dental and infections - I have questions - need your input, please

[hensylee]

My daughter is nearly 50, looks about 38 because she has always been careful about her health. She does all the right things. She showed me a bump on the back of her neck just below the hairline and another on the side of her neck, indicating infection. She said she always gets infection after going to the dentist. Well, don't you know I had a fit - because I read your posts and experiences. I told her that heart (endocarditis?) situations can arise from dental visits. I also told her to request an antibiotic to take shortly before her dental visits, even tho she has no heart problems, to stave off an after-dental-visit infection.

Can y'all please tell me about your experiences and opinions - I know some of you have had to have your valves replaced because of a dental visit infection.

Thanks.

 

[epstns]

I don't know if I can comment regarding infections -- I'm on a pre-medication program like most valvers. I can comment, though, on the fact that there are several common chemicals or preparations used in dentistry that cause local reactions in my mouth if they are used on me. One of these is the alum-like solution that is used to temporarily shrink gum tissue so that a crown can be installed. Another is one of the acrylic bonding solutions often used to repair the facings of crowns or bridges. Both of these cause local sores in my mouth, and the irritations may last a couple of weeks.

I would also ask your daughter if she can think of any medication or preparation that was applied in her mouth each time she has had these bumps. Also, ask if she has the bumps after every visit or only after some. There may be an allergy at work, or extreme sensitivity to a chemical used.

 

[hensylee]

these bumps are lumps. Not a bump like a pimple, they are lymph node lumps.

 

[Granbonny]

Hi Ann

Hi Ann

What type of dental work did she have done? Just a cleaning or more involved? Hope she went to a doctor today for antibotics.If not, you drag her down there..but, here it is the weekend. I wish I could give her some of my Amox's I take before dental visits. Keep a large bottle on hand. Bonnie

 

[Phyllis Jean]

Dental Work and Infection

Dental Work and Infection

I can only tell you what happened to me in relation to Dental work and antibiotics. I am now 61 years and discovered I had a heart murmur around age 35. Nobody ever told me I needed to take antibiotics before any dental work. Nobody ever asked me, not even my Dentist or PCP. So I had extensive dental work done including gum surgery. At age 55 I developed Aortic Stenosis and had my Aortic valve replaced. I feel like if I had taken Amoxicillin or some other anitbiotic that this would not have happened. I might be wrong, but that is how I feel. This is just my experience. Phyllis Jean

 

[Nancy]

I've had those lymph node bumps from blackfly bites, which are particularly nasty because you can't feel them. They have an anesthetic in their biting parts which numbs your skin. I get them every spring here. For some reason they love to bite around my head and neck. The bumps last for about 2 weeks.

Probably not what your daughter has, but thought I would pass it on.

 

[hensylee]

Bonnie - it's any time she goes. She had cleaning done a couple of weeks ago. Every time she goes she ends up getting sick. Her dr told her that her sinuses are close to her tooth roots. She's had sinus infections for years and suffers every day from her sinuses. She hasn't been able to get satisfactory treatment for it. I just don't want one of these infections to get into her system and cause heart problems down the road. I suggested she call her dentist and always medicate before any dental visit.

She started on Cipro this morning.

Nancy, we have yellow (deer) flies and they do the same. Can't feel the bite, but later, it's unbearably itchy and painful. Have a cousin who ended up in the hospital from those bites. Our flies are gone soon as the blackberries are gone. This isn't like that. It's actually swollen lymph node.

 

[Blanche]

Something other than infection?

Something other than infection?

Ann:
I wonder if your daughter is having an allergic reaction to something in the dentist's office of something that is used when she receives dental treatments. Allergies can come on suddenly, even when none were present in the same circumstances in the past. I may just be projecting. BUT, I have been having problems, having nothing to do with dental work, with swelling and the like for some time now. The doctor has run every test in the book and has isolated my problem to "Allergy-source unknown." If, indeed, her problem is infection (bacterial), there are simple blood tests that might determine that...white cell count and the like. Bacterial endocarditis is diagnosed with a blood culture.

Since she has a pattern of lumps each time she visits the dentist, it is a situation that should be explored for infection and other possibilities. This is, IMHO, something that should not be left untreated. FYI, so you know where I am coming from, Albert got endocarditis from dental work, even though he was medicated. This led to his valve replacement.

Hope this is resolved successfully very soon.

Blanche

 

[ILoVeNY25]

Hi Ann, Sorry to hear about your daughters dentist troubles, But I agree with everyone, She needs to be checked out for damage done to the valve after these infections. I had endocarditis from a dental procedure and was not protected by antibiotics because I was never diagnosed with the rhuematic fever, They say the endocarditis is what did most of the damage to my heart. That's why it's so important that we protect ourselves with antibiotics before the dentist. I hope everything is ok with her, Let us know.

 

[McCln]

I can only tell you what happened to me in relation to Dental work and antibiotics. I am now 61 years and discovered I had a heart murmur around age 35. Nobody ever told me I needed to take antibiotics before any dental work. Nobody ever asked me, not even my Dentist or PCP. So I had extensive dental work done including gum surgery. At age 55 I developed Aortic Stenosis and had my Aortic valve replaced. I feel like if I had taken Amoxicillin or some other anitbiotic that this would not have happened. I might be wrong, but that is how I feel. This is just my experience. Phyllis Jean

Even if you had taken antiobtics, the stenosis would have accured anyway. It is not caused by infection. I have a St. judes valve, born with stenosis. Had the replacemement almost four years ago at age 36. So, it was your doctors' fault anyway for not informing you of the need of antibiotics, the dental work did not cause you to need a replacement valve. I hope you feel better and just look on, life is better lived than looking into a past that cannot be changed.

 

[hensylee]

Thank you all. I printed out this thread and Teresa studied everyone's answer. She called her dr this morning (not dentist), he had her in his office within 2 hours, rxed a Z-pack, told her to be pre-medicated before EVERY dental procedure. She is running a temp, so whatever it is was progressing. Thanks again.