My dentist could not have my second molar tooth, so she removed it. I have been taking amoxicillin since the extraction, but the swelling and pain are worse. And the pain reliever barely takes an edge off. The left side of my face is hard and thick. I am afraid that my dentist did something wrong. My sister suggested calling another dentist for an emergency appointment if my tooth is not better instead of seeing my dentist again. Should I go back to my dentist or see a different one? – Thank you. Monica T. from LA
Monica,
Thank you for your question.
When infection does not improve, it does not necessarily mean that your dentist was negligent. Amoxicillin is a good choice for tooth infections, but sometimes it does not work.
Reasons Your Antibiotic Might Not Work for Your Tooth Infection
Antibiotic resistance can develop if you have a history of taking antibiotics or if a bacterial strain has developed resistance. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), each year about 2.8 million people experience antibiotic resistance.
- History of taking antibiotics – Some people have medical conditions that lead their doctor to prescribe antibiotics. But taking them for an extended period might increase your risk of getting a severe infection that does not respond to certain antibiotics. Also, taking antibiotics to treat viral infections for a cold or flu can increase your resistance to antibiotics.
- Bacterial strain resistance – Bacterial strains mutate and adapt to changing environments, including environments with antibiotics. If the bacterial infection in your tooth is amoxicillin resistant, the condition will increase and thrive.
Jaw infections can become severe, so report the problem to your dentist and get a new prescription. If your dentist is not available for some reason, schedule an emergency appointment with a dentist you can trust.
Ryan Perry, DD, a Baton Rouge family dentist, sponsors this post.