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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Have Abscessed Tooth And Throbbing Pain. Taking Penicillin And Ibuprofen. Using Heating Pad. Suggestions?

I have a abscessed tooth it has been going on for over a few days and the throbbing pain I had is gone but now my cheek where my lower jaw is its swollen only thing I have is pressure pain from the swelling. I am taking a antibiotic (Penicillin) and Ibuprofen also I am doing warm salt water rinses and using a heating pad at night when I sleep. I wanted to know if what I am doing is helping the situation or making things worse. I plan on getting the teeth removed but I can't until I am able to get money to pay for the extraction.
Thu, 11 Jul 2013
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Psychiatrist 's  Response
Hi,
Antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs are given to subside infection and inflammation and pain respectively in abscesses. Proteolytic enzymes can help reduce the swelling and edema in the localized area. The choice of antibiotics is done depending upon the expected agents of infection which a doctor would best know.
Penicillin is an antibiotic that does not cover all infectious agents, there are many agents non responsive to it. I hope it had been thoughtfully prescribed by a doctor and not by self.
Consulting a dentist would be the ideal thing to do, you could discuss the financial situation as well.
Hope this helps,
Dr A Rao
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Dentist Dr. Bindiya Bhaskar's  Response
Hello,

Thanks for writing to us.

Abscessed tooth has to be treated as soon as possible.

Based on clinical as well as radiological interpretation,tooth has to be either extracted or root canal treated.

Pus has to be drained and curetted.

Maintain oral hygiene well.
Take care.
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Dentist, Pedodontics Dr. Amitabha Chakraborty's  Response
Thank you for the query in the forum and I understand your problem too. You are right. A tooth of yours with dental caries is now got infected and that infection spread from the tooth root to the surrounding bone and then pierced the bone and spread into your tissue spaces of your cheek, leading to swelling of your face. The situation is called facial cellulitis and is very very common sequelae or outcome of an 'abscessed tooth" described by you. You do not have to worry at all. The medicine you are taking(penicillin+ Ibuprofen) that is enough to control and reduce all your problems. But if you observe not much changes within 48 hours of taking antibiotic like simple penicillin I would advise you to change it to Amoxicillin 500 mg+ clavulanic acid 125 mg combination to be taken 8 hourly. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING I MUST TELL YOU THAT YOU SHOULD STOP IMMEDIATELY USING THE HEATING PAD. IT WILL LEAD TO MORE SWELLING AND WILL THEN TAKE MORE TIME TO CONTROL THE SWELLING. STOP DOING THIS HEAT APPLICATION FROM TODAY. Hope you will get well soon and extract or if possible treat the tooth with Root canal treatment if situation permits. God Bless.
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Dentist, Periodontics Dr. Palvi 's  Response
hi
warm saline rinses are fine.. consult your dentist for the dosage of your medication.. because medication is fine but if antibiotics (penicillin) dosage is not proper, its of no use and can be dangerous also..
try to check out the tooth involved.. in case, its carious, it will require root canal treatment.. if not it might require periodontal treatment... sometimes both treatment parts are required... but dentist will proceed for above procedures after your swelling get subside i.e. after irrigation and proper medication...
so take care and do not take it lightly... visit your dentist...
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Dentist Dr. Juhi Soni's  Response
Hi
Welcome to HCM forum,
you should stop using heating pad as it will worsen your condition.
As you are already taking antibiotics so you need some "serratiopeptidase extract" to control swelling. Take tablet Flanil for two times a day for 3 days .
Visit a dentist, ask him to make an opening done in that tooth so that pus can be drained out.
Go for a particular treatment whenever you feel like but pus has to be drained somehow for reduction of swelling and this flanil tablet will definetely help you.
Wishing you a cure soon
Take care
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Have Abscessed Tooth And Throbbing Pain. Taking Penicillin And Ibuprofen. Using Heating Pad. Suggestions?

Hi, Antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs are given to subside infection and inflammation and pain respectively in abscesses. Proteolytic enzymes can help reduce the swelling and edema in the localized area. The choice of antibiotics is done depending upon the expected agents of infection which a doctor would best know. Penicillin is an antibiotic that does not cover all infectious agents, there are many agents non responsive to it. I hope it had been thoughtfully prescribed by a doctor and not by self. Consulting a dentist would be the ideal thing to do, you could discuss the financial situation as well. Hope this helps, Dr A Rao