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Dentistry/Swollen Area on son's upper jawline

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Expert: - 11/30/2008


Question
My 11 yr old son complained of upper teeth pain a couple of months ago during football - we assumed it was his mouth gaurd. Our dentist xrayed and noticed fluid in the nasal cavity upper left side of face right above jawline - made sense due to his recent sneezing runny nose - was put on amoxicillian and the pain and swelling went away. A few days ago he mentioned feeling a lump above the same jawline. Xrays from the dentist didn't show any problems with the teeth. He's been careful keeping them clean and uses a mild mouthwash for healing mouth sores. He says there is no pain, just the "bump". Itlooks like it's in the crease where the upper gum meets the inside of the face about the size of a pea. Any ideas and information you can give will be helpful. I am taking him back to the dentist.

Answer
Dear Katherine,
Good idea taking him back to the dentist.
It is hard to be of help without x-rays in front of me.
From the symptoms you describe I suspect that he has a primary molar in his upper jaw that has a small infection under it . If I am correct that tooth is about to fall out and be replaced with a permanent pre-molar. The dentist can help by removing the primary tooth ( a very quick and easy procedure) this should make the pimple and pain disappear.
All the best ,
Dr. Moss  

Dentistry

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Stephen J. Moss

Expertise

I am a professor emeritus at New York University, with a background that includes extensive research, scientific writing and biology. I also am an international consultant in health education, particularly in developing education on new science for health professionals and consumers. I am a past president of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, former head of the NYU Division of Oral Biology and I represent the World Dental Federation at the United Nations. I travel around the world to provide health education to professionals and consumers.

Experience

Having retired from New York Universit, where I directed the pediatric dentistry training program, a walk-in dental clinic and research on oral biology, I formalized my professional and consumer health education initiative in the form of Health Education Enterprises. This entity consults and provides information on new science pertaining to oral and general health, particularly leading edge concepts that can be employed in the health professions to improve the public's health. As such, I am an expert in communicating new science and its usefulness to professional and lay audiences alike. I also had a pediatric dentistry practice in New York City for nearly 30 years.

Organizations
I am affiliated with the American Dental Association, the World Dental Federation, the International Association of Pediatric Dentistry and the American Association of Pediatric Dentistry among other formal organizations. My experience has included a research fellowship at the National Institutes of Health and work at the Forsythe Dental Research Center

Publications
lpha Omegan USA, Nowa Stomatologia Poland, Journal of Public Health Dentistry, The Journal of the Southeastern Society of Pediatric Dentistry USA, News Bulletin Japan, Journal of Marmara University Dental Faculty Turkey, Italian Journal of Paediatric Dentistry Italy, Asian Dentist Singapore, The Journal of the Israel Dental Association Israel, ROBRAC Brazil, Italian Journal of Paediatric Dentistry
Italy, FDI World, STOMA Portugal, Pediatric Dentistry The Philippines, Modern Stomatology Bulgaria, Journal of the Indian Society of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry India

Education/Credentials
I obtained a doctor of dental science (DDS) degree, a master of science degree and am a board certified pediatric dentist.

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