Uuuuugggghhhhh Abscessed Tooth

[retiredbosn]

Over the last year my teeth have went to crap. For years I'd go to the dentist, no cavities everything looks great. This past year I've had two root canals, and two teeth pulled, alll molars actually one was a wisdom tooth. (I never let them pull my wisdom teeth, wasn't anything wrong with them) Had one break off eating a soft granola bar. I've not changed my care routine except to go to a prescription toothpaste, I brush at least twice a day and floss and Listerine. Past week or so one of my molars started getting a little sensitive. The dentist just prepped this tooth for a crown 3 weeks ago, its the one that broke. Wednesday was rough, Thursday worse, today my jaw is swelled out and the pain sucks. Get in to see the dentist, (VA hospital), yes its abscessed, need to do a root canal asap. Today preferably, according to the attending dentist. No oral surgeon available today, need to get through the weekend and do it Monday. Problem, emergency clinic is booked the next 3 weeks. So I requested to go to the dental school in town, they have an agreement with the VA. Supposedly the referral consult was put in today, the school never called to schedule. So I'm betting it will take them 2 weeks at least to do an emergency root canal. My jaw has swollen terribly since I saw the dentist today. If it gets any worse I'll go back Monday and hope someone cancels. For now its antibiotics and pain killers.

[BassinLou]

Sorry to hear that. Hope you get the care you need soon. Unbelievable that an emergency clinic is booked for 3 weeks. You really do have an oral emergency. 

[Bankbeater]

That stinks. Over the last 30 years I have had 5 root canals, and two teeth pulled due to infections in them. Take it easy and if you think the meds aren't working, call your dentist.

[dave]

I went through this three years ago.  Oh my what pain.  (our personnel person usually kids someone who claims some sort of pain with "better than a needle in the eye"  She said she has had my pain and might rather have the needle...)

 

I went from Tylenol 3's, to Percocet, to Vicodin. Although the Percocet is a stronger narcotic,  the Vicodin did the trick for me. (the Fireball chaser helped)   On the night before the surgery,  I had no pain...

 

Mine was an absess due to a previous root canal.  It had to be done by a Endodontist.   All under local and it went perfectly.  Whatever you do,  don't google it.

[atcoha]

I feel for you. I'm 44 and have not had to have anything done aside from some cavity fillings and a bond on a chipped tooth.

Sucks to be in pain and have to wait...I'm lucky to work in the dental biz, no wait, even on weekends. I don't know how the VA thing works, but I can offer a suggestion...you could call some local dentists, endo's or oral surgeons and see what they can do for you. I don't know your dental insurance situation.

Having a tooth prepped for a crown for 3 weeks...is almost non existant in the non VA world. Many can prep and make a crown in office in less than an hour. If they don't have a lab in office, the labs they send it off to usually have a week or 2 MAX turnaround time. (But the VA is it's own animal) I know the VA's around here do not have the capacity/equipment to do crowns in a day.

If you have a general dentist(not all do crowns) talk to them, ask them to call around or something. Someone will be willing to get you in.

Keep trying, I see it all the time. The pain, not to mention the issue of serious infection only get's worse with time. I know of many dentists that will do a payment plan if that is an issue.

Just suggestions from a guy in the biz. Hope it all works out. Good luck!

[Oregon Native]

Feel your pain...this has been the year of taking teeth for me too.  Have had five...yes five pulled and also just had an abbesses too.  The meds should help a lot. (takes about two days) Had one so bad earlier this year had to go to dentist and have pulled before getting on plane.  Didn't have time for meds as was leaving next day for Oregon.  The pain killers did not work while pulling out the tooth as it had something to do with the infection neutralizing the pain killing meds!!!  Oh my gosh....having a tooth pulled without pain killers and infected was a wild ride to say the least.  Good luck

[SirSnookalot]

Believe me I feel for you.  I've had over $18,000 in periodontal work about 5 years, bone graffs, sinus lifts, teeth pulled etc.  I thought I was done, well I wasn't.  Starting having problems with my teeth, this time I took a completely different tack, I had referrals or I wouldn't have done this.  I went to Los Algondones, Mexico June 28 for some extensive work, could not have been more pleased with quality of work, speed and price (about 1/3 of American prices).

