the tooth under antibiotic cover when there's an abscess. Did your dentist start you on antibiotics before the extraction? I think you need to go back to the dentist asap. If it gets any worse over the weekend it might be a good idea to go to A&E/ER as well - though only in a major hospital where they'd have a dentist on call.
Sounds to me as if you might have a legal case against who did the root canal too!
natalie22106 lily65668
Posted
lily65668 natalie22106
Posted
My understanding (as a former nurse and veteran of 2 dental abscesses myself) is that one should never extract a tooth without antibiotic cover in the presence of infection. Do you think it's possible that this wasn't an abscess at all? Though I have to say it certainly sounds like one.
I can only repeat that you need to go back to your dentist.
acc925 natalie22106
Posted
Did yoru dentist prescribe antibiotics? If not, perhaps you should request a prescription if the lump doesn't go away in the next day or two I'm not a dentist or a doctor, but that's what I would do.
acc925 natalie22106
Posted
I posted before reading responses. I see now that you weren't given antibiotics. It seems to me you should have. If there's was an infection, I don't see how just removing the tooth would made it go away. Was the dentist that removed your tooth the same dentist that performed the root canal?
natalie22106 acc925
Posted
No it was a different dentist. I left the previous surgery due to the fact they messed quite a bit up and left me with an almighty fear of the dentist. The dentist who extracted the tooth said the tooth was causing the infection and once it had gone the infection would go. It does seem odd to me too but I took her professional advice. My worry now is the hard lump is still there and I'm not sure if it will take a while to go or if the lump should of gone straight away?
With it now being a weekend I am tempted to go the local walk in centre and see if they will give me antibiotics
lily65668 natalie22106
Posted
I think that's a good idea Natalie, though I know walk-ins are often very reluctant to take any positive action. Worth a try though, if it's not too far away. I suspect you've had some bad luck with dentists. So have I - in two different countries - so I sympathise!
amkoffee natalie22106
Posted
Everybody keeps telling you to go to a dentist but I would not even mess with a dentist. It was a dentist that screwed this up in the first place. I would go to a maxillofacial dentist. They're qualified to do surgery should you need it. And this sounds like something not tooth related anymore.
betty1234 natalie22106
Posted
Did you ever figure out what the issue was, I hope so. I'm actually having the same problem.
natalie22106 betty1234
Posted
No! Although I decided I just didn't trust a dentist anymore and my doctor referred me to ent. Been to 1 appointment so far and had a camera up my nose, my sinus is swollen so been given steroid spray and I'm going back next month for them to investigate further. So fed up of it all now. I feel like I'm going mad because it's not obvious what it is. Hope you are ok and resolve things quicker than I am
lily65668 natalie22106
Posted
Natalie, In your place I'd be suspicious about that root canal. Incompetent dentists have been known to go straight through the root and into the maxillary sinus, which is potentially very serious. I hope you gave the ENT doctor your full dental history. He/she should know about the root canal - though they're very unlikely to admit if the dentist did mess up. I'm afraid professionals always close ranks when things go wrong.
But please stick with the ENT. You're in the right department now. I hope all goes well. Update us again if you'd like to.
geraldine_77641 natalie22106
Posted
I had the same thing happen after a root canal in an upper tooth several years ago. Following extraction of the tooth, the lump remained. I eventually had it removed by a maxillo-facial surgeon. It was apparently a cyst which can occur sometimes following infection of a root canal. I also did the rounds of Doctors, Dentists, ENT specialists trying to get to the bottom of it.
Ask for a referral (unfortunately, this may have to be done through a dentist). Hope this helps.
lisa89442 geraldine_77641
Posted
I have the same. How long did it take to get to the bottom of it? I’m starting to get abit worried about mine?
lisa89442 natalie22106
Posted
I’m in the same situation. I’m thinking of going back to the dentist tomorrow. Antibotics didn’t help. Any suggestions?
Lisa