Help! Absessed tooth!

[irishbosoxfan]

I have had my back tooth removed on the right side and am looking at having the one on my left removed as well! I have a condition my dentist referred to as "pouching" it is where the gums pull down away from the teeth and while the condition itself isn't painful when the tooth starts to rot it can be extreme--The back right pretty much just fell apart with no pain just big chunks of the tooth would come off--The dentist was very surprised that I had had no pain when he examined me.

I agree with the warm compress and also the sucking on that area to help remove the pus--gross yes but remember it's going to be in your mouth anyway--As for something stronger,look thru your medicine chest or even give some family members a call--I know people in my family always have something handy!
You can also use the peroxide but please,please,please remember to DILUTE IT before you use it---You can also use a salt wash-just dump some table salt into a glass and add warm water and swish it around your mouth.

Plus I would call each and every dentist in the phone book to find one who will take you and if they all say no start right back at the beginning and call them all again--You should be able to wear someone down--Oh and it doesn't hurt to start crying while on the phone with them!

Good luck!

 

[kimmikayb]

This is my regular family dentist, I've used for about a year. I'm still not sure why he won't prescribe something stronger. I've called the 3 oral surgeons in the area. Monday is still the earliest I can get it. I guess the cracked tooth scares most regular dentist because it can fracture as it's being pulled.

My dentist told me I could go two ways, I could get the root canel or have it pulled. With a cracked tooth the RC usually doesn't help or helps for just a short time and then you get it pulled anyways.

The good news is I do feel a little better. I've taken the antibotic for 24 hours now. I've rinsed with diluted perioxide, used a warm compress and I've been on the ibuprofen/tylonol for 24 hours now. I took a short night sitting in the chair (upright).

You all really helped, seriously, thank you!

 

[sugarpie]

That is absolutely crazy that your dentist will not give you anything stronger than Ibuprofen!!! Ibuprofen is OTC. It should not be a problem to give you a narcotic - Tylenol with codeine or Vicodin. Especially since you've seen this dentist before.

When I had my absessed tooth I went to a new dentist, I had new dental insurance, and they took x-rays and immediately gave me a prescription for Vicodin. I would definitely find a new dentist if I were you. If they are not treating you for pain they are not treating you well.

I'm sure you'll feel a lot better in a few days when the antiobiotic has had a good chance to kick in. But I would totally call a new dentist in the morning if I were you.

 

[Liliyana]

Oh dear god, I could cry for you right now. I had an absessed tooth back in January- I'd had a root canal on it a year earlier, when I had insurance. This year, I don't have any, so had to get that baby pulled (much, much cheaper)... you wouldn't believe the euphoric bliss when it comes out And I agree, I'm shocked that you can't get vicodin or something similar! I can take a lot of pain (hell, I have a kidney infection right now) but that is just unbearable.

 

[rmom50]

This happened to me as well. My teeth are perfect and I cracked the lower one (molar) - don't know how - probably ice. So then I had them put an implant in - which is great by the way (expensive and pretty) , but he put it in too high and it cracked the tooth above it . When teeth are cracked, they generally have to be removed . Mine both became loose and there was no saving them . Kim...is this an upper or lower tooth? If it's a lower - consider an implant since your surrounding teeth are so good. With the upper they have to lift your sinus - ew - I haven't had that done yet. Still considering it though. Plus, the upper is twice the $ - argh.

Good luck with it all. It will definitely feel better to get it out. It is good to take the antibiotic before having it removed too.

 

[dbarker]

Some home remedies to try:

rinse w/ warm salt water (lots of salt) and vinegar. Vinegar is really good w/ killing germs and stuff.

Cloves. Pack the area w/ crushed cloves for tooth pain.

Rinse w/ peroxide.

Hot and cold compresses--alternating every so often.

When I cracked my tooth, my endodontist told me to take 3 Advil for the pain.

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

Interesting that some of you have teeth pulled for cracks! I have 4 crowns over 4 cracked teeth, 2 are molars (they grind the teeth down some, removing the crack) . I have had 2 root canals on 2 of them. Never heard of them being pulled! I wonder if this varies by region or dentist or something?? Maybe the type or depth of crack?? Perhaps I will ask my Dentist.

 

[mudnuri]

DD8 had a absessed tooth pulled last monday. Granted it was a baby tooth, but I had gone in on Friday- to make the appointment and he gave me a script for amoxicillian, and also a tylenol syrup with codeine. I was instructed to not give her the pain med, unless she complained of pain, and to be honest with you, 24 hours after starting the amox, she was feeling 90% better.

