How long can you leave an infection?

[kellyrosie88]

My crown root canal tooth is infected, i've been put on 2-3 lots of antibiotics the past few weeks and the last course finished over a week ago.

Each 5 day course has reduced the infection but it doesn't clear - my next appointment is 21st april for some fillings, can the infection be left that long?

Because it's on a crown tooth there is no pain but it's visibly swollen with a white dot.

 

[Molar_bear]

My crown root canal tooth is infected, i've been put on 2-3 lots of antibiotics the past few weeks and the last course finished over a week ago.

Each 5 day course has reduced the infection but it doesn't clear - my next appointment is 21st april for some fillings, can the infection be left that long?

Because it's on a crown tooth there is no pain but it's visibly swollen with a white dot.

Hi glade to here there is no pain. Can I ask from what point of view you wonder if I can be left that long, Like what is your fear or worry with it?

 

[kellyrosie88]

The infection spreading really, I can wait but when I research there’s horror stories

 

[MountainMama]

Not a dentist but I had an abscess for two years before it was discovered. Then I had the infection off and on (during rounds of antibiotics) for six months.
Dental infections rarely spread beyond the immediate tooth infected. The “horror stories” on the Internet are the exception, not the standard. Those people usually have other conditions, like compromised immune systems. Your immune system usually can handle keeping the infection in check, although it will not get rid of the infection.

 

[Molar_bear]

The infection spreading really, I can wait but when I research there’s horror stories

Hey that’s why I was asking really as I know there is a thread on here about that fear. I’ll have a look and see if I can find a link and add it. But I know it was very reassuring when I had an infection which honestly recurred for years before I went back to the dentist.

 

[Molar_bear]

Can infections from teeth spread to the body?

Had an abscess over a year now. Probably closer to two. Cause me no bother at all and I have one of those little gum books next to the tooth so I know it’s draining. I am terrified of getting this tooth removed as I went to have it removed when it first abscessed. The dentist injected it about...

www.dentalfearcentral.org

 

[Molar_bear]

Hey that’s why I was asking really as I know there is a thread on here about that fear. I’ll have a look and see if I can find a link and add it. But I know it was very reassuring when I had an infection which honestly recurred for years before I went back to the dentist.

Like @MountainMama said I believe it is very rare to spread or anything. And I would avoid google as you do see people post horror stories. I think @Gordon made a point once about have you seen a news story on issues from a tooth infection spreading in the media?

Hope this is somewhat reassuring to you. If it helps you feel less worried about it would you feel comfortable to contact your dentist and ask if you should bring it forward? I hope your appointment goes well on the 21st April. Good luck and keep us updated.

 

[Catie McBain]

I think that's what scared my friend was when she did research and saw all the horror stories on the internet. I'll admit I did the same thing, and for a while it scared me too. But I've spoken to one of the dentists here, and he told me that normally infections don't really spread at all.

The longest I've gone with an infection is two and a half months. The first two weeks I didn't even treat it or see a doctor because I thought it was just a toothache. Didn't even know it was infected. When my infection came back a fourth time, the doctor didn't even give me anything to treat it with, so I was kinda on my own at that point. That was about two months ago. And although I felt really sick and run down for a while, I eventually recovered.

I trust the professionals on this site. I believe they know more than any internet search engine can tell me, and they're much more accurate and believable. ?❤