In the western part of the country and in Canada going to Mexico is very popular, thousands of people go yearly. There will always be naysayers, those are the ones that have never been.  Many of the dentists and lab techs have been trained in the United States, I would not go any where else ever again.  I did some fishing while I was there too.

http://molarcity.com/losalgodonesphoto.php

[Senko lover]

Ooouuchh.....you guys are making me get scared of getting older. 

[deaknh03]

Ooouuchh.....you guys are making me get scared of getting older.

You should be.

[.ghoti.]

Ooouuchh.....you guys are making me get scared of getting older.

Getting older beats the alternative, but it ain't for sissies.

[nick76]

You need to call the VA back and ask for an outside referral to a non-Va dentist. I see VA patients all the time and am getting more and more referrals as my name gets out there. Patients get their work done quicker and usually with better outcomes. Only problem I see is when they don't preauthorize the needed work and I have to wait for the approval and the time it takes to get paid by them.

I don't have an in office crown machine because I have not been sold on the new Cerac Machines (cost vs income is not there yet for me), but 2 weeks is my turn around and as long as you are in a temporary it really shouldn't matter. Root canal are done by a specialist I refer to and 3 days is about the turn around.

Double up on the antibiotics for and out round couple of doses and you should good in about 24-36 hours. If not you will need a different prescription as they are not working.

[BassnChris]

Sorry to hear that pal.

I have not used th VA for dental work.

Most other things there is always a wait.

But for emergency care they should be doing something for you.

I received a card from th VA for outside care.

Something called Veterans Choice Program.

1-866-606-8198

Http://www.Va.gov/ops/choiceact

I know it won't help now and not sure of the scope....but might help in the future.

I would go to the VA ER if there was one close.

Hang in there buddy.

[Bluebasser86]

Ooouuchh.....you guys are making me get scared of getting older. 

Take care of your teeth. I'm almost 30 and have yet to have a cavity even. 

[SirSnookalot]

With all due respect if I were in that much pain I'd find a dentist that could take me right away, any additional expense is secondary to pain and the danger of an abscess.  2-3 weeks can hardly be called emergency.

Don't know what normal prices are in your area, my wife recently had a root canal and crown, some where around $2000 in south Florida.  Waiting time for the crown maybe 3 weeks or so, but a temp is really not a big deal.

I had warning signs but no pain, I wanted to nip it in the bud plus I had more to do than 1 root canal and crown.  My root canal was done in 1 session, the permanent crown a couple of days later.  It would be pointless to say how much you can save if your in pain now, you need to the pain alleviated right away.

[Jeff H]

Stay away from internet shopping if you start gulping them pain killers!  I did get some great deals but....     I guess I'm saying control becomes susceptible.

[SirSnookalot]

What does pain killers have to do with internet shopping?  If any thing pain killers should be relieving some of the pain putting one in a more rational state to make sensible purchases.  Being rational is not about pain killers, it's about getting the problem taken care of ASAP.

[retiredbosn]

I didn't update this over the weekend cause I was sick. My jaw swelled out huge the nerve and tooth finally died that stopped allot of the pain. Anyway went in today was seen by a civilian oral surgeon at one, he worked on me for three solid hours. My antibiotic was not effective on the infection so now I'm on two. Who knew a simple abscessed tooth could be such a pain. As far as pain some here know I've had 5 major spine surgeries, I joke that I'm held together with duct tape and bailing twine, I'm in pain 24/7/365. If pain puts me down its bad, I'm so used to it. This sucked, fortunately the infection hadn't went systemic is contained in my gum and ears so I should be back to normal soon. I was getting something done today and I'm glad it worked out.

[SirSnookalot]

Glad it worked out, toothaches can be some really bad pain.

[Oregon Native]

Glad things are working