Tooth Abscesses !!!!!
Question: Tooth Abscesses !!!!
Hello All,
I have just recently visited a new dentist for the first time, who as part of his checkup took x-rays!. I was shocked to discover that i have 4 severe tooth abscesses that have been there for up to four years! Having only visited my last dentist 7 months ago this was truly shocking! Now for the questions:
1!. How normal is it to have multiple abscesses with no pain or swelling!?
2!. Was it just bad dentistry on my others dentists part or can you not notice abscesses without an x-ray!?
3!. Can i go back to my old dentist and ask for compensation!?
4!. How likely is it for these abscesses to return!?
Thanks in advance for your help!. Www@Answer-Health@Com
I have just recently visited a new dentist for the first time, who as part of his checkup took x-rays!. I was shocked to discover that i have 4 severe tooth abscesses that have been there for up to four years! Having only visited my last dentist 7 months ago this was truly shocking! Now for the questions:
1!. How normal is it to have multiple abscesses with no pain or swelling!?
2!. Was it just bad dentistry on my others dentists part or can you not notice abscesses without an x-ray!?
3!. Can i go back to my old dentist and ask for compensation!?
4!. How likely is it for these abscesses to return!?
Thanks in advance for your help!. Www@Answer-Health@Com
Answers:
Hey!.
I've had three periapical abscesses treated in the last two months, so i've just had a bit of experience in the area!
Firstly, I hadn't been to a dentist in 9 years!. I had a huge, paranoid fear of the dentist!. I couldn't bare someone talking about a dentist, let alone walking past one on the way to school, until one morning two months ago, I woke up with a abnormaly large swelling on my left cheek!.
Things to note:
- Absolutley NO pain what so ever
- Swelling that increased within three days steadily
When three days had passed, the swelling was not going away, and it was clearly connected to a tooth- despite it being my cheek at this stage- the gums were swollen, leading to the facial tissue swelling up!.
There was still NO pain!
With a kind person at my bus-stop (someone that I see everyday on my bus) asked me wether or not I'd seen anyone about the swelling, she told me to go straight away- she'd had a similiar situation, and it needed urgent attention!.
I called the dentist at school during my lunch break as the swelling was then beginning to hinder my eating!
He told me to get to the xray centre straight away- speaking to the school office lady, allowing me to leave early and told me to come by and pick up a perscription for amoxycillin (500mg- cilamox - Antibiotics)!. Unfortunatley he couldn't see me that day, but made an emergency appointment for me the next day at 6!.30am! (way too early for me!. xD)
I had the xrays done and waited till the next day- and then hobbled off to the dentist at this stage the swelling had not increased, but stayed steady - due to the amoxycillin antibiotics!.
I had an immediate extraction and drainage of the abscess- and the xray showed that it had begun to eat away the bone in my jaw, as it was seriously advanced!.
After having checked all my teeth, he looked at the xrays, noting two other teeth that needed to be extracted due to abscesses!. He showed me the xray that day, and what the 'periapical' absecesses were, and hwo advanced the one I'd just had extracted had been!.
To me, the only abscess I could see was the first- main one- that gave me the swelling!. To my suprise the dentist nodded when I told him there'd been no pain what so ever, and it's not that uncommon to not have pain!. It usually depends on the severity of the abscess, some can be at the root of the tooth for years before ever showing any symptom (he guessed mine had been there for a few good years- and me, stupid enough to let it go all those years- despite not knowing I had one, had begun to eat away my jaw bone!. I was extremley lucky despite some of the jaw bone having been 'eaten' away, the rest of my jaw hadn't fractured)!.
What to look for on an x-ray:
My dentist showed me on the xray's where the abscesses were, and what they looked like!.
- The first (and most serious) was nothing more than a large black!.!.!. hole looking thing under the root of the tooth!. I could tell it was large as it extended from the root of the tooth to quite a large section of the jaw (as pointed out by the dentist)!.
- The second (less serious, but still needed to be extracted)!. To me, I couldn't tell in the slightest that I had an abscess there- but as he waited two weeks to extract the second tooth (as the first was rather large and hard to extract he gave me a 'break'), I happened to go away- on an orchestral tour, and was in the middle of the country for three days- and no where near a dentist, or with a medicare card!. The first day, when we were boarding the bus, I felt the slightest ache, which went away- four hours later I was in agony and my dental appointment was the day after I returned from the mini 'tour' of the country with my orchestra!. I tell you, I've never been in so much pain in my life!. I took painkillers, and on the second day when I had trouble playing, they took me to the nearest medical centre (which was an hours drive away) and I got perscription strength pain killers after having explained to the pharmacist and the doctor I ended up seeing to get the painkillers and that the dentist had said I'd had an abscess in the upper jaw on my first molar and it had been fine to leave two weeks until he could extract it simply!. I took these pain killers and to be honest it didn't do much!. I spent the rest of the tour at the back of the small halls we were playing in, and had ice on my jaw for the remainder two days of the tour!. I couldn't go home as it was too far to get my parents to come and collect me, so I had to wait it out!.
