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Tooth abscess - any advice?

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joannainpain
joannainpain

I've got terrible toothache under a crown on an upper back molar ... wonderful kind dentist has drilled through crown and "cleaned it out" and put me on 1,500 mg amoxycillin per day for 7 days - going back next week, hopefully for root canal. My problem is, I expected to feel BETTER after yesterday;s "clean out" of roots and starting antibiotics but awake half the night last night in terrible pain and felt far too ill to go to work.  Pain is making me cry!  Taking Neurofen "migraine strength" ibuprofen & lysine and oddly, swilling with boiling hot salt water provides relief even though I can feel throbbing.  Has anyone been here?  Can anyone tell me what to expect?  I don't want to bother dentist if I dont have to as he's already been absolutely fantastic and I feel such a wimp ... but must try to get back to work.

0 likes, 9 replies

9 Replies

  • Cindy52
    Cindy52 joannainpain

    Posted

    Oh, I do sympathise and know the kind of pain you must be in. Unfortunately it may take a while for the pain to subside. If you ring the dental surgery and explain, they should be able to recommend/prescribe the right pain killers to deal with the pain while the antibiotics try to reduce any infection that may be the root cause (no pun intended) of the pain. I hope you get some relief soon.
    • joannainpain
      joannainpain Cindy52

      Posted

      Cindy52 it is so kind of you to read my desperate message and try to encourage me!  THANK YOU!!  I am going to try co-codamol today, just really worried and upset because I can't face work again with no sleep/food and  that's not going to go down well.  Am really hoping I get some relief/sleep today so that I can go back tomorrow.  Thank you again.  
  • Sinusprob
    Sinusprob joannainpain

    Posted

    Hi, sadly it'll be about 3 days before the antibiotics have an effect on the infection. Stick it out if you can. If no sign of getting better after 4 you should go back. If you have a splint try to wear it especially when you sleep so your top and bottom do not touch and irritate that area even more.
    • joannainpain
      joannainpain Sinusprob

      Posted

      Thankyou, sinusprob, have been really really worried cos no relief yet but today is day 3 so maybe end in sight?  Pain seems to be radiating down to LOWER jaw, hope to goodness I'm not starting abscess there too?  All was fine down there til all this started, so hopefully this is just an extension of the pain up above??  I can't believe all this started because I ate a Kettle Chip and broke my tooth.  They should  carry a health warning.  Just want pain to stop so I can (a) eat (b) sleep (c) talk and (d) cope with heavy cleaning work and children so that I can go back to work.  Thanks again for your advice, it is invaluable.
  • Sinusprob
    Sinusprob joannainpain

    Posted

    Hi again, did your dentist do x-rays to see what was going on?
    • joannainpain
      joannainpain Sinusprob

      Posted

      Yes he did x-ray before original crown and all was fine, also I had NO pain at that point - I had just broken a tooth eating a Kettle Chip!!!  So I've just been a bit unlucky if I've now got an infection.  Such is life!  I'm back at dentist next week (they said I could go sooner if pain doesn't stop, and whilst it hasn't stopped, still woke me up once last night, it IS a lot better and I'm able to go back to work today, so I'm going to stick it out and give penicillin a chance to do its job).  I'm sure x-rays will be done before any further treatment, he is a really good dentist.  Keep imagining x-ray will show biggest abcess ever eating me face cos that's what it felt like!!!  Felt like whole mouth on fire and horrible, nagging, ache on top AND bottom of jaw interspersed with awful stabbing pain and waves of agony.  Is that graphic enough do you think smile Thanks for letting me moan to you, I am guessing you know what this type of pain is since you are being so kind!  Thank you!!
  • Sinusprob
    Sinusprob joannainpain

    Posted

    i can relate, I have had only one cavity and had the filling replaced with the enamel and ended up having nerve pain for almost ten years. after root canal and having half dozen people look at it to see why the pain was not gone i had it pulled and had a bridge put in. i always think it's best to try and save tooth that's why i waited so long, so yes i know how you feel but if yours is an infection it's best to stick it out. i hope you're back to normal soon. keep me posted. by the way mine didn't take because when dentists convinced the public with the mercury scare they were not using the enamel properly and many people ended same as me. 
    • joannainpain
      joannainpain Sinusprob

      Posted

      Thank you Sinusprob, help comes from strange places when you least expect it and your support on this website has been SO appreciated.  Still getting a bit of pain which is a sign that all is not hunky dory, but at least back to work and able to get enough sleep (pain woke me once last night).  Am going to stock up on painkillers for weekend just in case.  I'm really worried cos penicillin finishes Sunday, am still getting pain, and am not back at dentist til Wednesday.  Will infection go mad again when I stop taking penicillin?  Don't want to go whining to dentist or tell him his job cos he really is a first rate dentist and I trust him implicitly.  I suppose if I'm still getting any pain at all Monday and have finished antibiotics I should probably let surgery know.  I'm sure the last thing my long-suffering dentist wants is for me to turn up in a state again next Wednesday!!!!  Bye for now and thanks for telling me your story and reassuring me that I'm not NECESSARILY on the road to 10 years of pain like poor you!  
    • Sinusprob
      Sinusprob joannainpain

      Posted

      So glad you're feeling better! Never worry about bothering your dentist if you need help, that's what they get paid for. Take care. 
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