Should I visit A&E?!

bigbudda

Hello

I've been.diagnosed with an abcess on the gums due to a broken tooth. My dentist today prescribed me antibiotics and painkillers, and said if my face starts to swell to.visit a&e, as I would need to get the antibiotics by IV drip.

Now, the pain has gone down but the left side.of my jaw and.cheek has swelled a fair bit, and its too painful to chew.

I am still.unsure whether to go in, now the pain is gone and I'm on the antibiotics already.

Can anyone.please put my.mind at rest or as the swelling is.not subsiding should I go hospital?!

Thank you.

Oral Surgeon

bigbudda wrote: »

Hello

I've been.diagnosed with an abcess on the gums due to a broken tooth. My dentist today prescribed me antibiotics and painkillers, and said if my face starts to swell to.visit a&e, as I would need to get the antibiotics by IV drip.

Now, the pain has gone down but the left side.of my jaw and.cheek has swelled a fair bit, and its too painful to chew.

I am still.unsure whether to go in, now the pain is gone and I'm on the antibiotics already.

Can anyone.please put my.mind at rest or as the swelling is.not subsiding should I go hospital?!

Thank you.

You should go to a&e only if this is an emergency;

I would consider 2 situations an emergency.

A systemic infection, signs of this would be a high temperature, vomiting, low blood pressure, high pulse... etc, symptoms, tiredness, illness, temperature......

A spreading infection that is a threat to local functions such as breathing/swallowing. This would be a significant swelling in the neck under the jaw, maybe under the tongue, usually limited mouth opening and proper difficulty swallowing or more seriously breathing....

If this sound like you then off to a&e, if not you are on your antibiotics, give them a chance to work and reevaluate....