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Expert: - 1/3/2007


Question
Mr Moss, i am 19 years old and about 2 days ago i began to feel an emense pain in lower left jaw,days before i had mild waves of fever and eveytime i swallowed it felt i was trying to swallow rocks.my tosels are really swollen as well does it have anything to do with this? When i look inside i see inflamation as well as a flap growing over the last mollar in the back, when it started out in a ball shape. I cant open my mouth too much, and have severe pain chewing anything i try to eat. Any idea why? thanks

Answer
Gloria,from what you describe it sounds to me like you need some help from a dental professional.
It seems likely that you have an infection over and behind your erupting molar ,just below the flap of skin.  If I am right you will need some hot mouth washes, removal of the flap and some antibiotic.  
Try to see  a good doctor as soon as you can and let me know what happens.
All the best,
Dr. Moss

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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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