I need some advice. I went to my dentist with a nasty toothache. I’ve been on antibiotics that he provided for me. I was getting better, but now everything has swelled up again and I’m hurting. Do I just need a refill of these antibiotics or should I ask for a different kind? I guess you need to know what type I’ve been on. He gave me something called clindamycin.
Greg
Dear Greg,
I am a little concerned there has been a breakdown in communication here. Antibiotics alone are not enough to rid you of a tooth infection. Dental infections are different than other infections because once the pulp inside dies, there is no longer blood flow that can get the medicine to the infected tissue. The only way to truly rid yourself of a tooth infection is by having a dentist remove the infected pulp.
There are two ways to do that. Ideally, you would want to save your tooth, which can be done with a root canal treatment. If that is not possible, then the tooth has to be extracted and then replaced.
It sounds like the antibiotic started to hold off your infection and then flared back up when you ran out. This is why your dentist should have scheduled you for a follow-up treatment. You now have a dental emergency and need to be seen as soon as possible. I would call your dentist in the morning and have him fit you in. As for the antibiotic, that was the right one to use leading up to your appointment, they just didn’t communicate that you’d need to come in before you finished your prescription.
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