Tooth ache

[Eowyn Rose]

good Day,

I hav got a terrible tooth ache. My teeth with the crown is hurting. The dentist made an Xray today and said it had to come out. She also said that she does not see an infection, but did not rule anything out. The tooth or the rest of it has to come out. She refered me to a Dental surgean because she feels there might be some difficulties removing the tooth.
Anyway my consultation with the surgeon is in 2 weeks. The earliest he can remove the tooth is end of June.
I have to take pain killers. I am so worried about an infection. How imported is it to take swift action? I only have my St. Jude valve a 1/2 year and I am without experience what to do when teeth go wrong.
Please replay
Eowyn Rose

 

[jeffp]

Teeth just don't hurt for the fun of it. With a crown the usual causes are a crack in the tooth (often at the lower edge of the crown so it hard to spot on Xray) or a root infection. With the valve, you are at high risk of endocarditis and either of these can develop into an abscess long before June. Dentally I would consider this an urgent case and would really push to get it cared for sooner vs later. I'm quickly learning to be a more vocal self advocate as the risk factors for us valvers are more significant than the doctors often realise. (I know, I'm one of them; and boy did I realise how ignorant I was about this stuff before I was on the "other side".)
Get it cared for .... SOON

 

[PJmomrunner]

Hi Eowyn Rose:

Years ago I had a root canal followed by a crown that went awry--the tooth remained sore and was infected. I was put on an antibiotic while I waited to see an oral surgeon. The antibiotics calmed the tooth down until it could be fixed--helped a lot with the pain. The oral surgeon was able to approach the root through the gum and fix things up--good as new.

I have a card I carry that identifies me as someone who needs antibiotics before dental and other procedures (because I am at "moderate-risk" for endocarditis with a bicuspid aortic valve). That card says that people with prosthetic valves are at "high-risk". The card lists the dental procedures for which endocarditis prophylaxis is recommended and it does include dental extractions, but doesn't address the time period while waiting for extraction. It would seem to me that your tooth wouldn't hurt if it weren't at least inflamed and if it's inflamed, what's to keep it from becoming infected while you wait for extraction? I'd call my cardiologist immediately and ask if antibiotics are advisable.

Hopefully you'll be feeling better real soon. Good luck!

 

[Barry]

You'll need prophylactic antibiotics prior to dental work, including routine cleaning, because of the risk of endocarditis. Your primary care physician, cardiologist, or dentist can do the prescription - with my health insurance, it's not covered if the 'script is from my dentist.

If serious bleeding is anticipated, being on Coumadin is an issue that needs to be dealt with. Just how probably would best be dealt with by your dentist and cardiologist consulting with each other. I think there have been some threads about that, most likely in the Anticoagulation forum, you may want to try a search.

 

[Eowyn Rose]

Thank you for your replies. I had to move heaven and earth to be seen by a Dental surgeon. Your posts gave me the courage and knowledge to trust my gut instincts and to make informed decisions.
I was very lucky that out of only two dental surgeon in this state one had a cancellation on Friday. On Thursday he assesset my tooth and told me that this tooth was a source of constant infection and quite dangerous to my health. Friday morning I was admitted to the hospital and the tooth got pulled out. At last no more pain and a good night sleep.
Thanks heaps
Eowyn Rose

 

[Nan]

HI Eowyn,

Glad to read your last post and find that you have managed to get that tooth taken care of!!! We do need to advocate for ourselves, and you clearly did a great job of doing so! Good for you. It certainly put you at risk for an infection!

Take care,