Possible Abcess

[mexx]

Hi,
On Friday in the middle of the night I awoke with a horrible throbbing pain in my mouth. I could sleep. Paracetamol didn't seem to touch it.
It is a bottom tooth - next to the middle one.
Awful timing - dentist closed at weekend and then 2 bank Holidays so. Can't get in till Wednesday at earliest. What makes it worse is I go on my honeymoon on Thursday. I went to the chemist yesterday. They gave me nuromol (ibuprofen and paracetamol) and a stronger ibuprofen and codeine. Not getting rid of all the pain. Still huts like hell.
My chin is swollen hard and sore under the tooth. Tooth itself hurts to touch - cant bite / chew. Face hurts if I I've it, smile, talk, laugh. Is it an abcess,?! What can I do to help the pain?! Will the dentist be able to fix it on Wednesday or is It too big of a job?
Please help me. Give advice. Tell me what to expect. I'm scared. And even more so cos I would hate my teeth to ruin my honeymoon

Thank you

Me xx

 

[drhirst]

Hi,

It really does sound like you may have an abscess.

Your dentist should have the contact details for the local emergency dentist. Try to get seen tomorrow. Antibiotics will help as an emergency measure although it is far better to get some treatment on the tooth. Doctors and A&E departments hate being asked for antibiotics for dental problems, however, as a honeymoon is involved .. it would be churlish of them to refuse!

Hope this helps a little

Lincoln

 

[mexx]

Thank you.
Woke up in agony today and face very swollen so was really brave and made it to emergency dentist. All be it I was shaking! I got seen first and yes it is an abcess.
Just got some tablets - amoxicillin. For 7 days. How quickly should I see an improvement as currently very little movement in my chin. I'm unable to smile. Honeymoon at 7am Thursday morning so not long. Hope my tooth doesn't ruin it. Do the tablets make the pus in the abcess dry up or force it to find a way out of the body?
Thank you.
Worrying as I don't know what to exPect now :/
Thank you

X

 

[drhirst]

Well done to summoning up the courage to go see the emergency dentist. Antibiotics take about 48 hours to have an effect. With any luck they will get rid of the swelling before you go.
However, to be sure that it goes and does not return and ruin your honeymoon you really need to see a dentist to have some of the infected material removed from the tooth. This should take about half and hour to do and be a painless procedure.
Sometimes the swelling is just due to inflammation and sometimes it is due to an accumulation of pus. If it is due to an accumulation of pus then the pus will eventually drain through your gum. Your dentist can do a minor procedure to encourage this to happen.
If you feel you cannot face this procedure then your dentist may be prepared to prescribe a spare course of antibiotics for you to take with you in case the infection returns while you are away. However, not all dentists would be prepared to do this.
Hope this helps

Lincoln