She had the tooth pulled in about 2 1/2 minutes, and the worst part for her was the needle for the novicaine to do it. She hates that tingling feeling as the med wears off.

I personally had an absessed molar way in the back that i let go and go and go...ended up in the Urgent Care center on a Friday afternoon- got a script for an antibiotic and Perk's and then got an appt on Monday for the pull. Ended up pulling it out on Sunday night myself LOL...

Go to an urgent care center, call your regular family doc, do something- keep taking the antibiotic and get some stronger pain meds!

Brandy

 

[Liliyana]

Interesting that some of you have teeth pulled for cracks! I have 4 crowns over 4 cracked teeth, 2 are molars (they grind the teeth down some, removing the crack) . I have had 2 root canals on 2 of them. Never heard of them being pulled! I wonder if this varies by region or dentist or something?? Maybe the type or depth of crack?? Perhaps I will ask my Dentist.

One big part of it is cost. A lot of people (me, for instance) don't have insurance, which would make a crown prohibitively expensive. According to a website I just looked at, one crown is $500-$900 and that's not with a root canal, which has to be done if it's absessed and costs around $400-$800. Yikes!! (If anyone's curious, when I had mine pulled this year, it was $100)

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Ended up pulling it out on Sunday night myself LOL...

OK, you just gotta tell us how you accomplished that, LOL.

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

One big part of it is cost. A lot of people (me, for instance) don't have insurance, which would make a crown prohibitively expensive. According to a website I just looked at, one crown is $500-$900 and that's not with a root canal, which has to be done if it's absessed and costs around $400-$800. Yikes!! (If anyone's curious, when I had mine pulled this year, it was $100)

That would make sense, I suppose. My dentist is good, but expensive. But I would not go anywhere else. He is quick too and no waiting around for anything. I got a crown last week for $875 and our dental insurance is NOT good, will probably only pay $250. But if you have a tooth pulled, surely something has to go in its place that cost $$ too. ?? But crowns do eventually have to be replaced I think. About every 15 years.

I have never known anyone to get a tooth pulled for a crack or absess, so this stumped me. I thought that is what crowns were for. I guess $$ is a reason! Thanks.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I'm sympathetic to dental expenses (believe me ) but sometimes not replacing a missing tooth "costs" more than replacing it in terms of overall dental health (because the rest of the teeth shift) and appearance. We've all seen people that don't smile because of their teeth. There's so much that can be done today!

Some dentists are still willing to work out payment plans for those who desire the work but can't afford to pay for it all at once. I will always be grateful to such a dentist who helped me out when I was a struggling college student. He saved teeth that others would have pulled, and many years later they're still going strong.

 

[Liliyana]

I'm sympathetic to dental expenses (believe me ) but sometimes not replacing a missing tooth "costs" more than replacing it in terms of overall dental health (because the rest of the teeth shift) and appearance.

Very true! I probably should have mentioned that both teeth I have had pulled, were the back bottom molars. I have a tiny mouth (before taking xrays, they thought these were my wisdom teeth!) and they barely fit. In my case, my mouth feels sooo much better without them! If I'd had this problem with a tooth near the front, or anything that showed, believe me I'd have gone for the canal/crown treatment.
Your dentist back-in-the-day sounds very cool. When I did have insurance a few years ago and had the first molar pulled, they said I had to pay everything upfront and my insurance would pay me back.

 

[kimmikayb]

DD8 had a absessed tooth pulled last monday. Granted it was a baby tooth, but I had gone in on Friday- to make the appointment and he gave me a script for amoxicillian, and also a tylenol syrup with codeine. I was instructed to not give her the pain med, unless she complained of pain, and to be honest with you, 24 hours after starting the amox, she was feeling 90% better.

She had the tooth pulled in about 2 1/2 minutes, and the worst part for her was the needle for the novicaine to do it. She hates that tingling feeling as the med wears off.

I personally had an absessed molar way in the back that i let go and go and go...ended up in the Urgent Care center on a Friday afternoon- got a script for an antibiotic and Perk's and then got an appt on Monday for the pull. Ended up pulling it out on Sunday night myself LOL...

Go to an urgent care center, call your regular family doc, do something- keep taking the antibiotic and get some stronger pain meds!

