Advice re dental abscess

[donna.hussey]

Hi ... I'm new here and looking for advice. I went to dentist with bad toothache, extreme sensitivity to cold at first, then hot too, then not even able to bite on that side. My dentist found a hole up where my gums had receeded (I'm 43 which may be relevant and my gums have been receeding quite badly for years). She gave me a temp filling and booked me in for 2½ weeks. Next day I was in even more pain and they gave me an appt the next day. She tapped my teeth, the tap on the second tooth almost sent me flying out of the chair. She diagnosed an abscess and drilled and poked but had trouble getting into the 3rd canal. She put some antiseptic in and another temp filling and has given me estimates for an extraction and a root canal filling for me to decide which I want.

Cost aside, I think I'd rather just get rid of the tooth (its right at the back on the top). Can anyone help me with the pros and cons.

Ta very much

Donna

[Toothsmith]

Not having seen you, it is impossible to give all the pros & cons, as it's all related to what else you have in your mouth, and the long term prognosis for them.

If everything else is pretty healthy though, and you're confident it won't affect how you chew (Which it won't if you have all your other teeth) then I'd probably agree with you.

Root filling teeth doesn't always fix the problem (Although, done well it can be pretty successfull) so if the tooth isn't absolutely vital removal often is the best option. Just because a tooth is out of sight though, doesn't make it unimportant.

[LuciferTDark]

Whatever you do don't just ignore it, I did & ended up in intensive care for 3 days with blood poisoning from a burst abscess.

[Toothsmith]

Whatever you do don't just ignore it, I did & ended up in intensive care for 3 days with blood poisoning from a burst abscess.

A good message for everyone!

[marybishop]

I've had real problems with my teeth too. A few years back I finally had a tooth removed (top but not right at the back) because the root filling hadn't cured the problem. Trouble is there is now a big gap which doesn't really cause problems and it's so much nicer to have got rid of the pain!

Problem now is that at the bottom on the other side I've had a root filling second tooth from the back last summer and the damn thing still hasn't settled down plus the one next to it (right at the back is also playing up - reacts to cold, jumps when I bite, etc, etc). Am desperate not to have the root filled one out because then I'll have another gap and don't want a root filling in the back tooth because they just never seem to solve the problem for me!

Having said all that(!) if the tooth is right at the back I would definitely have it out - I think it's more of a tricky decision if it's going to leave you with a gap between two teeth. That's just my humble opinion though so good luck with whatever you decide!! Aren't teeth a b***dy nuisance!

[rigsby1967]

Hi there
I have had about 6 abscesses under my teeth and have ALWAYS 1st been given antibiotics to get rid of the infection then when that goes i have always needed the tooth out.
I do know that with an abscess you always need anti-Bs before any treatment can be given, I would ask the dentist the best line of treatment for YOU.
Hope this helps
rigs

[Horace]

I feel sorry for you because I know what having an abscess is like. I once went to a dentist who fitted gold crowns - trouble is he didnt fit them properly leaving huge gaps. One thing led to another and I ended up with an abscess - I was at work at the time and one of the chaps with whom I worked made an appointment for me at his dentist (at the University where I worked). He came with me (because I am a scaredy cat) and on our way there the abscess gave way - ewww. I ended up having the tooth and gold crown removed. I have carried on using the University dentist and in that time I have had yet another abscess and tooth removed, a root canal treatment (which actually wasnt too bad). Plus last year I had a growth on my gum which he arranged to have removed in his surgery - the thing grew back and I was then sent to City Hospital to have it removed. Since then I haven't had to have any treatments because I take great care of my teeth.

I wouldn't swap my dentist for anyone and he knows that I am scared (I had a whole load of unnecessary and painful treatment in the 1980s from a dodgy dentist) so he plays music in his surgery as well as putting large photographs on the ceiling - there is one in particular of a grey-faced monkey and so I spend my time counting the grey hairs on its face whilst my dentist does his work:)

You should really be discussing the options with your dentist because he/she is the best qualified to advise.

[Pink_butterfly]

I guess it depends on what tooth it is. If its a front tooth (like one that is 'on show') then I guess having it removed would mean paying for a new one or living with a gap.

I have recently had a molar removed due to a massive painful abscess and its bliss!! It was out in 20 seconds and that was the end of that. Just wish i'd done it sooner and saved myself all the agony.

[donna.hussey]

Thanks for the advice everyone.

I forgot to say that she gave me antibiotics too, which have now settled the infection I guess because the pain has drastically reduced.

The tooth is not the furthest back (which I think is my wisdom tooth), but the next one. What I'm thinking is that if I have the root filling and its not successful, I'll end up with more pain and possibly end up having the tooth out anyway. So by having it out now, I could save myself pain and money.

I've not had any previous problems with my teeth aside from a few fillings, but I guess that's not to say this is only the start!!