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Dentistry/absessed tooth?

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Question
My eight year old son started complaining with a tooth ache yesterday. This morning he got up crying with his mouth hurting, now his jaw and cheek is swelling up. I cant see any signs of his tooth being absessed, but he does have several broken teeth on top. His teeth seem to all of a sudden be breaking very easily.  He is not complaining about his broken teeth, he is complaining about his bottom back tooth, which i see nothing wrong with.  Any thoughts?

Answer
It sounds like your son has a mouth full of dental problems.  Those broken teeth are probably all decayed and the pain and swelling are signs of a significant and potentially serious infection.  He needs immediate dental care before this gets worse.  If you can't get him dental care today then you should take him to an emergency clinic for antibiotics and get immediate dental treatment tomorrow.

Dentistry

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Dr. Randolph Myerson

Expertise

Please limit your inquiry to questions about orthodontics (braces) and children's dentistry. I am both an Orthodontist and a Pediatric Dentist, having been trained in both of these dental specialty fields. Orthodontics is the dental specialty that treats problems of tooth, bite and jaw alignment using braces and removable appliances. Pediatric Dentistry is the dental specialty also known as dentistry for children, which deals specifically with the dental problems of this special age group from infants to adolescents. I am also experienced in Forensic Dentistry, the application of dentistry to law enforcement and identification using dental records.

Experience

I have been in the private practice of orthodontics and pediatric dentistry for over 20 years. Prior to that I served for three years on the Cleft Palate and Cranio-facial Reconstruction team at Children''s Hospital of Philadelphia and was an Assistant Professor of Dentistry at University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine. I also served as a dentist in the U.S.Air Force, stationed at Andrews AFB in Washington, DC.

Organizations
I am a Fellow in the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, and a member of the American Association of Orthodontics, as well as a member of the American Dental Association and the Dental Society of the State of New York.

Education/Credentials
I received my BA in Biology from Frankin & Marshall College in 1969, and my dental degree from University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine in 1973. In 1978 I received both my Certificate in Orthodontics from University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, and my Certificate in Pediatric Dentistry from Children''s Hospital of Philadelphia after completing a three year Teaching Fellowship in Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry in 1978.

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