Severely swollen cheek & neck

[LeanneE]

I had pain in a bottom tooth on the right hand side about a week ago but not a severe aching pain, it eventually went away. Yesterday I woke up & could feel minor swelling just under my neck which was painful to the point you can't touch it. This morning the entire right side of my cheek down into my jawline & neck is extremely swollen, about 3 times larger than normal & very very painful. There is no visible abcess or sore around the tooth or gum, no visible swelling in that area either inside my mouth. The swelling & pain is solely in the check & under the jaw. The only other symptons I have is I feel very tired & the right side of my throat is sore where the external swelling is. I can't touch this area at all without wincing in extreme pain but other than that I generally feel OK. My question is because the swelling has increased so much since yesterday & it is the weekend, would it be OK to wait until Monday to see a dentist or my local GP to get it looked at or should I visit an emergency room immediately? I do think the cause of the swelling & pain is from the tooth I had some pain in last week. If I left it 2 days to see a doctor or dentist what could the consequences besides the discomfort I feel now be? Is it possible swelling could keep growing just as rapidly as it already has?

[Gellia]

Hi again,
It sounds to me that you have a plan!  Maybe there are still some bone chips in there where the wisdom tooth came out, too.  An xray seems logical to me.

GOOD LUCK.  We really will look forward to hearing from you again.
We love success stories.

Best to you and I'm glad you have everything under control.
Gellia

[LeanneE]

Thanks so much Gellia!!

I went to the pharmacist yesterday who gave me some Ibuprofen with Codeine which provided some relief overnight so I could sleep but definitely going to the ER shortly to get some antibiotics as the swelling has worsened overnight down into my throat area & the pain is worse too.

I had a wisdom tooth removed 2 years ago on that same side & then a tooth chip which was left behind in the cavity cut open & removed again 6 months ago. At the time the dentist thought the tooth beside where the wisdom tooth was extracted was the problem until I made him xray the wisdom tooth area because I could feel the chip next to the other tooth & the gum kept swelling up. That same area he cut open to remove the tooth chip healed nicely until it swelled up again 2 months ago to form a very tiny insignificant abscess on the gum which I popped & thought nothing more of until now.

It could be that because the focus was on the extracted tooth which has given me so much bother that I have neglected the tooth beside it which needed treatment too so after your advice & what I have read online I will get some antibiotics ASAP & ask the dentist when I see him to xray that whole side to find out what is going on.

I will post an update too so anyone else in a similar situation who might be reading this knows the outcome.

[Gellia]

Hi,
It sounds as though that tooth blew up into a major infection.  You really need antibiotics right away.  I wouldn't want it to get worse by waiting until Monday.
If you have an urgent care center you could go there, otherwise it might be in your best interests to get in touch with your dr for covering antibiotics until you can get to a dentist ASAP, or go to your local ER.

GOOD LUCK and do let us know how you are.
My best to you,
Gellia