Hi, I am just curious to know if this means I have an infected tooth? One of them on that side has a cavaty where some of the decayed tooth has broken away, the little bit between the cavaty and the next tooth in line, so it won't be an easy fill IMO, because it's between teeth. :P

The swelling started about a week ago and it feels like that part was hit by novacaine and the novacain has worn almost off, like its partially numb in the cheek and wall of my mouth and the gum from this tooth back about two teeth long. It's hurting a little bit, but I am taking motrin for it. Mostly it's just annoying.

What is going on from what I described? Is it infected? I have an appointment to have it yanked in a few weeks but I know they won't yank an infected tooth, so what should I do? Any advice appreciated. Thank you in advance.

Hi Pamster,

Yes, your description does sound like a tooth infection that has spread to the jawbone. FYI.......Once the cheek becomes swollen, it is not a good idea to put off treatment because that is an indication that the area is overwhelmed by inflammation. Lower teeth in the back of the mouth can swell internally closing off the airway. I blurt that out to let you know that this may be more urgent than you realize.

Please if at all possible, do not wait to see an oral surgeon. Initially you may be put on antibiotics to reduce some of the inflammation and then within a few days the tooth would be removed. If the swelling gets too large or too extensive, then the surgeon may have to make an incision to drain the infection, put you on antibiotics for a few days and then remove the tooth. This double surgical scenerio is most avoidable if you do not wait to get treatment.

I'm sorry you are enduring this :-(( Please let us know how you are doing!

Bryanna

Thanks Bryanna, I am going to call my doctor and see if I can get some antibiotics for this, I am convinced it's infected, it's hurting too much to not be infected. Funny thing is it came out of nowhere, just POW it's infected like overnight!

I'll keep you posted, thanks for the help, I should have called the dr today...but I wanted your take on this first. Thanks for posting to me about it Bryanna, I feel it's gonna stink losing yet another tooth but I can't take the pain any longer.

Hey Pamster,

How are you doing?? Did you get to see your dentist?

Please post when you can :-)

Bryanna

I go tomorrow to have it extracted I called my PCP and he called in some PenVK for me back when I last posted and the pain and swelling went down. I'll let you know tomorrow how the extraction goes Bryanna, thanks for your support.

The dentist extracted it easily thank God, but he said there was some drainage into the bone beginning and he scraped the heck out of it and rinsed it with sterile salt water. He told me it would heal up fine now. THe novacaine is wearing off and it's hurting now. But at least it's all over.

Hi, Pam.

I realize this is quite some time later...but I was just looking "Gum and cheek infection" on Google and found this thread.
I too, have been suffering from a knot in my cheek that comes and goes. I also now have two "bubbles" in the top of my gum line...as if the infection in my cheek has run out of room and is pushing down into the soft tissue of my gums. I had asked my neurosurgeon (who treats me for bilateral Atypical Trigeminal Neuralgia (ATN), bilateral Trigeminal Neuralgia (TN), & Occipital Neuralgia (ON)), and he was going to refer me to an oral surgeon. That was in May 2011. I have called MANY times for my referral and have YET to be given my appointment. It has been over a year now since I asked for that referral. Since at least November 2010, I have had this issue. When the knot does appear, it is extremely painful to the touch, difficult to eat, etc. Sometimes I even feel as if I may have a low grade fever during these "attacks".
I have had my teeth xrayed on three different occasions and was told each time that there was no abscess or dental issues...that it must all be stemming from my cheek area.
I am scared that the infection may have actually set into my Trigeminal Nerve already...which could wreak havok on my health and even eventually reach my brain.
I am beyond upset that it hasn't been taken very seriously. I have been put on antibiotics 3-4 times now...to no avail.

Did you ever find out what was causing your issues, and why?

Thanks,

Mindy