Tooth abscess when pregnant

Mumof3tobe14

Hi I was wondering if anyone could help me please with some opinions.

Nearly 3 weeks ago I went to the emergency dentist on 9th november. I knew I had an abscess as I have had one before and it was a sunday so I couldnt be seen and I was prescribed amoxocillin 7 day course and was told to see my dentist when I have had my baby due 5 January.

So I took them finished the antibiotics pain eased then it came back last week Sunday night up all night nothing would touch the pain saw my dentist Monday.

He prescribed me 5 day course amoxicillin i had to speak to my doctor before taking them as he didn't want me have them because I had some less then a month ago and I am now 33+ weeks pregnant. I had the go ahead from my doctor and I have been taking them.

Now since Monday night maybe Tuesday my cheek has swollen and so has my neck slightly. Cheek is so sore and i get a throbbing pain that paracetamol takes the edge off.

I have nearly finished my antibiotics tomorrow will be my last day and there's no improvement at all in my cheek or the pain.

I did go back the dentist on Wednesday to see another dentist there who he wanted me be seen by and she offered to try numb it there and then but 50/50 chance it would numb because of the swelling. Now my concern was that if she numbed it and it didn't work and she messed with the tooth i may end up in more pain so we both agreed for me to carry on the antibiotics and see how i get on.

So I am still no further into getting any improvement with swelling or pain getting better to be honest.

So I was just wondering if anyone could help me hope its ok to ask this just until i can hopefully see the dentist tomorrow on the off chance she has some availability as they are open Saturdays but not for long.

Will heat help or make the swelling worse? As the receptionist advised me not to as it would make the swelling flare up even more but nhs helpline tonight advised me it would help.

I am going ask my dentist if i am able have the abscess drained to try ease the pain and have the tooth out soon as I have had my baby.

Treatment is only to have the tooth out she has advised which I do want but would like the anesthetic to work!!

Sorry for the long winded thread. I would rather give birth then have tooth abscess pain

annie_d

I recall 31 years ago when I was pregnant with my son having abscesses in my top 3 front teeth. Indescribable pain for so long until I had the abscesses drained and my teeth crowned. Neither heat nor cold worked for me...just the dentist wading in. Good luck x

Toothsmith

DO NOT EVER PUT ANYTHING WARM AGAINST A PAINFUL/INFECTED TOOTH!!!

I am really surprised the NHS 'helpline' advised this!!!

It just incubates the bacteria and makes everything much worse.

There is no problem with any dental work - emergency or routine - during pregnancy. Although most dentists would probably try and avoid x-rays on pregnant women, the truth is that the actual dosage of radiation you receive from a dental x-ray is about the same as a 4h flight in an aeroplane (In an aeroplane you are high up, so there is less atmosphere to filter out natural x-rays from the sun - so you get exposed to more x-rays in a plane, than on the ground) And who wouldn't go on an aeroplane just because they're pregnant?

There was a recommendation a while ago that pregnant women shouldn't have amalgam fillings placed, but this has largely fallen by the wayside now - as there is no real evidence to back it up.

So - in short, being pregnant shouldn't stop you having this problem treated properly. Abscesses can block anaesthetic though, so it is a good idea to get that settled first - but often you can still get into the tooth and get drainage quite comfortably - as an abscessed tooth is often dead as a doorpost anyway.

But once drained, then having it root filled, or out, as appropriate is perfectly possible before you have the baby.

coldstreamalways

The NHS "helpline" sent a patient to me on sunday because it hurt when she smoked and another one who wanted an "emergency denture".

100% useless, their triage algorithm is unbelievable and I continue to complain about it but there is no interest. Their advice is at best, useless and at worst, downright dangerous.

Toothsmith

coldstreamalways wrote: »

The NHS "helpline" sent a patient to me on sunday because it hurt when she smoked

That has really cheered me up! :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

bbright

My old housemate couldn't breathe one night, and we lived next to the hospital so she went to A&E, and they told her to ring the NHS helpline. Unbelievable!

I don't think they know what they want it to be sometimes.