I called my dentist because I told him that I have what I think is a tooth infection. He called me in an antibiotic and told me to take that and then come in a week from now. I don’t understand why he won’t see me. I’m pretty sure that you can’t solve a tooth infection with an antibiotic so why did my dentist prescribe one? I’ve also been told that a tooth infection can spread to the brain so I’m not very comfortable putting this off. Any advice?
Kaley
Dear Kaley,
You are correct that it will not solve the infection. A dentist has to get in there and physically remove the infection, either by a doing a root canal treatment or a tooth extraction. There are times that a dentist can’t get to you right away or the infection is severe and needs to be brought under control.
In either of these cases, it is fairly common for a dentist to prescribe an antibiotic. They shouldn’t be given as the solution to the tooth infection. Instead, their use is to hold off or get the infection under control before your appointment.
Yes, it is true that, if allowed to spread without treatment, a tooth infection can spread to your brain. They can also spread to your heart or lungs. This is why they are considered dental emergencies.
In your case, you have two options. You can take the antibiotic and keep the appointment your dentist scheduled for you or you can call another dentist and see if they can get you in right away.
Many dentist’s schedules are more open than usual because of the Coronavirus quarantine. So, if you’re worried, I’m sure you would not have a hard time finding someone who is available sooner.
If You Lose a Tooth
Sometimes a tooth can’t be saved. If that happens, you really want to replace it. Without doing that, your other teeth will shift or tip into the open space, which will really mess up your bite.
Fortunately, there are many options for tooth replacements. If you want the top of the line tooth replacement, go with a dental implant. Other options are a dental bridge, removable partial dentures, and a dental flipper. The last one is meant to be temporary, but is inexpensive enough to be a good option while you save up for a better, permanent option.
This blog is brought to you by Baton Rouge Dentist Dr. Steven Collins.