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Interventional Cardiology (Expert Forum)
Recent tooth abscess
Answered by
Darcy Green Conaway, MD - General Cardiology, Echocardiology
Truman Medical Center
Questions in the Interventional Cardiology forum are answered by medical professionals affiliated with the Truman Medical Center. Topics covered include acute coronary syndrome, angina , atrial fibrillation , cardiac catheterization , cardiomyopathy , drug abuse & cardiac disease, echocardiography , heart failure , hypertension & heart disease , lipid management , minorities and heart disease, peripheral vascular disease prevention, valvular heart disease , women’s heart health, and the warning signs of a heart attack.
Recent tooth abscess
by Vanilla60, Dec 26, 2007 04:27PM
I am a 24 yr old female and recently had a tooth abscess that I took care of with 2 different antibiotics (Clyndmiacin and cephelexin). I went to the ER and got the abscess lanced to relieve some of the pressure. I went to my dentist and received a partial root canal. I am feeling no pain in my mouth and the swelling is all gone. Now I'm not sure if the infection is in my heart. I don't know what the symptoms are, but I am feeling soreness in my left arm, and every now and then I feel pain in my shoulder. I am a smoker so I don't know if the pain is from smoking or from an infection I may have received from the tooth abscess. My question is, what are the symptoms of an infection in the heart? My other question is, is it possible that after taking 2 antibiotics would an infection have a chance of making it to my heart?
Doctor's Answer
by Darcy Green Conaway, MD, Dec 30, 2007 10:35PM
, Dec 30, 2007 10:35PM
Infection of the heart valves is called endocarditis and the symptoms are extremely variable-- often people have fever and don't have any other reason to have it. I would suggest seeing your physician as soon as possible to have this more fully evaluated.
Even after taking the antibiotics you could still have endocarditis-- it takes many weeks of therapy to clear valve infections and sometimes surgery if the lesions are big enough.
Even after taking the antibiotics you could still have endocarditis-- it takes many weeks of therapy to clear valve infections and sometimes surgery if the lesions are big enough.
