Agonising pain (tooth)

LottieLou

I am in absolutely agonising pain with my tooth/gum. I am pretty sure this is a gum abcess. Firstly I have been to the dentist! I went on weds of last week. Was given amoxicillin, I presented with manageable pin and soft swelling to the cheek with a small hard in-tender bump to my upper gum. The problem is caused by a tooth I had heavily filled a few years back, it has never been right since and has always caused me random niggling throbs here & there.

I am due to go back to the dentist on Thursday of this week (2 days). Here lies my problem. I flew to Dublin for a few days break and am due to fly home tomorrow. Today, (on my last day of antibiotics) the pain has come back 10x worse than it was previously. My cheek has gone from normal to hard and swollen in the space of 12 hours & I am in agony. And by agony I mean agony....paracetamol, ibuprofen, zapain (30mg codeine) & bonjella later the pain hasn't eased in the slightest.

This worries me, for those with any experience of this or any dentists out there, is it safe for me to fly? I wouldn't know where to start with finding dental care in Dublin & I would be left here alone. I know the pain isn't going to go away until I am examined by my dentist and treatment has continued. But what on earth do I do!!!

cashewnut

I'm not an expert but in your position I'd be having a couple of pre-flight drinks then getting home to get my tooth sorted.

Maybe see what other people think though!

amersall

I would have thought the pressure would make it worse!.
I would take plenty of painkillers and suffer it tbh, you could go to a chemist and see if they have anything to put directly on the area to help.
Ora gel is good if you can get it, it numbs the area.

LottieLou

Thank you so much for the replies you two! I managed to sleep for a few hours and woke up looking like shrek on one side of my face. After going weak, panicking & ringing my mum (never too old) I am going to dose up & hope they let me through passport control. It does worry me that the swelling goes from the bottom of my cheek right up to my eye, so much that it is making my eye close slightly:eek::eek: should I be worried about this? (More so than I am already)

I have ruled out the dental hospital as there is no 'quick fix' to this & we leave for the airport in 3 hours. I have left a message with my dentist though to check flying is ok. Sending OH on a trip to the chemist too.

amersall

Hope the swelling goes down, poor you.
If customs stop you, tell them what it is, they may think you have been in a fight :rotfl: seriously, I hope you get home with no trouble and hope you have a good flight.
Keep us updated.

Toothsmith

From what you discribe, I really wouldn't advise flying until you have let a dentist at least have a look at it.

Spreading infection/swelling around the face is serious and you should seek proper medical advice.

I realise you're probably on the plane now though.

LottieLou

Thank you Toothsmith, I thought exactly that & I am treating it as serious especially as the swelling developed (and increased) so suddenly. I have spoken to my dentist twice this morning, he advised me to dose up and get home. The flight is only 1 hour max so maybe that is why he suggested this rather than a visit to the dental hospital.

I can't help but be anxious at the thought of cabin pressure, but I hope he is right in the advice he gave me. I'm heading straight to the dentist from the airport so will update later, fingers crossed it's an uneventful journey & I make it there before they go home!!

justme111

Cabin pressure is usually relevant when inflammation is contained in enclosed rigid space as the tooth is for example. Once it is out in soft tissues(swelling) it should be all right.

LottieLou

Thank you! Update:

The plane journey was ok. I sucked on ice and made myself a little ice pack to have on my cheek. They let me off first too (the plane was only half full if that) my pain actually improved (may have been the distraction of flying though) and I made it to see my dentist in time. For future advice if it happens to anyone else, he has said if it were a long haul flight his advice may be different, but being a short distance away it would be better to fly home. Xx

cashewnut

Hope you feel lots better soon! Thanks for the update