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Avatar universal

Please help... Tooth infection...

This all started 2 months ago with head pressure. I scared myself silly. I went to 4 doctors, the er, and to the dentist. At that time I had 4 teeth (3 wisdom and a molar) that had cavities. At that appt. The dentist said there was no infection. Was going through a lot of stress, still am, and am really scared about my health all of a sudden. Saw my doctor on Wednesday and he said it sounded like anxiety. Dentist on Thursday, said I had a tooth infection. Freaked out, bc I know that this can spread to your brain. I've had a stye and a sinus infection, so now I'm convinced that it's spreading to my brain. My doctor said it's unlikely, so did the dentist. I'm taking an antibiotic and will be getting the infected tooth out next week. Possibly all 4... It's a top molar that's infected. Could you give me some kind of symptoms on what would happen if it did spread??? Since the head pressure started, I've had horrible health anxiety. As in, I've been researching online every waking moment, not doing anything I should be doing. I'm taking something for the anxiety, but the doc says it takes a bit to work. Is there any test I should be getting to see if it's spreading??? Would the dentist have been able to tell??? He said there's a "minor infection", and didn't seem concerned at all. Any help would be very much appreciated... Tonight I have a headache in my left temple, same side as upper molar infection... It pretty much disappeared with excedrin...
14 Responses
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540545 tn?1377622918
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Maybe bony spicules which are small pieces of bone from the extraction.  They'll work their way out and you can pluck it out.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thank you, Dr. Tsang. I have a referral for a CBT, but unfortunately I can't see him until after Christmas. I do I have white, hard bump on the inside gum (towards my tongue) on my lower right wisdom tooth. It almost feels like a bone. I'm going out o state tomorrow for Christmas, but do you think I should get this checked first??? It was present at the time I saw the dental assistant and he didn't mention it, and I forgot to ask. Thanks again for your response.
Helpful - 0
540545 tn?1377622918
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Sounds like you're healing up normally overall.  Some residual pain afterwards can be normal, especially for wisdom teeth if they were difficult to remove.  When I got mine out, I had pain in one particular area for over a month.  It wasn't a constant pain but it would get irritated easily.  Of course it finally closed up and I don't notice it anymore.  Healing varies from person to person as well as their response to the healing process.  

I do think that your anxiety is getting the best of you.  It may be a good idea to ask your physicians for a referral for your anxiety.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hello again. It's been 4 days... I'm still having strange headaches, but I am also now having pain on one side where an upper wisdom tooth was extracted and an upper pre-molar. I went in today, but only saw a dental assistant. He flushed them all, and put a clove paste on the 3 wisdom teeth. I still can't eat regular foods, b/c it all gets stuck in my teeth... And I can't see the upper wisdom teeth holes bc they were turned towards my cheek... Ugh... I'm afraid that there is food getting trapped and I won't know it. The headaches are mainly in the temple region, and the right sided pain from my teeth, is only there when I lick my lips or move my mouth in a certain way. The dental assistant said no dry socket, but didn't mention anything about infection. Also, when they gave me my teeth, one of them looked almost crystalized around the root??? Would this be an abscess??? It wasn't the tooth that was infected and the dentist didn't mention anything. Still worried about infection. I have no fever, but I am sweating a lot... Which was happening before the teeth came out. Also, after the teeth were pulled I had dizziness 2 days after, it seems to have let up (knock on wood), but just wanted to know if this is typical.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
The health anxiety sounds like a separate problem from the tooth. You may want to ask for a referral to a counsellor who can help you work through the health anxiety. Because chances are the next injury or illness you have - it will come back. Anxiety like that can be crippling. And it is probably the sign of a good doctor that he didn't give you an MRI. There are risks involved in all tests and you don't want to expose yourself to them unless it is necessary.

The dizziness and spinning are signs of anxiety as is the headaches in the temple region. If they were jaw joint headaches they would be located more in front of the ears. And considering the work you had done I wouldn't be surprised if your jaw was quite sore for a few days too. The pain in the cheeks and sinus pain happened to my brothers after their wisdom teeth came out, and for me after my jaw surgeries. They did a lot of work in that region there is bound to be some swelling. If it is there in a week - then I'd go back to the doctor. It has only been two days.

