Do you think the infection has spread?

[Daffy1]

Hello, i was going to start root canal treatment on a tooth that had been causing me a great deal of pain for months. The Dentist said i had an infection so he will dress it and would see me in 2 weeks. I went back 2 weeks later and was told to come back in 4 weeks as it still had'nt settled down. The pain has got worse over the last few days so much so that i am taking really strong pain killers, clove oil etc. Do you think the infection has spread? Thank you, any advice would be great.


Thank you for your reply's No there has been no mention about antibiotics at all, I am going to make an appointment today.

 

[Pirate Silva]

Hello, 6 weeks ago i went to see my Dentist as he was going to start root canal treatment on a tooth that had been causing me a great deal of pain for months. He cleared away the old filling but had to stop as i could feel everything and started crying in pain. He said i had an infection so he will dress it and would see me in 2 weeks. I went back 2 weeks later and (still in pain) and was told to come back in 4 weeks as it still had'nt settled down. The pain has got worse over the last few days so much so that i am taking really strong pain killers, clove oil etc, the pain comes in waves and effects my jaw, ears, neck and shoulders all on my left side. My appointment is in a few days but i am going to ring in the morning as i feel it's getting worse. In the last 6 weeks, i have also been feeling really run down, with swollen glands, sore throughts etc. What i want to know is...has the infection spread as it clearly doesnt seem to be getting better and also ive been told the Dentist should have given me anti biotics weeks ago, is this right? Thank you, any advice would be great.

Hi There... Firstly, I am not a Dentist or Expert in these matters... but from my recent experiences with root canal work and a very nasty infection, I would say get an earlier appointment and tell your dentist about the increasing pain and ask him about antibiotics! Remember your Dentist is there to help and you are the "customer" so to speak.. Definately go back soon and discuss everything that is on your mind!

 

[brit]

Go to your medical doctor to get antibiotics if necessary....I'm no dentist either but am amazed you weren't given antibiotics originally..or at least the second time, so you've been suffering for 6 weeks???
Maybe look at changing your dentist as well unless you think they are very good despite this .

Also Gordon the main dentist on here says you should avoid oil of cloves. Is there anyway you could get your root canal done by an endodontist instead of your general dentist - given you appear to have been suffering unnecessarily for several weeks?

 

[Zzzdentist]

Yeah that is a little unusual, but maybe we don't know all the details about the problem so it's difficult to say for sure. On one hand it's wise to use antibiotics sparingly if possible, but if they are indicated, they should be used to help a situation that requires them.

Maybe the dentist felt in this situation that opening and draining the tooth (that's what I take the "dressing" part to be) should have been adequate, but in light of the persisting signs of infection, maybe they decided to try to open and drain the tooth once again without prescribing an antibiotic.

Different dentists have varying approaches, training and beliefs so although it might not be wrong to hold back on antibiotics, allowing a patient to have persisting or worsening pain for four more weeks without doing much more for them is unusual I would say. Usually you end up with an irate patient who is still in pain that ends up posting questions on some dental forum somewhere trying to find answers as to why they are waiting six weeks to get relief from their pain.