alright, about a year ago i had a lower molar removed, it was a pretty rough extraction and i remember he had to leave half of the root system in place as it wouldnt come, anyways it healed fine (or so i thought) then about three months ago the area began hurting alot, by this point the root that had been left in had erupted through the gum surface and was like a little sharp tooth almost, i went to the dentist who said it seemed like the bottom of the remaining root was infected - she gave me some antibiotics and the pain seemed to go away for a couple of months, i then went to the hospital and recieved treatment for another condition i have which involves surpressing my immune system, my dental abcess flared up again so i went to the dentist who decided to pull the tooth, i explained i had a weak immune system so i might need antibiotics, but she told me its fine and now the root was gone the infection would be fixed

the pain then disappeared for about three weeks, when it came back again, the exact same pain, same place, it sent shooting pains to the same place on my head etc, so i can only imagine its pinching the same nerve - i went back to the dentist who perscribed me 250mg amoxacillin for 5 days, the pain remained so i returned and got 500mg amoxacillin for 7 days, however the pain is still here, i've been to the dentist like 8 times in the space of 3 months now and they constantly make me feel how im somehow being a nuisance, but this is a huge problem for me, at night the pain keeps me awake and sends shooting pains into my head, im struggling to revise for my university exams, and to top it off the hospital said they cant give me my immuno surpressants until they know the infection has gone (if i dont get my immuno surpressants, i can get very ill) now my dentist is telling me it "looks healed" because theres no physical damage to the gum and its not sensetive to touch, however she showed me just last week the infection on an xray, i dont understand what to do or what options i have right now, my dad called the dentist this morning pretty angry on my behalf and now i've been prescribed something called metronidazole which im about to start taking, however it looks pretty hardcore and i cant help but worry it will conflict with my immuno surpressants or something, a running theme throughout all of this is that my dentist hasnt really been sensetive to my personal needs and condition, im not sure if she just doesnt understand about my main hospital medication or she just doesnt care or what, i dont even understand how the infection is just meant to heal unless theres some way it can drain

what should i do??

Hi Tohrazer,

You are right..... the dentist has not been sensitive to your whole situation. In fact, she has not properly informed you of the seriousness of this infection if she told you it would reside on it's own. Antibiotics may temporarily subside the symptoms, but if the infection is still in the bone even after the root was removed, there is a good chance that this area needs to be surgically debrided. ONLY an oral surgeon should do that type of surgery.

Perhaps this dentist doesn't know anything about your medical condition and needs to be educated on it by the doctor who is treating you with the immuno suppressant drugs? It sounds to me like she needs to be educated about the seriousness of this type of infection especially in someone like yourself who cannot risk being the host to any infection.

It would be wise to ask your doctor to call this dentist so they both have a clear understanding of what your dental situation is, how to deal with it and make no assumptions about anything.

I'm sorry you are being treated so poorly.... dentists are tooth carpenters, not physicians and unfortunately many of them have yet to comprehend that what goes on in the mouth affects the rest of the body.

Please move forward on this.... and let us know how you're doing.

Bryanna

thanks so much for your reply! i've not been perscribed something called motronidazole, but im not sure how it will help any more than the amoxacillin, im not sleeping very well still, infact last night was possible the most painful so far, the pain was not only in my head and ear etc but spread up to my eye and inner cheek area, and it hurt when i inhaled, im worried the infection could be spreading or something, also im meant to be going on holiday tomorrow im feeling pretty let down by the system

id also like to add im going to try attending the emergency dentist surgery tomorrow morning to see if that helps at all, this whole thing is getting really complicated, lets say they schedule me to see a specialist in a week's time or something, that means i'll have to postpone my immuno surpressants again (the longer i go without being treated with them, the more dangerous they get potentially) this would be so much easier if there was just a way to get a direct line of communication to my consultant or a professional dental surgeon etc, i find the entire system really flawed, how do i resolve a problem like this when the only people i can speak to on demand are receptionists?

Hi Tohrazer,

Obviously you are not in the US because we generally do not have to deal with this waiting thing and can speak directly to the doctor/dentist if need be.

It is imperative that you make your situation very well known to whomever you speak to. Tell them you cannot risk a jawbone infection given your medical condition and you cannot receive your life sustaining treatments with an infection present.

Sometimes we have to take a step back.... sit quietly taking in deep breaths until we are calmed down..... and then get up and move forward with every ounce of determination that we can muster up. Persistence, persistence, persistence... do not let up until you have gotten the attention that you need. Your pain is not normal and it indicates a problem that needs to be attended to.

I wish I could help you......
Any chance you could get help outside of the area that you live in? Are you near the US or a place that doesn't put you on a waiting list??

Bryanna