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Avatar universal

tooth abscess and swollen cheek

i have a couple of questions about abscesses. last week i developed an abcsess in my tooth. my cheek became very swollen. the doctor said the infection from the abscess had passed from my tooth into my cheek. they put me on keeflex. within 24 hours about 60% of the swelling in my cheek had subsided. i am now on day 6 of a 10 days worth of the keeflex. my questions are how exactly does the infection from the abscess get into your cheek and even though i am now on day 6 of my medication there is still some swelling in my cheek that feels hard to the touch. all the pain from the infection as been gone for some days now and i did notice a little more improvement in the cheek today, but how long should it take for the swelling to completely go away?
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540545 tn?1377622918
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
The abscess you speak of can spread through the facial spaces in your head.  My guess to your situation would be that a dental infection started in your tooth and has spread from the pulp of the tooth into the jaw bone.  From the jaw bone, it has broken through the jaw and is now spreading through the soft tissue (muscles, skin, etc) and spreads out to wherever there is space to grow.  

The antibiotics should be completely finished.  

Is your doctor bringing you back for further treatment?  Antibiotics only help to keep the infection from spreading and to reduce the swelling but it does not solve the underlying dental problem.

Helpful - 5
540545 tn?1377622918
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
The antibiotics do help keep the infection in check but once the antibiotics are stopped, the infection may continue to grow.  

1) Yes, it is very well possible that the abscess may grow within the jaw and weaken the jaw.  I haven't seen a broken jaw due that before but it can spread within the jaw bone and cause extensive damage.  Another more likely scenario is that the abscess will escape the jaw bone and spread to the soft tissue of the head which is extremely dangerous.  It can spread down the neck and cause breathing problems or spread to the spaces near the brain.

2) I'm not familiar with your financials but you may want to contact your local dental society and see if there are any resources available for your situation.  They may be able to refer you to a dentist who may do it for low/free or a clinic in which these services are provided for people with financial difficulty.  But generally, the most likely scenario is to extract these teeth.

Hope that helps.  I would strongly encourage you to seek treatment as soon as possible since those complications can occur at anytime.  

Helpful - 2
540545 tn?1377622918
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Sometimes with a root canal and abscess, it can be treated and leave a radiolucency in the area.  As long as there are no symptoms, we generally keep an eye on it and make sure that it doesn't enlarge in size.  Sometimes these area will scar and leave a permanent radiolucency.

I would guess that the endodontic treatment did not sufficiently clean the canal.  The infection from the bacteria may have been quite extensive and it was difficult to remove all bacteria from the canals or a canal might have been possibly missed. Also, with the anatomy of the canals, its possible you have lateral canals, canals that split, etc which make cleaning it out difficult.  

As for the swelling, the antibiotics and time will take care of it.  If theres a fistula (lil gum boil), sometimes warm salt water will help pull the pus out of the abscess.  Otherwise, your dentist can perform an incision and drainage but I wouldn't recommend that route at all.  The root canal was done and everything should be fine now.

Good luck with hygiene school!   Maybe I'll see you at some ADA functions.  Best wishes.
Helpful - 1
701664 tn?1228441969
Hi,
Thank you for this website!

I am 1st year Dental Hygiene student. We were taking pano on each other and I noticed that I had a radiolucent area around the apex of tooth #19. This tooth had root canal done 3 years ago and I got a nice crown on it too. I visited my dentist regurlaly. I had no pain or discomfort prior to the pano that we took on Nov 18. Since then, I visited my dentist and he told me it is an abscess. I started the Amoxicillin on monday, I also noticed that I had a throbbing pain since last sunday.Well...I believed that it was in my head because I had no pain before I looked at the radiograph. Pain got worst yeasterday and I noticed that my cheek strated to swell. It is horrible all night long. I called endodontis in the morning and he retreated the tooth. I look like a chipmunk now but NO PAIN:).
Well my question are:
1.Why it started to hurt now??? Did I do something to agitate it? This abscess was visible on pano that was taken in Febr.
2.Is there any home remedies for swelling?

Thank YOU!
Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
Wow, this is a great online service.  I have an abscessed tooth and am taking amoxicillin.  Two questions:

1.  The dentist can't fit me in for a root canal for 30 more days.  Is it safe to wait so long?

2.  My cheek is very swollen, even though I'm taking antibiotics.  (Today's my second day.)  It didn't become swollen until I started the antibiotics.  It's putting slight pressure on my eye. Is there reason for concern?

