infections

[Katrina_1985]

I had my tooth removed 2 days ago and have been sufferning (before extraction) with a cronich tooth infection that was only discovered by my new dentist as he drilled abit further into my tooth than the last dentist, he then told me that my tooth was dead, the infetion had killed it and he wanted to save the tooth. I came back after having a dose of amoxicillin and also metronidazole, (the M was for a different infection but was told to take it a few days after the amoxicillin anyway) i had the root canal and a few weeks was still in pain so my dentist prescribed me another set of amoxicillin , which i took. I then went back to him as he had requested and told him i was still in a severe amount of pain, he then tried to give me more antibiotics the metronidazole, which i refused and told him i just wanted the tooth removed as its caused me alot of problems. He did remove it, and I now am in alot of pain in the extraction site and looking in with a mirror and torch (its on the top row not the fang or the one next to it but the one after that) there is a black splodge in the hole but the hole keeps filling up with pus, although it isnt leaking in to my mouth i am waking up with a bad taste. i have been rinsing frequently with  warmsalt water and brushing my teeth but being careful not to brush the hole and using mouth wash but it doesnt seem to be helping.
Another part of my poblem is i have been referred to a specialist for a different problem in the last year due to me having problems with my hearing, extreme jaw pain, it clicks awful, it locks, gets very very hot just at the back under my ear and causes me to have alot of face pain. It makes me feel quite wooly almost, now I am concerned that the infection that was (and possibly still is) in my tooth  has something to do with the pain im getting in my jaw because the jaw pain was starting to ease after i had the antibiotics but since iv had the extraction iv got the severe heat and earache and under ear pain like before. all my specialist have given me is 2 lots of mouth sleeping guards to try, in the year and i keep getting cancelations and getting "lost in the system" as i was told when i have complained, they havent done anythiing other than feel my face as my jaw clicks, no xrays or tests or anything. i am taking ibuprofen and co-codiene to manage the pain which it isnt helping much and have tried cold packs and hot water bottles and nothing is helping, if anyone has any suggestions i would be so gratefull as i have had alot of time of work with the pain i am in and have just lost my job over it and i am struggling to get help and quickly as nowhere seems to want to help.

[Katrina_1985]

I had to go in for an emergency appointment as i was in so much pain today, i saw a nice russian lady who scraped (ew) my infection out of the hole as it had got pretty bad, she wouldnt give me antibiotics as i've had 3 lots but she did use antibacterial gel into the tooth and has packed it with some kind of single use brown antibiotic? hmm lets hope that does the trick, I shall ask my usual dentist about getting me a new specialist as she didnt seem to understand what i was asking her to do , bless, and i shall make sure i get the panaramic xray or atleast that they know all the details, which the old one did but didnt do anything about. Thank you so much for your advice, hopefully this works cos i have to go into day surgery in 3 weeks and I cant have an infection as then i cant have the surgery. Oh what a mess!! oh well not long till a new year!! Thanks again for the advice xx

[wannabefree330]

Wow, I'm sorry you have had to go through all of this!  Tooth pain is probably one of the worst!  You have several different issues so I'll try to answer them all.

You were wise to remove the abcessed tooth.  The 'black' thing up in the hole is just a blood clot. Leave it alone.  You want the socket to heal properly and the clot is your body's way of protecting it.  The drainage coming from the hole is actually......a good thing.  Any infection left in there you WANT to drain out.  Just keep rinsing as you are doing, and bear with the nasty taste.  You have been on the antibiotics which will have prevented any bacteria from spreading further so I think you're right in not accepting any more.  Getting the tooth out (source of infection) was the key.

The specialist you have been referred to for your jaw........get a new one.  If they have cancelled on you already, you don't want to have to have surgery and not be able to get in to see him, or get ahold of him.  Find an Oral Surgeon.  They should do a panoramic xray (or send you to have one if they don't provide that in their office).  While it is possible the pressure from your abcess could have been causing some problems you discuss w/your ear and jaw joint, it is always good to have it checked out.  Tell them exactly what has happened with your abcessed tooth you had removed.  This will give them information that they need in order to make a diagnosis.  It may not be related to the abcess at all, but they need to know.

Your socket may drain for the next several days so don't be alarmed.  Remember it is a GOOD thing the drainage is coming out.  You don't want all that up inside your tissue!!!  Heat (hot packs) will speed the process up.  Ice will help the swelling if there is any, but heat will draw the infection out, and also help those jaw muscles relax a bit so your jaw doesn't lock up as much.