r/OralSurgery

Image 1 — Periodontal Abscess treatment? 🤷‍♂️What to do in what order?!
Image 2 — Periodontal Abscess treatment? 🤷‍♂️What to do in what order?!
▲ 3 r/OralSurgery+1 crossposts

Periodontal Abscess treatment? 🤷‍♂️What to do in what order?!

I had a dental hygienist piss off a gum, and a dentist fix a tooth that wasn’t the issue, possibly by stabbing 4 times with the anesthetic! My face swole crazy, and my gum/tooth hurt so much I couldn’t sleep for a night!

And as a result have a crazy periodontal abscess between my teeth draining into my jaw. I went to the dentist, she just said antibiotics and wait(Which didn’t cure it when it was minor issue). Clindamycin later, I am on day 6 of 10.

I got rec. for an endodontist and they said we can help the possibly infected/lightly potentially infected tooth pulp but it’s not gonna stop the jaw swelling/pain. Saying the jaw swelling had nothing to do with tooth, by process of elimination.

I finally got an exam with a periodontist, as the gum is where this started!

Here is my question(s). Periodontists first? Then have the tooth removed or root canal? Or just have it removed/or root canal and deal with the gum 2nd? It seems if the gum abscess is where this all started. The infection will not go away until that is solved and should be done.

My face has gone down and pain is manageable now with ibuprofen/tylenol. But I don’t want to go back to my face swelling, in pain all the time and calling off work!

Thank you in advance!

u/FunnyXbunny_44 — 2 days ago
▲ 25 r/OralSurgery+1 crossposts

OMFS/DDS vs MD/DO: Looking for OMFS Perspective

Any oral surgeons here willing to honestly share whether they’re happy/content with their career and life choice?

I’ve worked in oral surgery as an assistant for about 2.5 years now. Funny enough, I had zero interest in OMFS until my current bosses took over the practice about 8 months ago. Watching them work completely changed my perspective and the trajectory of my aspirations.

The problem is that I’ve aspired to go into medicine since I was around 7 years old so I feel at a cross-road between pursuing DDS/OMFS versus MD/DO.

I’m not really asking about salary or prestige. I’m trying to understand:

Do you feel fulfilled on a day-to-day basis?
Do you enjoy the work?
Was the training worth it? (6yr MD/OMFS residency vs 4yr OMFS)
Are you a business owner or an associate?
If you own a business, does that aspect feel stimulating similarly to intellectual challenge or is it draining?
Do you feel like you have a good life outside the job?
If you could go back, would you choose OMFS again?
Do you feel still feel intellectually challenged in your career?

For context, I’ve always aspired to become an anesthesiologist. However, I really enjoy the surgical/procedural aspect, patient care, and complexity of choice within the field. I have a bachelors of science in physiology and a minor in business. I just genuinely don’t know what would fit me best long-term since it’s such a big aspiration switch. I’m very worried about finances/loans. 24F that wants a family and children. *EDIT* I am looking to apply NOW and it’s practically a coin toss

I’d really appreciate any honest perspectives especially from people within the field but gen dds perspectives are more than welcome!

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u/DependentParticular6 — 5 days ago
▲ 6 r/OralSurgery+1 crossposts

my 12-year-old implant has completely fractured. there's still a titanium piece in the bone. do I need to remove it or can I just let the gum tissue grow over? if we remove it there is a strong possibility of sinus perforation. please let me know your thoughts

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u/MixComfortable383 — 7 days ago
▲ 9 r/OralSurgery+1 crossposts

I had jaw surgery on Monday

I recovering from tmj surgery, the surgery went smoothly but the post surgery, it been nightmare. I have been to back doctor twice because I am having so much pain where the joints are. My mom has been trying give me every pain medicine that prescribe but it doesn’t work at all. I don’t know what to do anymore. I feel everyone is chalk this pain to my recovery. I don’t know what else do.

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u/Baddiedown88 — 5 days ago

Gingival abscess?, causing face swelling and now maybe pulpitis, so do I need an oral surgeon or periodontist?

It started with routine cleaning and my gum and tooth hurting past the usual timeframe. I was on antibiotics in between, only thing that helped temporarily. Two weeks later I got back into my Dentist. She was uncertain what the problem was so she tried a filling where my gums had receded and there was small opening for stuff to get trapped in my tooth. During the filling the numbness wore off, she then stabbed my gum like another 4 times with numbing stuff, She had migraine and trying rush stuff. It hurt in after continuously, 10 days later my gum started swelling up and my face! Plus major tooth pain. I could literally feel a tiny balloon form between my teeth! I have been so tired and in pain, lost sleep and work!

The Doctor said get seen for this with a week. Dentist admitted it was probably her filling that made it worse. Might be gingival abscess but has not formed a bacterial center, put me on clindamycin. Three days later my face swelling is starting to go down.

I finally asked for a referral and was able to see a Endodontist and they told me, I probably need a root canal although the infection doesn’t show up on X-ray. And by process of elimination that the gum is what’s causing my facial swelling. Also that the gum abscess formed on top of the gum line. Here is my question do a need oral surgeon or endontist for what is likely a gingival abscess of worse? Who should I have this seem by or are both qualified? Should I get the gum abscess taken care of before the root plus left over drainage., or visa versa? Or could I just do gum and extraction? I am mostly worried about getting a jaw infection, or further infection as I already have an infected lymph node. Both dentists and endodontist just want to see if the antibiotics will clear the gum up , but clearly if have been on them before and they didn’t why would they now? Please help!! the past 6 days have been a nightmare! I have never had pain or swelling/infection like this. Also anything else I should know best course of action?!

u/FunnyXbunny_44 — 5 days ago

I had an extremely similar wisdom tooth on the opposite side removed after it started giving me problems. I asked the oral surgeon if he could removed this one also but he declined saying it lies on a nerve. And rather would take a wait and see approach

Well one year later and started to feel pressure on my molar back there. Looking to make a consultation with the same office soon.

Thoughts?

u/45-47Goat — 13 days ago

Only joined to ask!

Ive had this growth between my hard and soft palette for 10-15 years (im 22), no dentist ive ever seen has expressed concern over it, not even my current dentist who ive had for almost 7 years. Ive also been to an oral surgeon (unrelated to this, just pointing out a lot have doctors have seen my mouth.)

At a recent cleaning, my dentist expressed concern over this growth. Its full attached to the roof of my mouth, spongey when i touch with my tongue, and just feels like the tissue of my soft palette

Its never grown (that ive noticed), become inflamed or bled

Ive never been worried about it because not dentist or my surgeon has ever commented on it, but she (my current dentist) seemed recently worried about it, claiming she'd never seen it before, even though ive had it since before i started seeing her

Is this something i should get checked out? I dont really have extra money for a visit that will cost me 2-3000 dollars out of pocket

Any guidance would be super helpful!!

u/Site_Busy — 11 days ago