Abscess, root canal, antibiotics....?!
Question: Abscess, root canal, antibiotics!.!.!.!.!?
On Sat I developed an abscess on my lower bottom front tooth!. I didn't know till yesterday it was an abscess!. I didn't have any pain just swelling and pressure!. Now its feeling a bit more uncomfortable!. The doc put me on antibiotics to clear the infection and I started yesterday!. How long till the swelling goes down a little!? I have a consult appt Tues to decide when to do the root canal(he wanted to send me to a specialist, edodontist)!. And how long till they do it!? Will they do it right away or will I have to wait a couple weeks!? I've been taking ibproufen but its not really helping the uncomfortablness and throbbing!. I dont' know if it matters but, the teeth are not decayed at all (no signs) they are dead and he said it was most likely from a car accident I was in a number of years ago!. I don't know if that makes a difference!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Answers:
Unfortunetly, having a healthy, decay free mouth doesnt always mean things arent still capable of happening!. From what you explained, most probally the tooth experienced trauma, possibly from the accident!. The trauma has caused the nerve in that tooth to slowly die!.!.!.for some this can happen a few days after the trauma happens, in other cases it can take years (like in yours)!. Up until recently you've have no indication that that the nerve had died, which is typical!. That is until an infection develops, most commonly at the apex (tip of your tooths root)!. Basicallly all the dead tissue, and reminants from the dead nerve have no way of removing themselves from the canals of that tooth, eventually resulting in an abcess!. So this didnt happen overnight!.!.!.its been happening, only w/o any of the symptoms im sure your experiencing now!. The reason your general dentist is probally referring you to an endodontist, is because since the tooth is no longer vital, it can be more challenging of a root canal!. Endodontists have special microscopic instruments that allow them to better clean out the canals of that tooth!. Most endodontists are pretty accomodating, schedule wise!. They understand that most patients referred to them are in pain!. Make sure you keep taking the antibiotic, the entire course!. You'll notice that w/in a few days the tooth will feel better, not hurting anymore!.!.!.That DOES NOT mean you dont need to get it taken care of!. Trust me the infection will be back!. All to often patients think, it doesnt hurt anymore, Im all better!.!.!.then a few weeks later they are back in our office, swollen and in pain!. So please go forth with seeing the specialist!. Also to answer your question, in case you didnt already figure it out, the reason your experiencing the tenderness/pressure on your gum, opposed to the actual tooth, is because remember the abcess/infection is located at the apex of the root (the tip) which would be below the gum!. Good luck!Www@Answer-Health@Com
The antibiotic can reduce the symptoms significantly within 48-72 hours and usually it keeps getting better from there, so don't get overly confident and reschedule your appointment or anything as the infection can, and most likely will, return!. For the record try plain tylenol or Aleve as each person and pain is different and while motrin may work for somethings for you, it may not work well for this dental pain!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
You have gotten accurate advice!. The pain is from the pressure caused to surrounding by the accumulating puss in the abscess, which is most likely the result of the prior accident!. An endodontist is best qualified to do the work in a way to cause the least pain and risk to other healthy tissue nearby!. They will want the infection to reduce first, and will wisely choose to wait until there is minimal puss and swollen tissue surrounding the surgical site!.Www@Answer-Health@Com