tooth abscess

[TaraPA]

Anyone here have any experience with this? I think DS11 has one. He had 2 cavities filled last week and the one started bothering him on Wednesday night. By last night he was crying in pain, so this morning I called the dentist. He said it might be an infection, so he called in an antibiotic (which he started at 4pm this afternoon). He has been crying in pain for the last 3 hours, and now there is a white bump on the side of his gums, by one of the teeth that was filled last week.

I know he's in terrible pain, I've never seen him act like this before. He has a high tolerance, he's has had 3 broken arms, he had both cavities filled without novacaine, so he's a trooper. He's had max doses of Tylenol and ibuprofen, I can't give him any more. He says the Anbesol isn't doing anything either. Does this warrant a trip to the ER tonight, or can I wait & call the dentist in the morning?

 

[tiggger1]

I would call the dentist and ask them what to do. I know my doctor has an emergency number...

 

[bgirl29]

Yes the dentist should be able to see you on an emergency basis. Did the dentist have you make an appointment when you called this morning? That seems strange to me that he would just give you an anitbiotic without being seen, if not before then within the next day or so.

 

[Rebelmom67]

Call the dentist NOW. It is an abscess and he should be put on doxycycline right now.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I would seek medical attention asap.

 

[Feralpeg]

That bump on his gum means that the abscess is channeling. It will probably break open and drain. While not pleasant, he will feel better once the pressure is gone. Since the dentist already put him on an antibiotic, it will take some time before the infection clears up.

 

[LindaG4458]

I would call the dentist, explain the situation, and see if you can get something stronger for the pain until tomorrow morning.

From several past experiences it sounds like an abcess. The pain will diminish as soon as the dentist opens the tooth and relieves the pressure. It throbbed like you wouldn't believe! I had to have antibiotics to treat the infection. Then, in one case, I had a filling, in another I had a root canal and a crown, and the third I had an extraction. None were fun.

Good luck to your son. My teeth are aching in sympathy.

 

[Rebelmom67]

Sorry, I didn't see that he is already on antibiotics. Feralpeg is right, it is going to come to a "head" and drain now, it is going to be painful. I would put ice on it for as long as he can stand.

 

[TaraPA]

Thanks for the info everyone! I called the dentist's service, and the dentist called me back. He asked some questions & asked if he was able to rest comfortably - and here DS11 fell asleep when I went to ask him the questions! I had him rest his cheek on the heating pad turned on low around 8:30 & that must have done the trick. I hated to do it but I woke him up to take his penicillan & he said it still hurt but he was tired & wanted to sleep. The dentist didn't seem overly concerned. He said as long as he can sleep just to bring him in tomorrow morning, or if anything changes or he's in too much pain to sleep, go to the ER. He said if it is an abcess it may rupture on it's own overnight which will releive the pain. UGH!

Of course DH is out of town so I wil have to drag DS8 to the ER if we go during the night. With 3 broken arms & lots of stitches though, at least it's familiar territory.

 

[KATHINOWA]

My 11 year old DS has had a few abscesses in his lifetime. Most of the time he's not in any pain we just notice the swelling. You could have him rinse with warm salt water. That usually helps. That might even help the abscess open up and drain.

 

[MoniqueU]

My DH has had more abcesses then I can count. They always put him on antibiotics, tylenol 3 and then would see him a few days later to give a chance for the swelling an infection to go away.

 

[Sheree Bobbins]

Thanks for keeping us up-to-date. I was worried about your son but you seem to have things under control for now. I was wondering how he would sleep but that's not a problem. Sorry this has to happen. Hope you don't have to go to emerg. but you'll do what you have to do.

 

[minnie56]

I had an abscess in a tooth I had not long had crowned and also had a root canal on about 6 weeks ago. I forgot how agonizing that pain is! God love him...it hurts a lot. Once the Dentist freezes it and does what he must he will feel such relief.

 

[idyll]

Eouch! Pooor kid.

I too have a tooth that's bothering me that I need to get fixed asap. I am so afraid of dentists though. The pain seems almost plausible to put up with, but I'm sure once the dentist does their work I'll feel such a big relief.

 

[TaraPA]

He seems much better this morning, thanks for all the well wishes! He slept through the night & woke me up at 6am to ask for more ibuprofen. He said it still really hurts but not the terrible pain like yesterday. He's trying to eat some Cheerios so he has something in his stomach to take the meds with. I'm keeping him home from school today. The white bump looks smaller & he says it feels smooth now, not squishy like last night, so I'm wondering if maybe it drained a little during the night? His fever is gone as well. I'll call the dentist when they open at 9 but at this point I think the worst is over. Hopefuly a day of rest & penicilin will be all he needs!

 

[TaraPA]

Just an update - the dentist got us in to an oral surgeon yesterday afternoon, it is an abscess & ihe tooth needs to be extracted. Then they'll build a spacer until his permanent molar comes in. Cha-ching! The earliest they can get him in for oral surgery is May 27th - yikes! They did give him Tylenol with Codeine, and the penicillin has kicked in & he's much more comfortable now. We've been alternating the Tylenol w/cod with ibuprofen & that's doing the trick.

Thanks for all the info!

 

[C.Ann]

Just an update - the dentist got us in to an oral surgeon yesterday afternoon, it is an abscess & ihe tooth needs to be extracted. Then they'll build a spacer until his permanent molar comes in. Cha-ching! The earliest they can get him in for oral surgery is May 27th - yikes! They did give him Tylenol with Codeine, and the penicillin has kicked in & he's much more comfortable now. We've been alternating the Tylenol w/cod with ibuprofen & that's doing the trick.

Thanks for all the info!

--------------------
Glad to hear he's doing better - and glad they gave him something stronger for the pain..

DD's DH had something similar happen.. Got a wicked toothache in work on a Friday afternoon and came home from work at 3:30.. (He never, ever leaves work early - unless it's an emergency or some kind of school event for their DD..) He was in so much pain - and of course his dentist just happened to be out of town and the "covering" dentist had already closed for the day.. We searched the phone book frantically and finally found a dentist we could get him to before they closed.. They put him on an antibiotic and gave him Vicodin for the pain.. Because of the infection, he too had to wait until it cleared up before the tooth could be pulled - so the length of time your son has to wait isn't unreasonable - it's a matter of safety.. Between the antibiotic and the Vicodin, he was fine - but we were really sweating that one out - trying to find a dentist on a Friday - a half hour to an hour before they all closed!!

 

[kirbsam]

for what it is worth. dont bother bringing him to er for a tooth ache. they will just medicate and tell you to see a dentist. so you will be no better off.

 

[DisnyMama]

for what it is worth. dont bother bringing him to er for a tooth ache. they will just medicate and tell you to see a dentist. so you will be no better off.

I second this. I went to the ER about a year ago for just this and the doctor was only able to give me shots of something to numb the area-and since he wasn't trained in dentistry they were the most painful shots in my gums I have ever received. My gums hurt for over a month after and more trauma inside my gum was caused. Plus he said he could loose his license if he touched teeth so don't bother going to the ER.

 

[TaraPA]

That's good to know about not going to the ER, I was thinking of taking him during the night on Thursday if it got worse. I never even thought about them not touching teeth!