I really need some advice. I have just started a new job and do not have any insurance yet and haven't had dental insurance for quite a while. I woke up this morning in terrible pain, one of my lower molars is throbbing and there is now an abcess right on my gumline. I can't get into the dentist for a while, saving money so i can go. My GP called in a prescription for antibiotics but my question is this: Would it be okay to drain this abcess? A friend of mine said to use a sterile needle and clean the area before and after with hydrogen peroxide. The pain of the abcess is about to drive me out of my mind.

[This message has been edited by sk3314 (edited 05-07-2001).]

I don't think that I would go as far as draining the abcess on your own. I am no dentist, but it doesn't sound like the safest way to go. You should try looking into dentistry scools. The students are more then qualified to do the work needed and it cost half of what it would to go to a family dentist without insurance. I myself do not have insurance, so I know where you are comming from in that aspect. Good Luck!!

I don't think it's a good idea to do surgury on yourself. For one, you can't always tell how deep the abcess is.

So, even though some people might tell you to rinse your mouth for at least two minute with an antiseptic mouth wash and apply extra strenght Oral Jel to the abcessed area, I wouldn't. Nor would I tell you get a sterile, disposable pricker, like diabetics use to draw blood, from a diabetic friend and use it to pierce the abcess while the area is numb. You shouldn't do that. Of course, you should not consider stuffing a rolled up piece of sterile guaze against the abcess to absorb the drainage and possibly change it once after five or ten minutes. They might tell you to apply gentle pressure to encourge drainage. But, it's not for me to say. If you dare to listen to these people, they would probably tell you to finish up with by rinsing with antiseptic mouthwash. Even more dreadful is to consider that you might have to repeat this process during the following day or so.

Rest assured, I think that it's not a good thing at all for you to do something that should be done by a doctor. So, don't even try it.