Question about penicillin after root canals

[hiccupod]

So I had part 1 of a 2-part root canal last Thursday, during which time I was given a bottle of penicillin to take 1 pill 4x per day until I ran out.

Yesterday, I received part 2 of the root canal, and today, my penicillin will run out.

Is that okay? Do I need to ask for a refill? I don't want to get an infection, so it's a precautionary question, I guess. Just paranoid about dental stuff as usual.

 

[fullmoon]

I would just call the dentist and ask. That way you'll know for sure and can ease your worries.

 

[RP]

I'm not a dentist but 7 days worth of anitbiotic over the course of the treatment is probably plenty, especially since the dentist was "in the tooth" and didn't see a need to prescribe more and there's no symptoms like swelling and pain. If you have symptoms then I would call him/her.

There is such a thing as too much of a good thing. Overdoing antibiotics can result in a yeast infection elsewhere in your body and is why drug resistant infections exist. You can also develop an allergic reaction to them.

Ordering antibiotics for just in case, isn't recommended very much anymore.

rp

 

[Clem]

If part 1 was the part where the nerve was removed and replaced and part 2 was the cap or filling, you should be fine when the script ends. The main exposure to bacteria was in part 1, and you've had the drug in your system since then to kill anything roaming around. Part 2 shouldn't have done much to disturb the status quo. In any case, it takes a little time for the drug to be completely metabolized, so there will be some in your system for a little while.