Abscessed tooth

[RickE64]

I have 2 abscessed teeth and I was prescribed antibiotics and pain killers.  Once I started taking them both there was swelling in my lower cheek and I am having problems swallowing, opening my mouth and I have a funny taste in my mouth.  The dentist is planning an extraction in 4 days but I am worried that 1 the swelling might not be down and 2 I wont be able to open my mouth so he can extract them... they are back molars.  I am also gargling with salt water and listerine and every time I eat I rinse my mouth out.  I am also putting ice on my face.  What else may I do?

[Jerome Tsang, DDS]

Yes, its the infection spreading in the cheek area, pinching the muscles and causing a problem with the movement of the jaw.  How many day of antibiotics has it been now?  One finger is quite narrow.  How's the swallowing and breathing?

[RickE64]

I can barely open my mouth maybe one finger if I am lucky and am reduced to liquids.  I have heard about draining but I still have lots of antibiotics left, also my cheek feels quite warm to the touch.  Is that the infection?

[Jerome Tsang, DDS]

As long as the swallowing is getting easier, it should be okay.  How wide can you open up?  Roughly two fingers width is decent but if you can't open up, it'll be hard to do any dental treatment also.  The antibiotics should be working now so it should improve in the next few days.

[RickE64]

The swallowing is getting easier, but I am having exteme difficulties in opening my mouth.  Is that part of the swelling or should I have it drained or wait until the antibiotics have fully kicked in.  I only started taking them less than 3 days ago.

[Jerome Tsang, DDS]

Any time there is a problem with the neck area such as swallowing is a serious life threatening situation.  It would be best to go to the ER and get it stabilized.  When there's a problem with swallowing, it could interfere with breathing too since both occur in the neck region.