I have a tooth that was rotten and smelly. I thought it was completely dead, but it broke last Saturday while I was eating, and now it is starting to hurt. Since that time, the pain only increased. I am taking Advil for it, but other than that, is there anything that I need to do? Since the pandemic, I have not been to a dentist, but before that, I never had a dental appointment without needing laughing gas. I know that is an expense that I cannot handle right now. My daughter is sick, so I had to reduce my schedule to part-time work, so I cannot see a dentist. What kind of antibiotic can I ask my doctor for until I can afford a dentist? Thank you kindly. Olga from GA
Olga,
Thank you for your question.
Although you don’t have dental insurance, you need to see a dentist promptly. If the broken tooth is hurting, it is probably infected. If a dentist does not treat the infection, it will spread, and you can start having problems with nearby teeth.
Will Antibiotics Get Rid of Your Tooth Infection?
Even if you take antibiotics, they will not get rid of the infection. They will temporarily control the infection until you stop taking the medication. Eventually, you can develop antibiotic resistance, and the condition will get worse. And you will not be able to take pain medication indefinitely without it harming your health.
No Dental Insurance and a Broken Tooth
Many dentists have patients that don’t have dental insurance. Some dentists have discount plans or offer financing or payment plans to make treatment affordable for you. Find a few dentists in your area who will work with your budget. If you have no funds, look for a dental clinic or dental school that might offer free care. And explain your dental anxiety and that you need some sedation to complete the procedure.
David Finley, DDS of Monroe, LA, sponsors this post. Dr. Finley is a Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry.
Three years ago, I began feeling pain in my lower wisdom teeth. And now, at 52 years old, I had all four teeth extracted. It has been a painful recovery. Two weeks after surgery, the painful lump in my lower jaw hurt even more. My oral surgeon prescribed another antibiotic, but it did not help. I returned to the office, and the surgeon cleaned the socket and prescribed more antibiotics. Although the lump is smaller, it is somewhat tender and hurts sometimes. I have two days of antibiotics left. Is it possible that some infection is left in the socket? I am scheduled for Zoom whitening in November, and I want to do whatever I can to finish it before the holidays. Thank you. Luke from Kansas City
After months of a toothache in my top left second molar, the pain got so bad that I had to see a dentist right away. I was between dentists because I decided not to return to the dental practice I used to visit. I was not fond of the large dental chain feel. Anyway, the dentist I saw had a same-day appointment available and said the tooth was so infected that he wanted to extract it right away. That was two days ago, but today when I was cleaning the surgical site, it looked like the dentist left two tooth roots behind. I am planning on getting an implant. Will the root be n the way? And what kind of problems might this cause later? Thank you. Alejandra from Arkansas
My front teeth were badly decayed, so my dentist recommended crowns for the 8 top front teeth. Although I did not have gap before the crowns, I have one now. Also, the crowns are too big and learning to speak with them must be more stressful than I realize because my jaw and neck are sore. My lips are numb and cracked, and my mouth is dry. I probably have my mouth open more than I realize. I thought my dentist could have my teeth with crowns, but now I am worried that I might need dental implants instead. Is it possible to make the crowns smaller and still close the gap? – Thank you. Kyle from KY