Third abscess: (third tooth- upper left first molar)
Once again, due to the extraction of the second tooth, and not being able to eat on that side, to make sure it healed- the dentist prefered to wait another two weeks for the third tooth to be extracted!.
Once again, no pain what so ever, no pain before I got it extracted- totally different to my second abscessed tooth!
Although I have three teeth missing now, and being molars they were rather helpful- I haven't had replacement 'fake' teeth put in, and I'm eating normally, and nothing seems to be a problem!
No one knows when an abscess is going to flare up from it's dormancy at the root of the tooth (quite often for years if you haven't had a check up every six months- or if a dentist had seen a 'small' abscess and not worried too much about it)!.
I would certainly seek to get those abscesses treated IMMEDIATLEY!
If my experience was anything to go by, you certainly will want it done!
If they're small abscesses which hasn't moved to the jaw (very, very seroius- can lead to other complications such as septicimia and Meningitis) and the tooth isn't heavily decayed, the will be able to remove the abscess by performing a root canal!. Root canals you 'usually' hear are painful experiences at the dentist!. Trust me, they're not! Me, to have been as afraid of a dentist as to not go to one for 9 years, and end up having three teeth extracted, three root canaled and filled and more treatment comming- a root canal or two won't be a problem! They're painless, and easy and quick! The chance of a abscess returning to the same tooth after root canal is slim to none!. Quite rare, but you have to be careful of your teeth, looking after them and going to see a dentist for check-ups every six months is the way to go!.
If they are more serious, such as mine- and have extended or a 'fitsula' has been created- (a passage way that has been created in the muscle, or bone! where the 'pus' and infection spreads to other areas)!.
or the tooth is already severley decayed- they will opt to extract the tooth/teeth!.
Simple procedure, does have mild mild soreness afterwards- and most people can handle it with over the counter painkillers such as paracetamol or ibprofen, but me personally- for all three extractions (all on seperate occasions) I only found I had to take one pain killer tablet (after the second extraction) and that was it!
There's plenty of aftercare instructions to follow, but they're quite simple, and presto! No more abscess! :D
As for getting compensation, I don't think you'll be able to gain compensation!. It could've been an oversight by the previous dentist, or he might've not worried about it too much- although ALL abscesses should be treated the moment they are spotted as to save patient from further complications wiht abscess, let alone the pain of having one (and yes, they CAN be incredibly painful as I found out on the second one) and they can swell and not cause you pain- everyone's different!.
If your old dentist chose to ignore till a time that it was 'big' enough to treat, that's a bad decision, or he was poorly qualified/ trained!.
Unless you take him to court, there's really not much chance of gaining compensation, but just be glad you have another dentist that knows what your problems are now, and can treat them readily and quickly!
Www@Answer-Health@Com
I've had three periapical abscesses treated in the last two months, so i've just had a bit of experience in the area!
Firstly, I hadn't been to a dentist in 9 years!. I had a huge, paranoid fear of the dentist!. I couldn't bare someone talking about a dentist, let alone walking past one on the way to school, until one morning two months ago, I woke up with a abnormaly large swelling on my left cheek!.
Things to note:
- Absolutley NO pain what so ever
- Swelling that increased within three days steadily
When three days had passed, the swelling was not going away, and it was clearly connected to a tooth- despite it being my cheek at this stage- the gums were swollen, leading to the facial tissue swelling up!.
There was still NO pain!
With a kind person at my bus-stop (someone that I see everyday on my bus) asked me wether or not I'd seen anyone about the swelling, she told me to go straight away- she'd had a similiar situation, and it needed urgent attention!.
I called the dentist at school during my lunch break as the swelling was then beginning to hinder my eating!
He told me to get to the xray centre straight away- speaking to the school office lady, allowing me to leave early and told me to come by and pick up a perscription for amoxycillin (500mg- cilamox - Antibiotics)!. Unfortunatley he couldn't see me that day, but made an emergency appointment for me the next day at 6!.30am! (way too early for me!. xD)
I had the xrays done and waited till the next day- and then hobbled off to the dentist at this stage the swelling had not increased, but stayed steady - due to the amoxycillin antibiotics!.
I had an immediate extraction and drainage of the abscess- and the xray showed that it had begun to eat away the bone in my jaw, as it was seriously advanced!.
After having checked all my teeth, he looked at the xrays, noting two other teeth that needed to be extracted due to abscesses!. He showed me the xray that day, and what the 'periapical' absecesses were, and hwo advanced the one I'd just had extracted had been!.