I tried calling the dentist but the receptionist wouldn't let me talk to him and said not to worry;  however, she's not a medical professional!

I appreciate your providing this service.
Helpful - 1
540545 tn?1377622918
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Best of luck.  Hope everything turns out well.

Helpful - 1
662085 tn?1331345560
Thank-you for the help and i will try
Helpful - 1
662085 tn?1331345560
I have two abscess but not the money to pay for the surgery what can i do? I took antibotics and got ride of the infecttion to spread but its still there and im worried
1 it will cont to grow till my jaw bone is weakend and brakes
2 i dont have the thousands of dollars for the procude any way
3 no insurance will cover the procidure i  can try and get money back but they want the full pay up front and i just dont have that kind of money in my back pocket.
Helpful - 1
540545 tn?1377622918
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Sounds like you're doing fine.  The swelling may not resolve for awhile because you still have an active source of infection due to a bad tooth I assume.  Once the tooth it out, the swelling should probably be gone in a week or so.

Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
i think, what i want to know most also is. besides taking my antibiotic, ibuprofen, and cold packs to help inflamation. is there also anything else i can be doing to aid in healing and reduce swelling?
Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
yes they do plan further treatment. i was told that i need to get all the infection cured up first though. so my concern was that it showed such a dramatic improvement in the first 24/48 hours. what i refer to as the "infection" pain has been gone for several days. what i'm left with now is still some minimal but noticable swelling to my cheek that feels hard and has a "bruised" feeling to it. it does still feel warm to the touch which i was always taught is a sign there is still an infection present. i do of course plan to finish all 10 days worth of my antibiotics but i'm just wondering how much longer it should take for the last bit of infection to clear completely out of my cheek and it go back to it's normal shape.

Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
A related discussion, Hard swelling in cheek for last 20days was started.
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Avatar universal
My tooth was broke and the infection spread to my jaw. It swell so much it looked like I had an Orange inside my mouth. It hurt so bad it then spread to my neck and I started having problems breathing. They started iv antibiotics thru iv right away it took four days to get something to work and now I.am at home with a picc line for two weeks to do antibiotic.   It was very scaring. If something might be wrong go to the dentist. This is just awful. If I had gone to the dentist I could have saved me a lot of hospital bills.  
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
My tooth was broke and the infection spread to my jaw. It swell so much it looked like I had an Orange inside my mouth. It hurt so bad it then spread to my neck and I started having problems breathing. They started iv antibiotics thru iv right away it took four days to get something to work and now I.am at home with a picc line for two weeks to do antibiotic.   It was very scaring. If something might be wrong go to the dentist. This is just awful. If I had gone to the dentist I could have saved me a lot of hospital bills.  
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Ok its august got my cheeks pierced september 4 2011 my question is my cheeks are swollen puffy iv been cleaning them like crazy with Dial Gold the first couple of day iv been cleaning them one in morning and once before I go to sleep yesterday the 7,of September I cleaned it like 6 Times when I woke up my cheeks are all red and have little red bumbs it itches but before it was not red or itching just swollen I think I might of irritated with to much soap My main question is if I see a Doctor what will they tell me
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I keep having an infection in my mouth, from a decayed tooth that has broken off below gumline. I took penicillin that took the infection away a coouple weeks. It os back and my jaw os hard and i feel a hard spot could It be the broken tooth?  I am dizzy and feel sick and mouth keeps getting puffier.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I'm writing this because I have an abcess on my left cheek (sorry about my spelling). I went to the endontist yesterday and they tried to drain it but left me in excruciating pain. I've been on antibiotics for two days now, and the swelling went down at first but now is affecting my eye. I was told I can't get a root canal until tue swelling is down. Ive been using the heating pad every hour, and I'm just wondering if there's anything I'm doing wrong or anything else I can do to help this?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have a massive infection in my top jawbone with a fever and excruciating pain also a headache. I went to the Dentist and he said I need a root canal but first he had to clear the infection that was bacteria spread into my jawbone from the infected top molar. I was on pennicillian 3xs a day until I took a total of 60 pills. I was no longer in pain for over a month now. I have no insurance and can't afford my tooth to get fixed. Now today it feels as if the infection is coming back my tooth hurting and I have a fever again. What do you recommend? Thank You Kindly
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi I am writing cause I am very worried about my daughter she has a abses on a tooth she had gotten a root canal and then afterwards a metal cap now she is on antibiotics and on vicodin because of her pain nut her face is getting more swollen ever since she has been on the antibiotic should I be concerned wat should I do please let me know
Helpful - 0

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