Is this an infection?
 

Hi, bit of a back story. I've had pain on and off in one of my bottom right molars for literally years. It's never been severe enough for me to think of getting it checked but it's slowly been cracking and breaking away in TINY pieces for about 6 or 7 months. There's a large hole right down the middle and the sides are cracked and broken. The hole starts at the tooth behind it and goes up to about the middle of the tooth, right down to the gum. There's severe decay all around and in it, when I say decay I mean parts are black.

So, the 'on and off' pain was extremely random, the tooth has looked in really bad shape for a long time but never hurt unless I'd bite down on something directly on it and the food would go through the hole. Over the past week or so something has changed, I've had EXTREME pain and I mean extreme, a few nights ago I was thinking ripping the tooth our with pliers couldn't hurt much more, it was horrendous and I've experienced a lot of tooth pain and other pain in my life, I had felt nothing like that. After that night the tooth has slowly calmed down and now it's still a bit painful but manageable, but there has been different 'types' of pain coming from the tooth. It's hard to explain.

Now, over the years with this tooth and even the other night when I had extreme pain I have had no swelling/lumps, but last night a huge lump in my cheek appeared literally overnight. It's not on my gum or in my tooth, it's on/in the cheek.

It's just so strange as it appeared completely overnight and it's not on the gum but it's pretty obvious it's connected, just wondering what it is. I'd SERIOUSLY appreciate any help at all. I know I'll have to go to the dentist eventually buy I'd really rather not.

Thanks.

Hi NeedAdvice,

I am in the dental field and can offer you some information here.

Based on your description yes, the tooth (teeth) are infected. Just so I am clear, tooth decay is infection and when left untreated it spreads to the pulp/nerves of the tooth causing an abscess. The tooth may or may not be painful all of the time because the bacteria causing the infection is continually oozing from the decay which relieves the pressure/inflammation from the infection. This basically means that you have been swallowing this bacteria for a very long time as indicated by the fact that these teeth have been decayed for years.

The swelling indicates that the infection is no longer contained to just these teeth it has moved beyond them and is what we call "systemic".

I know you want to avoid the dentist.... but to be blatantly honest... this is a serious infection which can be life threatening if those teeth are not removed. The swelling can easily move to the inside of the jawbone next to the tongue which can close off your airway. I know this is scary but you need to understand the seriousness of your dental problem.

I urge you to see an oral surgeon asap before the problem becomes any worse. You will be okay.... just please do not wait.

Bryanna

Just thought I'd let you know I got the tooth removed today.

Thanks a lot for the advice.

Glad to hear that you got up the courage to go to the dentist. Did he pull just the one tooth or both of them?

Hope you are feeling okay and everything heals well for you. Be sure to follow the post operative instructions to the "T". :)

Bryanna

Just one. He said there was an abscess but didn't give me any antibiotics, he just took the tooth out. Will it clear up by itself? I know there will be swelling from the tooth being taken out but the lump/swelling still feels exactly the same as before. Is it possible that the infection was under another tooth aswell or something?

Just to clear things up, when I said the hole started at the tooth behind it I didn't mean that tooth was decayed aswell, I meant the infected tooth was sort of cut off half way and there was a hole from the middle to the tooth behind it. I don't know if I'm explaining it correctly but I've only had pain coming from one tooth and only one decayed tooth.

Actually, since he took it out I've had pain coming from the tooth INFRONT of the one he removed. Could that just be bruising?

Sorry if I'm asking completely stupid questions, I really know nothing about teeth. :o