RX question envolving infection..

[FearOfTheUnknown]

Hello,
I need to get a failed root canal extracted, and have had very little to no pain(just a lot of quick sharp or somewhat tiny throbs) and unfortunatly due to my fear of our oral surgeon out here(my dentist referred me) it has kept me from going to get it done. I have had one course of amoxicillin which helped me put it off that much more of course, and have now come to the decision that I am going to get it pulled by my oral surgon who lives where I used to live(I am planning a trip there in less than a wk anyway). At least I know how she works and that she will be sympathetic and work with me. From what I read all over here, roots are easier to remove than a tooth itself...I have had 6 teeth all together removed over various points in my life, but all had somewhat of a crown attatched, hence my fear to get this one removed.
Anyway..my question is instead of getting one more round of amoxicillin or penecillin to try to ease the infection(to make numbing all that much easier) my mother was just diagnosed a antibiotic called cefuroxime and there 500mg...would this do the trick to rid infection? I know all antibiotics have there ways of working, but I have never been prescribed this before and am not sure if it will work the same as amoxicillin or penecillin. My mom can't take them cuz she claims they are "horse pills" and has a much smaller mouth than I...so I'm just trying to save some money here.
Thanks for your input...I hope the rx's over here are somewhat the same as there and you are able to anwser my question...
<33

[Gordon]

You must NOT grind up tablets without checking first, a lot of drugs, for example penicillin are totally destroyed by the acid in the stomach, so they are given a special protective coating to let them get into the small intestine intact. If you chop them or grind them up, you effectively remove the protection and will stop them working.

The consequences could be very serious if you get it wrong!

[FearOfTheUnknown]

Thank you for your concern about my mom,...it is just a minor cold, but I think the dr gave her a heavy duty antibiotic because she just underwent 4 rounds of chemo and has to now do radiation for a lump that was cancerous in her breast. She has a few other things she's gonna try to clear the cold up.
Ok...so no grinding. Got it. And possable side effects. Check....but my question still remains....will it be ok to clear a dental infection?
<33

[Zzzdentist]

I think that Pen V and amoxicillin are acid stable actually. I usually prescribe liquid penicillin V to kids.

http://cms.cerritos.edu/browse/brows...3&DID=20040235

Best to check with a pharmacist whether certain medications can be ground up for easier consumption I think.

[Gordon]

Sorry, back to your question, yep, it should be fine to clear up a dental infection.