To me, the only abscess I could see was the first- main one- that gave me the swelling!. To my suprise the dentist nodded when I told him there'd been no pain what so ever, and it's not that uncommon to not have pain!. It usually depends on the severity of the abscess, some can be at the root of the tooth for years before ever showing any symptom (he guessed mine had been there for a few good years- and me, stupid enough to let it go all those years- despite not knowing I had one, had begun to eat away my jaw bone!. I was extremley lucky despite some of the jaw bone having been 'eaten' away, the rest of my jaw hadn't fractured)!.
What to look for on an x-ray:
My dentist showed me on the xray's where the abscesses were, and what they looked like!.
- The first (and most serious) was nothing more than a large black!.!.!. hole looking thing under the root of the tooth!. I could tell it was large as it extended from the root of the tooth to quite a large section of the jaw (as pointed out by the dentist)!.
- The second (less serious, but still needed to be extracted)!. To me, I couldn't tell in the slightest that I had an abscess there- but as he waited two weeks to extract the second tooth (as the first was rather large and hard to extract he gave me a 'break'), I happened to go away- on an orchestral tour, and was in the middle of the country for three days- and no where near a dentist, or with a medicare card!. The first day, when we were boarding the bus, I felt the slightest ache, which went away- four hours later I was in agony and my dental appointment was the day after I returned from the mini 'tour' of the country with my orchestra!. I tell you, I've never been in so much pain in my life!. I took painkillers, and on the second day when I had trouble playing, they took me to the nearest medical centre (which was an hours drive away) and I got perscription strength pain killers after having explained to the pharmacist and the doctor I ended up seeing to get the painkillers and that the dentist had said I'd had an abscess in the upper jaw on my first molar and it had been fine to leave two weeks until he could extract it simply!. I took these pain killers and to be honest it didn't do much!. I spent the rest of the tour at the back of the small halls we were playing in, and had ice on my jaw for the remainder two days of the tour!. I couldn't go home as it was too far to get my parents to come and collect me, so I had to wait it out!.
Third abscess: (third tooth- upper left first molar)
Once again, due to the extraction of the second tooth, and not being able to eat on that side, to make sure it healed- the dentist prefered to wait another two weeks for the third tooth to be extracted!.
Once again, no pain what so ever, no pain before I got it extracted- totally different to my second abscessed tooth!
Although I have three teeth missing now, and being molars they were rather helpful- I haven't had replacement 'fake' teeth put in, and I'm eating normally, and nothing seems to be a problem!
No one knows when an abscess is going to flare up from it's dormancy at the root of the tooth (quite often for years if you haven't had a check up every six months- or if a dentist had seen a 'small' abscess and not worried too much about it)!.
I would certainly seek to get those abscesses treated IMMEDIATLEY!
If my experience was anything to go by, you certainly will want it done!
If they're small abscesses which hasn't moved to the jaw (very, very seroius- can lead to other complications such as septicimia and Meningitis) and the tooth isn't heavily decayed, the will be able to remove the abscess by performing a root canal!. Root canals you 'usually' hear are painful experiences at the dentist!. Trust me, they're not! Me, to have been as afraid of a dentist as to not go to one for 9 years, and end up having three teeth extracted, three root canaled and filled and more treatment comming- a root canal or two won't be a problem! They're painless, and easy and quick! The chance of a abscess returning to the same tooth after root canal is slim to none!. Quite rare, but you have to be careful of your teeth, looking after them and going to see a dentist for check-ups every six months is the way to go!.
If they are more serious, such as mine- and have extended or a 'fitsula' has been created- (a passage way that has been created in the muscle, or bone! where the 'pus' and infection spreads to other areas)!.
or the tooth is already severley decayed- they will opt to extract the tooth/teeth!.
Simple procedure, does have mild mild soreness afterwards- and most people can handle it with over the counter painkillers such as paracetamol or ibprofen, but me personally- for all three extractions (all on seperate occasions) I only found I had to take one pain killer tablet (after the second extraction) and that was it!
There's plenty of aftercare instructions to follow, but they're quite simple, and presto! No more abscess! :D
As for getting compensation, I don't think you'll be able to gain compensation!. It could've been an oversight by the previous dentist, or he might've not worried about it too much- although ALL abscesses should be treated the moment they are spotted as to save patient from further complications wiht abscess, let alone the pain of having one (and yes, they CAN be incredibly painful as I found out on the second one) and they can swell and not cause you pain- everyone's different!.
If your old dentist chose to ignore till a time that it was 'big' enough to treat, that's a bad decision, or he was poorly qualified/ trained!.
Unless you take him to court, there's really not much chance of gaining compensation, but just be glad you have another dentist that knows what your problems are now, and can treat them readily and quickly!
Www@Answer-Health@Com
If you just seen a dentist 7 months ago, I would recommend a second opinion before you get the "abscesses worked on!. I have had two of them and they hurt like heck, nothing takes the pain away!. Sorry to say but some dentists like to take advantage of people, and root canals are very expensive!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Abscesses hurt bad, swell up!.!.!.you would definitely know if you have oneWww@Answer-Health@Com