Abscess?

I'm a 21 year old college senior, and for about a week I have had pain in my right ear, the right side of my throat and jaw.  I thought at first that it was a sinus infection, but after a several day regime of mucinex and advil, I was still in quite a lot of pain.  I went to the clinic on campus, and the nurse said it was probably an ear infection.  I've been on an antibiotic and decongestant for three days, and the pain has gotten worse.  Now, it's a constant throbbing pain in the lower left side of my mouth. The left side of my neck and face is puffy, and my glands on the same side are swollen and sore.  And now, when I close my mouth, my teeth don't fit together.  Also, my jaw is so stiff that I can't open my mouth more than about half an inch.  I looked on webmd, and the symptoms seemed to be that of a dental abscess.  Do you agree?    

Is there anything I can do besides seeing a dentist?  I don't have dental coverage, and I can't really afford anything extra right now.  Please advise.

[Jerome Tsang, DDS]

You can contact your local dental society or go to a dental school to get it checked out.  It could be a dental infection/abscess and in that case, it is highly advised to see what the problem is and to resolve it.  Antibiotics most likely will not fix the problem.  A root canal or extraction may be needed.

[pookiesbabe2472]

just wanted you to know that i had the same thing to happen to me.  i had to go through two rounds of anitbotics before they figured out that it wasn't my ears.  finally ended up in the er i got antibotics by iv and had the abscess drained(painful but worth it) i am now on two seperate antibotics by mouth.  i go see my dentist this week for a follow up and hopefully get the tooth removed.  i feel your pain with the money issue i don't have dental coverage either.  but believe me it is worth getting this taken care of.  don't wait to long.  by the time i got to the er the doctor told me that my abscess was 1 inch by 3/8 of an inch big.  that is pretty large for an abscess.  with something like this the longer you put it off the worst it will get.  hope you feel better soon.