Tag: tooth infection

Does my tooth need to be extracted?

I moved here from Connecticut in July, so I haven’t had time to thoroughly search out a dentist like I want. I’ve had lower jaw and tooth back on the back left side of my mouth for two weeks. The pain comes and goes. I went to a nearby dentist who did an x-ray. She said that a molar that already has a filling in it has a large cavity. She recommends pulling the tooth and replacing it with a dental implant.

Does this sound right? I had no indication that all of this was happening with the tooth because the pain just started two weeks ago and it comes and goes. Thanks. - Victoria

Victoria - If the pain in your tooth just started, the tooth has only recently become infected. If the tooth cannot be saved, it would be more likely that you would have felt pain months ago. And an x-ray would not be required to see the damage to the tooth. It would be clearly visible, and normally, you would have lost the filling in the tooth long ago.

It is best to seek a second opinion without telling the second dentist about the diagnosis from the first dentist. Your independent second opinion will help you make a decision about the correct treatment for your tooth.

This blog post is sponsored by New Jersey dentist Dr. Allyson Hurley.

Will antibiotics help my tooth infection?

Dr. Hurley,

About four years ago, I had a root canal. I never had the cap or filling put in, because I lost my job. Since then, I’ve been using a store bought filling. There have been times I’ve gone without the filling for a few days or so, and now it feels like I have an infections. Can you tell me what antibiotics I can take to get rid of the infection? I don’t want to go to the dentist if I don’t have to.

Troy from Lansing

Troy,

Avoid taking antibiotics until you see a dentist. And you really do need to see a dentist for this. It’s possible that you may not need antibiotics for your tooth infection.

When a tooth is extracted, that normally eliminates the entire source of the infection, so it should go away.

Antibiotics are very helpful, but if they are taken excessively, they will breed bacteria. And these bacteria will be resistant to the antibiotics, which will interfere with treatment if not used correctly.

Read more about preventative dental care here on my website.

Can my son get a fever from a tooth infection?

My son’s dentist told me that infections in mouths can’t cause fevers. Is this correct? Can you please tell me if this is or is not true? This dentist did not want to take the time to explain why or why not.

Sincerely, Becky from Tulsa

Dear Becky,

It seems that there is a bit of miscommunication here. Infections in the mouth most certainly can cause fevers. For that matter, infections anywhere in the body will cause the body to go into defense mode, which can potentially cause a fever. My advice is to have regular check-ups and cleanings to prevent from having infections.

Perhaps your son’s dentist was trying to convey that dental infections may not cause significant fevers. Although, most of the time they don’t.

Often times, an infection is will remain just within a tooth, and the body will contain the infection, to keep it under control so that there is no obvious infection. As a result, fevers don’t normally occur due to a tooth or gum infection. Mind you, I’m not completely ruling out the possibility.

Tooth infections can sometimes cause a person to feel run down though. I’ve observed this with many patients. Also, when a child’s teeth begin cutting, a fever can sometimes occur. Dentists who really care about their patients will take the time to explain these things.

This blog sponsored by New Jersey dentist Dr. Allyson Hurley