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Infections & antibiotics

  • 15-07-2011 12:07pm
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 706 ✭✭✭


    My 6 year old's filling fell out last week & had to have a temp filling put in. The dentist said it was a bit inflammed & gave him a prescription for amoxicillin as it was Friday incase he got pain over the weekend I had to give it to him, and he'll see him again in 2 weeks.
    All was grand the weekend, then Wed eve, he had a bad tooth ache & felt hot. So I started him on the antibiotic.
    Anyway, my question is how long should you have pain associated with these kind of infections? He had pain quite often since & so far he's only had one full day of antibiotics. Mind you, he hasn't been too bad this morning, but I am keeping him pumped with alternating brufen & calpol.


Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,240 ✭✭✭Oral Surgeon


    Sorry to hear op

    First you need to establish if it is an infection or a tooth ache(Pulpitis) as simply using antibiotics does not work for all situations... Your dentist should be able to tell you this...

    A pulpitis can be reversible or irreversible

    reversible pulpitis is the type of short sharp toothache with hot/cold etc that is not constant and does not wake the patient, it is usually as a result of moderate decay and can be sorted with a filling

    irreversible pulpitis is usually caused by deep decay, the nerves and blood vessels are still alive but very inflammed and are in the process of dying off. The patient experiences a constant throbb type pain, it does not need a stimulus to get it going, pain is nocturnal and keeping the patient awake. There may or may not be tenderness to bite on or tap that tooth. A root canal treatment or extraction is needed to sort this out, a baby tooth root canal called a pulpotomy may be done either. Antibiotics do not calm this inflammed nerve pain.

    an infection is caused by total death of the pulp tissue caused by very deep decay.The infected dead pulp material leaks out the apex of the root and causes infection and inflammation of the ligament bone and gum that holds the tooth in place. hot and cold do not stimulate pain as in regular toothache. Pain is a dull ache, there is severe pain on biting or tapping the tooth usually, there may be a tender swelling in the gum beside the tooth root. There may be tender nodes under the jaw on that same side and later a swelling of pus etc in the mouth or on the face. This is initially treated by antibiotics and then most likely removal of the tooth.

    To answer your question, if it is an infection, 24-48 hourd of antibiotics will usually show results- then get the tooth treated, if it is a pulpitis- antibiotics do nothing and it is the painkilers that are helping, you still need the tooth treated...

    Good luck

    OS


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 706 ✭✭✭MoonDancer


    Thanks for that reply, I took him back today because he was in a lot of pain & was hot and lethargic.
    Couldn't tell you what is actually wrong with his tooth, but it has been keeping him awake the past 2 nights. But the dentist said there was a crack in the filling & that could be contributing to the pain, so he refilled it.
    Anyway, brufen seems to be the only thing working & as he's on a really high dose antibiotic the only thing to do is wait til it kicks in fully.
    Hopefully we won't have another long night again tonight, poor guy. :(


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