I don't have health anxiety but I have suffered from an anxiety disorder. What you describe can be helped with psychotherapy. It is similar to a phobia. I would post a question in the doctor forum that is 'mood disorders'. He is a good guy and could answers your questions. Treat the illness and in this case the illness is the anxiety and panic. You could have every medical test available and it still wouldn't be enough to convince the anxiety that there was nothing wrong.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hey... Got my 3 wisdom teeth and one molar pulled on Monday... Awful... I'm really hoping no dry socket or infections follow. I went to my pcp today, and he still says anxiety. I've been crying so much lately, and after my teeth were pulled I started getting dizzy, not spinning, but feel like I might fall over. Having a lot of sinus pain, especially in my cheeks, and headaches in my temples. Can't shake this feeling that something serious is wrong... My doc did a neuro exam today and said if it were something more than anxiety, there would be stronger symptoms and he would be able to find something on this exam. He denied an MRI for me! He said he really doesn't think I need one. Just curious if you have had any dizziness with tooth extraction. Still scared, but trying to calm down.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Also, how long should I keep the gauze in??? And should they stay in while I eat??? Sleep??? The wisdom teeth are still bleeding, and my cheeks hurt... I took an 800 mg of I ibuprofen about 4 hours ago, how often can I this, or would vicoden be better??? Thanks...
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hello again, Dr. Tsang... Just got home from the dentist about an hour ago. Had 3 wisdom teeth removed and my pre-molar... My mouth is so numb, which is to be expected, but approximately how long will this last??? They had to shoot the bottom wisdom tooth up quite a few times, so that side of my face is extremely numb, even my ear... The pre-molar felt like it was in my sinuses!!! Is it normal to be numb all the way to your ear and side of face??? They told me I could drink water, this won't hurt the gauze/ gum openings???
Helpful - 0
540545 tn?1377622918
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Once the tooth is removed, it should solve the infection for the most part.  They may continue the antibiotics as precaution possibly.  Its possible the stress from the ordeal is changing your behavioral patterns but I'm not sure about the personality part.  Sorry, not my field so I can't really give you any good advice on that.  

If there's no abscess, it would imply that the infection is in the tooth but not spread anywhere outside of the tooth, which is a good thing.  Probably won't need to take any x-rays afterwards.  
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thank you. The symptoms seem to be the same... Just more symptoms keep popping up. I am calling the dentist in the morning, also calling my doc. Today has been another day full of tears, so now I have been thinking that I'm having personality changes... I don't know what to do. If the dentist pulls my teeth, and the infection has already spread, is this something that could be fatal??? Also, is an MRI the only way to know that it's spread??? Are there any symptoms I should be on high alert for??? I still have no/ minor tooth pain, but it's on the other side of my mouth, and no obvious swelling. He didn't mention an abscess, so would this mean that the infection is still in the pulp??? If it would be in the gum or at the root, wouldn't it be an abscess??? Or is an abscess and a tooth infection the same thing??? Also, will he do more x-rays to make sure it's gone???
Helpful - 0
540545 tn?1377622918
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
The stye probably doesn't have anything to do with the infected tooth.  If you are concerned about your symptoms, you may want to go back to your dentist and get the teeth out sooner if possible.  If the symptoms are worsening, a trip to the ER may be necessary
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Would the dentist have been able to tell if it did spread???
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Avatar universal
Thanks for the response. This morning I woke up extremely anxious... Shaking and pulse rate was high. I started crying bc I'm scared, blew my nose and there was blood tinged mucous. I feel that the infection has moved to my sinuses, and now going to my brain. This anxiety is new to me, so I don't know what to think. My palms are also sweaty. Is an infected tooth an abbess or not always??? Also, if this is moving to my brain, how will I know??? Still feeling a little shaky on the inside, and am wondering if I should go to the er for an MRI to see if it is spreading. Also I had a stye, that has gone down, but I feel like that might be a sign that it's spreading too. Please help as soon as possible. Thank you...
Helpful - 0
540545 tn?1377622918
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
The pain and symptoms don't sound too bad to me.  A toothache and cause pain to jump or "refer" to other areas.  But your dentist said it doesn't look too bad, the antibiotics should provide adequate coverage for your infection and you do admit to having anxiety, which will magnify all your symptoms and conditions.  Unfortunately pain, anxiety and fear are all interrelated and each can intensify the other.  

Helpful - 0

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