Large tooth abscess spread to jaw (gulp)

youngatart · 07-17-2013, 11:59 AM

Just to clarify it was extraction along with a course of amox.

Bryanna · 07-17-2013, 12:03 PM

Jay!

Request they add a donate button!!! Only kidding

Sometimes I spend more time on this site than I do with anything else! But I have the need to help and I know I scare the bejeebers out of people sometimes but at least I speak the truth!

I hope you will stay in touch with us here....

Bryanna

Quote:

Originally Posted by youngatart

hi Bryanna,

I really appreciate your advise. If there was a donate button I'd hit it now. I look forward to reading more threads here and your input.

Kind regards

Jay

youngatart · 08-14-2013, 09:49 PM

hi Bryanna,

I'm still around though I don't comment much since Dentistry is not my field of expertise

Well its been abt 2 months since I had the tooth extracted the one that had spread into the jaw (at least that's what the xray indicated). So far no symptoms at all except the ridge on the gum has two slightly raised bumps which might be cause I have a habit of chewing on that side. The bumps are like tiny canker sores, they don't feel sharp like a sliver of bone trying to make its way out(I wouldn't rule it out). I wondered if perhaps it is a residual infection from before except there's no pain or swelling of the jaw or socket. Thought it would be a good idea to get yr input on it.
Pic attached.

PS: Never did take anything beyond the initial course of amoxicillin

Best regards

Thanks

J

Bryanna · 08-16-2013, 09:49 AM

Hi Jay,

Thanks for posting the pic.... but it was a bit blurry

So I cannot tell what those bumps are. Although they look too raised to be canker sores. Do they feel tender or sore? How long have they been there?

I would advise that you avoid eating on that side as much as possible. Let that surgical hole close over more.

Glad you have no pain or swelling!

Bony fragments that are covered by gum tissue will not fee sharp. They will feel that way once they break completely through the gum.

If you were to press on one of those bumps gently with a q tip (not your finger) does anything come out of it like pus or blood? Does it move at all or feel squishy?

Bryanna

Quote:

Originally Posted by youngatart

hi Bryanna,

I'm still around though I don't comment much since Dentistry is not my field of expertise

Well its been abt 2 months since I had the tooth extracted the one that had spread into the jaw (at least that's what the xray indicated). So far no symptoms at all except the ridge on the gum has two slightly raised bumps which might be cause I have a habit of chewing on that side. The bumps are like tiny canker sores, they don't feel sharp like a sliver of bone trying to make its way out(I wouldn't rule it out). I wondered if perhaps it is a residual infection from before except there's no pain or swelling of the jaw or socket. Thought it would be a good idea to get yr input on it.
Pic attached.

PS: Never did take anything beyond the initial course of amoxicillin

Best regards

Thanks

J

Stacy_11 · 08-16-2013, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by youngatart

Thank you kindly for the well wishes Bryanna,

Actually the endodontist thought he might be able to save the tooth, that's what there trained to do I suppose.
Well I'm back from seeing my oral surgeon for a quick visit, nice guy. The site of the extraction is healing well.
Again I addressed my concern whether or not the extraction and the course of amoxcillian (which I just finished) would be enough to
wipe the infection that had made its way into my jaw. He said 99% of the time the extraction is enough to cause total healing. He compared it to
removing a splinter in a finger.
I asked if I could have another x-ray to help reassure myself, but he said a xray would not show enough changes so soon, and that a xray might be a good idea 3 months down the road.

Now I will start taking the Keflex as prescribed. I'm wondering if I should ask my regular Dr if he can write me a percription for Clindamycin or perhaps Penicillin
to take along side with the Keflex as a added precaution. I've read that Clindamycin is good with bone penetration.
Keflex seems kinda light weight considering the size of the abscess and its spreading to the jawline.

Is there anyway to confirm the infection is truly gone rather then waiting 3 months to have a xray?
Thanks for all your help. Hope to start a thread about emerging technologies on the fight against dental caries.

Best wishes

Jay

HI Jay-

Why would you want to take PCN along w/ Keflex? I know they usually give clinda if a pt. is PCN allergic. I am/was an OR nurse. I agree w/ Bryanna w/ taking a probiotic.

Starting a new thread sounds like a terrific idea!

youngatart · 08-18-2013, 02:34 PM

Bryanna,

Sorry about the blurry pic reposted a better one. The bumps feel slightly tender and sore mostly when I press on them. I noticed them about 2 weeks ago. They don't move and feel kinda firm. Tried q-tip test, nothing.
Do you think its a unresolved infection from before or simply some bone fragments trying to make there way to the surface?

Many thanks for all you do

J

youngatart · 08-18-2013, 03:07 PM

hi Stacy,

Thank for asking. My OS felt the keflex wasn't necessary after the 10 course of amox I was on . I still wonder if I should not have taken some clindamycin or penicillin as a added precaution after the initial course of amox since the infection was spread into the jaw.

I hope to start a thread once I'm less scattered brain. Of particular interest to me is new better types of filling materials since the most common type of filling material white composite resin is far from satisfactory . The average life span of this type of filling of a chewing molar tooth is 5-7 years. These types of fillings are the most prone to marginal leakage, which causes cavities under the fillings. This kicks off the cycle of filling, root canal, tooth loss. Silver amalgam fillings fair much better with a average span of 15 + years, though there are some health concerns with silver amalgam fillings, white composite resin fillings are not with out health concerns either since they contain bisphenol a.

Best wishes

J

Bryanna · 08-18-2013, 06:56 PM

Hi Jay,

Well that pic is a bit blurry too. But... I think it's either slivers of bone trying to break through.....or you've grown horns!!

Sorry.... :/

Once they break through they will fee sharp. They may work themselves out on their own or they may need to be removed by the surgeon. Usually the patient is told to wait until they break through as they may come out on thei own soon after that. If at that time they are tender or painful then see the surgeon. If you find that they are growing in size, see the surgeon.

Bryanna

Quote:

Originally Posted by youngatart

Bryanna,

Sorry about the blurry pic reposted a better one. The bumps feel slightly tender and sore mostly when I press on them. I noticed them about 2 weeks ago. They don't move and feel kinda firm. Tried q-tip test, nothing.
Do you think its a unresolved infection from before or simply some bone fragments trying to make there way to the surface?

Many thanks for all you do

J

youngatart · 08-18-2013, 09:49 PM

Haha they do look like tiny horns !

youngatart · 08-20-2013, 02:08 PM

hi Bryanna,

Got back from seeing my OS and indeed those were bone slivers. He offered to remove them but I opted to let them work there way out naturally.

He also did a pan x-ray today which is the 2 month mark since the extraction. Attached are the results, not much of a difference if you ask me.
Upon zooming in he thought he saw some "honeycomb" of bone filling in. Wish I would have looked at it closer then, the copy I have doesn't seem to allow that level of zoom.
He said that at the very least it has "not gotten worse", which is a good thing I suppose... Perhaps I should have waited the full 3 - 4 months to get the x-ray then I might have seen a more noticeable improvement.

Since there doesn't seem to be additional bone loss does that mean the infection is gone?

Should I get a follow up x-ray 3 months from now? My OS said he didn't feel I needed anymore x-rays of the area that the infection was resolved in his opinion.

Thank you once again

J

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