Expert: Frederick R. Liewehr DDS, MS, FICD - 12/9/2009

Question
Three days ago I started to feel a pain on my right side upper molar.  By the next day it was a lot more painful.. I couldn't eat anything.  And last night the throbbing pain kept waking me up.  This morning I noticed my cheek was swollen.  So I took some penicillin and tylenol and I've been putting some OTC oral pain reliever.. but nothing has stopped the pain.  My right eye is itchy and I'm starting to get a runny nose, which is why I started taking the penicillin.  The weird thing about all of this is that I had a root canal on this tooth years ago.. atleast 4 years ago.  And I had a porcelain tooth put in.  So I don't understand why it hurts.. if there is no root and no real tooth.  The pain is unbearable.  I just feel like using something to pull my tooth out.  I have an appt with my orthodontist in 2 days.  Please advise on what I can do in the meantime.  Thanks!

Answer
Do NOT self-medicate. Unless you are a doctor, you do not have the knowledge necessary, which is why prescription medications are not available over the counter. Your orthodontist does not treat these things; he will just refer you somewhere, which will cause more delay. Just call either an endodontist or an oral surgeon today, tell him that you are swollen and the symptoms are causing pain in your eye, and that you need to be seen today.