Brandy

Ok, I have to know...how did you pull your tooth yourself?? I had a flare up last night and would have loved to pull the dang thing out myself. But I can barely touch it without crying. Today it feels better but I think the infection must be going somewhere. The swelling and pain at the tooth have somewhat gone away but I feel so yucky. Really, Monday can't come soon enough.

For those of you who are still reading and have had your tooth/teeth pulled....what was it like afterwards? I know I'm being selfish but I'm in The Odd Couple and we open this weekend (reason why I'm putting it off) then we have to perform for the nursing home on Wednesday night and a full weekend the following weekend. If it's pulled on Monday will I be feeling ok by Wednesday? How in the world does that empty hole heal? I know I sound stupid, but like I said I've never had problems in my mouth!

 

[rmom50]

Oh Kim - I feel so sorry for you and I've been there to know the feeling. It comes out really fast and afterward it doesn't hurt at all. The pulling doesn't hurt cuz they numb you up. As I recall you cant chew there for a couple days till it heals. They will give you cotton to keep packed up on it for a couple of hours or so and be sure to do that. That is to force a clot to stop the bleeding, etc. It is really scary and you don't sound dumb asking questions at all. My teeth were perfect too and same thing happened. But you know what....they look gorgeous again with the implant. You could also have a bridge. Anyway, you will feel just fine once it's out of there. It can be life threatening to leave it in there without antibiotics - that's why people were alarmed. It would have been better to get it out sooner. Plus it would have saved you all of this worry. To recap: You will be able to get back to your normal activity right after it's out. Don't chew ice. Don't chew anything like chips over there for a while or you'll feel it. Good luck - it will be ok. I wish I lived there to hold your hand.

 

[irishbosoxfan]

I posted previously but you have new questions---I had my back right pulled last summer and it took longer to get from the waiting room to the chair than it did to pull the tooth---After I had cotten to put over the hole to keep the plug(blood clot)in place---No eating hard foods/sharp edges,think warm soup,jello,pudding etc----Nothing hot or cold---NO drinking from a straw and if I remember right I believe he also said no soda or fizzy type drinks

I was fine the next day,no swelling or soreness---But I couldn't stop from running my tongue over the big empty space left I find that that is habit now!!

 

[kimmikayb]

Ah, you guys have really made me feel better! And let me tell you, I feel terrible. I think it's taking it's toll on me. Thank you Rmom for your offer to hold my hand. That seriously touched my heart. I don't often have that kind of support and to come from someone who doesn't even know me.....let's just say my heart is really warmed this morning.

Ok, I will take your word for it that I will feel ok by Tuesday. I have to do a performance for the nursing home on Wednesday so that should be good.

I'm hoping there hasn't been any lasting damange because I waited. In my defense....my family dentist told me it wouldn't hurt to wait as long as there wasn't any pain. I've since found out he meant just a few weeks, not months.

Oh and just to show you what kind of baby I am when it comes to my teeth...they are putting me to sleep to pull it.

I'll update you all on Monday

 

[Evil Queen]

I had a tooth pulled, and unless I have surgery, there is still one pc. that's there. It flairs up from time to time.

Take warm tap water with salt and swish it around (sometimes you need to do this for a bit), hopefully the abcess will drain, just keep spitting it out and rinsing your mouth so not to cause more infection. I agree the pus pockets hurt worse, then without it.

I had it flair up hours before one of the hurricanes was suppose to hit, so while I still had power and hot water, I swished for what seemed like forever, but knew I'd be up the creek if I didn't get it to drain. After it did drain, I could concentrate more on the storm than the pain.

 

[kimmikayb]

Today the tooth came out. The oral surgeon took one look at the tooth and it had visably cracked and he said I could try the root canel but I'd be back in soon to have it pulled. He was surprised because there was no decay in it whatsoever.

I chose to be put to sleep for the procedure and I'm glad I did. However, I've been groggy since. I'm in quite a bit of pain now since the novicane wore off but THIS doctor gave me vicodin!

Here's a small funny....I am in the t shirt exchange on this board....I already had one t shirt but wanted another. My mom took me to my appointment today and I told her I wanted to go to this little state gift store afterwards if I felt up to it because I knew they had great shirts. She did. I have no memory of it. My DH got the package ready to send. It will be a surprise to me what the shirt is!!!

I just really wanted to thank you all who gave their advice, support and good thoughts. It did help, alot. Now I'm going to bed!

 

[Evil Queen]

Here's to feeling better and no being groggy!