Im 21 years old and I was at the dentist a while back and he said he wanted to do a "removal of impacted tooth-complete bony" whatever that means on all 4 3rd molars, but i decided not to since none of them were bothering me. Well for about the last 2 weeks it has felt like i have had an ear infection, my throat hurts, the whole right ride of my neck and jaw hurt, and i have had migrane type headaches. Then the inside of my mouth started hurting and when i looked in the mirror all there was where my lower right wisdom tooth is was a whole and my cheek is swollen. Now i cant lay down (much less sleep), or even open my mouth wide enough to drink from a straw or eat. Everyone I talk to seems to think its just from the "teething" process, and my dentist is on vacation for a month so i cant ask him (living in such a small place there isnt another one close to here either). Does anyone have any suggestions on if it really is just the tooth coming in, or is it something more serious????
2006-08-30 21:50:32 · 12 answers · asked by david 1 in Health ➔ Dental
I'm a dentist.
Absolutely, I have some suggestions.
In the future, listen to your doctor when he recommends treatment for you. We busted our horns through four years of hell known as "dental school" so that we could make sound treatment calls for you, our patients. We know what we're talking about. Let this be a good lesson for you.
At this point, it is unlikely that the tooth is coming in. Possible, but unlikely. What you're describing, regardless, sounds like an infection that needs treatment.
An inability to open your mouth can be caused by two things. Severe soreness, preventing you from opening. We call this "guarding". If, however, you are physically unable to open your mouth (no matter how hard you try), this is known as "trismus", and often indicates an infection that is spreading posteriorly, causing inflammation and swelling of and around the masticator muscles. Trismus is serious business, because it means that the infection is on its way to spreading back even further, i.e. towards your pharynx where it can potentially constrict your airway and kill you by asphyxiation. If it doesn't kill you that way, it can spread yet further down to your thorax, i.e. into your mediastinum, where antibiotic therapy is less successful. Of course, at any point, you could become septic and it could kill you that way too.
Are these likely scenarios? Who knows. They've certainly happened to people before, so if I were you, I'd march to the ER. If you're lucky, they'll have an oral and maxillofacial surgeon (i.e. a dentist with a D.D.S. or D.M.D. degree--and possibly an M.D. degree in addition to their dental degree--who specializes in oral surgery). Depending on the extent of your swelling and likelihood of airway compromise, you may be admitted to the hospital and taken to the OR where you will be intubated for the surgery where the surgeon will drain your infection. After that, it is possible that they may keep you intubated for a day or so post-operatively.....but your infection doesn't sound that severe....yet. It's possible that all you need are antibiotics and a trip back to your dentist in a few days to get the tooth removed. I haven't seen you, so I cannot say for sure.
The odd thing about these infections is that they can jump from bad to life-threatening within several hours, so I'd head to the hospital tonight.
2006-08-30 22:12:12 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
"where my lower right wisdom tooth is was a whole "
I am assuming you meant "hole"; in which case that means one of your wisdom teeth is ABSCESSED ! If your dentist is gone for a month; you are in serious trouble ! You MUST find a dentist ASAP; or at the very least; go to a regular doctor to get the appropriate antibiotics for the infection. NOW !
Your dentist couldn't even extract this tooth when there is infection....it has to be cleared up first.
The reason for that is; it is such a short route from an infected tooth to the BRAIN !! And you don't want ANYbody jarring that tooth, and disturbing the pocket of infection, as that would spill it over into your bloodstream.
Go to your regular doctor or the Emergency Room ASAP...like tonight or in the morning....you CAN NOT let this go.....it's not just a matter of---you not being able to eat...but of that infection spreading throughout your entire body.
2006-08-30 22:06:26 · answer #2 · answered by madamspinner2 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Go to another dentist.This is a major medical problem.Not having this treated ASAPcan have deviastating effects on nervse ,muscles and even damage to other teeth ,absesses, and can cause you to even get an infecton in your bloodstream.Iended up losing nine teeth for not having mine removed when advised to do so.I know exactly what your going thru and it will get much worse the longer you wait.If the tooth has been removed already it could be a dry socket and that will require treatment immediately by any dentist you can find .Try something like Oragel,there are also other products on the market you could try til you get to the doctor.
2006-08-30 22:19:20 · answer #3 · answered by nighneev 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What you describe is likely impacted wisdom teeth, growing at a wrong angle so they "clash" together with his molars. Dentists seeing this usually perform extractions of the wisdom teeth on the spot, because the damage caused by them can be severe, just like the pain caused by this. Waiting months for this surgery is serious health hazard. If you can, have him see a dentist.
2016-03-17 05:20:08 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Been there done that! You need antibiotics, get them from your doctor asap if your dentist is away. It happened to me over Christmas and I got them from my doctor. I had exactly the same thing and after just one day on the antibiotics I felt much better. I also used "Toothache Drops" from the chemist. You just dip a cotton bud in and then apply it all around the tooth and gum, numbs it straight away! GOOD LUCK!!!
P.S. An impacted wisdom tooth means that the tooth, in my case, was growing sideways and actually grew into my molar tooth. Even gouged a hole in it. So it's best to get them out asap because they can damage surrounding teeth.
2006-08-31 01:57:03 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like you have an impacted wisdom tooth which has gotten infected. You had better not wait a month. You need antibiotics. Your doctor should give you antibiotics to cure the infection. But see your dentist as soon as possible because this will happen again if it is not removed.
lc
2006-08-30 21:57:20 · answer #6 · answered by lcmcpa 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe you can get infections if they are impacted and are having trouble making there way out. I would go ahead and go to your regular doc and have him take a look at it. Get you on an antibotic so it doesn't get worse before your dentist get back. Wisdom teeth can be extemly painful. I suggest getting them out before they cause more proplems and pain.
Hope you get to feeling better soon.
2006-08-30 22:10:52 · answer #7 · answered by Dee 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It sound like you need an antibiotic quickly. In my experience, you have an impaction. Book in with the dentist asap. One tooth is trying to erupt underneath another an dhas gotten wedged. Bits of food lodge here and starts the inflammatory process, or possible abcess formation. Ibuprofen is what you need to take away inflammation and amoxicillin usually Wash mouth out with warm water and salt to cleanse and make more comfortable.
2006-08-30 22:54:43 · answer #8 · answered by Abigail 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hey buddy, get to a doctor NOW!! You have an infection. It needs treatment. Drive/ fly/ train/ ride a bike if you have to but find yourself another dentist. You cant wait a month for your regular guy!!
Good Luck.
2006-08-31 02:51:30 · answer #9 · answered by vaniller2 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like wisdom teeth; the procedure isn't such a big deal, they send you home with pain meds and it hurts alot less than if you just let it go.
2006-08-30 21:55:52 · answer #10 · answered by nurseTINA 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