N
nievovo
Junior member
- Joined
- Sep 3, 2025
- Messages
- 3
- Location
- Southern California
Hi there. I am extremely anxious about a particular development with my back molar crown, so if a dentist would be so kind as to offer any advice or insight into typical treatment, I'd greatly appreciate it. Please allow me to explain.
Firstly, I'm no stranger to dental procedures, but I thought I had put my years of compromised dental health behind me when I finally got two root canals + permanent crowns on my molars back in August 2024 (as well as all four wisdom teeth pulled). Recovery went decently, and I never had complications related to my crowns until December 2025.
It was normal for me to seldom have soreness in my tooth or gums, especially after waking up, but it didn't stay for long and always went away. I figured I ground my teeth in my sleep or something of the sort. However, on Christmas day, suddenly that soreness came and then developed into pain that stayed all day with intermittent relief. Biting down triggered it to return, but an ice pack helped soothe the throbbing. This continued the next day, but then on the following 27th, I bit down on bread and experienced pain that gradually ramped over the course of 30 minutes into something very severe. I hadn't felt pain like that since the first day of my complex dental surgery recovery in August 2024. Ice didn't do anything to help. I was brought to tears it hurt so bad. After intense throbbing for over an hour, I eventually was able to find minimal relief by applying numbing oral gel (eugenol) to my upper left gums.
For the next two days, I took ibuprofen around the clock, but I couldn't brush my teeth nor bite with that upper section and my gums were very sore to the touch. Within a week, the pain completely subsided in the tooth so that I could bite, brush, and eat normally again. However, if I pressed on my gums or even on my left cheek in general (including just below my eye), it would be sore and potentially painful if I pressed hard enough.
I also noticed that I had somewhat of a smooth and long lump starting to form in the crevice where the inside of my cheek met my upper gums. I could feel with my tongue that it was a slightly different texture and shape than the other side of my gums. Naively, I had hoped it wasn't serious and the problem would solve itself considering I didn't have pain anymore at random, nor when eating.
However, literally as of tonight (February 4th 2026), I discovered a new, more rounded, smaller growth near the edge of the original lump. After looking in the mirror, I realized it was a vague yellowish-white color and pimple-like i.e. definitely a gum boil filled with pus. I am aware that this likely means there's an abscess or infection in one of my teeth. But oddly enough, I have no pain in the area on its own, or even when putting slight pressure on the boil with my tongue. I can brush, floss, and eat just fine. I'm hoping this means my infection might not be too bad.
My question is: what is the typical protocol for something like this? Since I already had a root canal with a permanent crown installed, would a dentist begin assessing the problem by removing said crown and seeing if it's necessary to do another root canal? Or is it possible to treat this infection/abscess solely with antibiotics alone and draining the gum boil?
I am so sick and tired of getting intensive dental work done because of the crippling anxious meltdowns they give me, but if I can at least know what to expect out of a treatment plan, it would make me feel better. Also: are gum boils common? Can they be caused by non-severe infections? Has someone been successfully treated for it without having to get a root canal or extraction?
I'm trying not to spiral, but it's hard not to when I already don't have a lot of bandwidth to deal with this in the first place. Sorry for the word vomit. Thank you so much for reading, and I appreciate your feedback tremendously.
Firstly, I'm no stranger to dental procedures, but I thought I had put my years of compromised dental health behind me when I finally got two root canals + permanent crowns on my molars back in August 2024 (as well as all four wisdom teeth pulled). Recovery went decently, and I never had complications related to my crowns until December 2025.
It was normal for me to seldom have soreness in my tooth or gums, especially after waking up, but it didn't stay for long and always went away. I figured I ground my teeth in my sleep or something of the sort. However, on Christmas day, suddenly that soreness came and then developed into pain that stayed all day with intermittent relief. Biting down triggered it to return, but an ice pack helped soothe the throbbing. This continued the next day, but then on the following 27th, I bit down on bread and experienced pain that gradually ramped over the course of 30 minutes into something very severe. I hadn't felt pain like that since the first day of my complex dental surgery recovery in August 2024. Ice didn't do anything to help. I was brought to tears it hurt so bad. After intense throbbing for over an hour, I eventually was able to find minimal relief by applying numbing oral gel (eugenol) to my upper left gums.
For the next two days, I took ibuprofen around the clock, but I couldn't brush my teeth nor bite with that upper section and my gums were very sore to the touch. Within a week, the pain completely subsided in the tooth so that I could bite, brush, and eat normally again. However, if I pressed on my gums or even on my left cheek in general (including just below my eye), it would be sore and potentially painful if I pressed hard enough.
I also noticed that I had somewhat of a smooth and long lump starting to form in the crevice where the inside of my cheek met my upper gums. I could feel with my tongue that it was a slightly different texture and shape than the other side of my gums. Naively, I had hoped it wasn't serious and the problem would solve itself considering I didn't have pain anymore at random, nor when eating.
However, literally as of tonight (February 4th 2026), I discovered a new, more rounded, smaller growth near the edge of the original lump. After looking in the mirror, I realized it was a vague yellowish-white color and pimple-like i.e. definitely a gum boil filled with pus. I am aware that this likely means there's an abscess or infection in one of my teeth. But oddly enough, I have no pain in the area on its own, or even when putting slight pressure on the boil with my tongue. I can brush, floss, and eat just fine. I'm hoping this means my infection might not be too bad.
My question is: what is the typical protocol for something like this? Since I already had a root canal with a permanent crown installed, would a dentist begin assessing the problem by removing said crown and seeing if it's necessary to do another root canal? Or is it possible to treat this infection/abscess solely with antibiotics alone and draining the gum boil?
I am so sick and tired of getting intensive dental work done because of the crippling anxious meltdowns they give me, but if I can at least know what to expect out of a treatment plan, it would make me feel better. Also: are gum boils common? Can they be caused by non-severe infections? Has someone been successfully treated for it without having to get a root canal or extraction?
I'm trying not to spiral, but it's hard not to when I already don't have a lot of bandwidth to deal with this in the first place. Sorry for the word vomit. Thank you so much for reading, and I appreciate your feedback tremendously.
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