dental - abcess

[Guest guest]

It is a serious situation when you don't get rid of

the infection. A good friend of mine's little sister

passed away in 1996 from heart failure that the drs

contributed to her infection having effected her

heart. She had a horrible abcess that never got

treated.

 

Jenny Kernan

> Standard Time,

> writes:

>

>

> I have worked as a dental assistant who dealt most

> of her career in

> oral surgery and endodontics (root canals.) I

> don't typically make a

> habit of standing up for dentists, as most of them

> are quite capable

> of doing that themselves.

>

> But this time, I am going to, and offer a bit of a

> lesson from working

> experience.

>

> Allow me to say this: Yes, Debra, you are right.

> Everyone's pain

> tolerances are entirely different. What won't cause

> one to bat an

> eyelash sends another into painfilled spasms.

>

> Your oral surgeon's reluctance to prescribe

> medications for pain,

> unfortunately, is well founded. And not because of

> something you've done.

>

> Too many people out there actually do abuse

> prescription meds and will

> call dentist's offices every day sometimes

> requesting refills of

> codiene, low grade morphine, and even Ambien, which

> is a well used

> anti-anxiety drug. So doctors and dentists

> unfortunately have good

> cause to be suspicious of someone who calls the next

> day and asks for

> more meds, which will last a person who is in a more

> " normal " amount

> of pain for a day or two at least.

>

> If you've an abcessed tooth, chances are the

> infection is so great

> that little in the way of pain medication is going

> to relieve the pain

> until either A) the tooth is completely removed, or

> B) a root canal is

> performed, and the root of the tooth which houses

> it's nerve centers

> is removed and replaced with a permanent packing of

> sorts.

>

> When any tissue becomes infected, it changes

> something called the Ph

> of the tissues. Doctors and dentists on this list,

> please correct me

> if I misspeak, but the bacteria which cause the

> infection secrete

> forms of toxins which change the makeup or somehow

> manages to break

> the painkillers up enough to render them

> ineffective.

>

> What the dentist might do instead is something which

> is a fairly

> common practice -- prescribe antibiotics along with

> painkillers (I am

> a little surprised that they didn't to begin with as

> you presented

> with an abcessed tooth) and have you come back in a

> few days once the

> antibiotics have a chance to get a grip on the

> infection and help your

> body lessen it. Not only will some of the pain

> usually go away, but

> the xrays will be more clear and easier to take as

> the tissues aren't

> as swollen or sore. Gives everyone a better picture

> of what is truly

> happening.

>

> So maybe you should call this dentist back and

> request an appointment

> to see him/her and let them know EXACTLY how this

> abcess is making you

> feel. Not only just to say " Hey, this isn't

> working, " but for one

> other VERY important reason: If the infection

> spreads to the bones of

> the face or the rest of the body, it can potentially

> and quickly turn

> into a life threatening condition. Not to scare you

> as this really is

> a worst case senario, but it is possible...

>

> Just a few thoughts from a former dental assistant.

> Take what

> resonates in good health, and bless the rest.

>

> Dawn

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