I am getting an upper Molar extracted.

Some Dentists have said it is OK to get a molar extracted without antibiotics....I am thinking I need antibiotics for these reasons:

1) The tooth has been dead for about 4 months so it is probably somewhat infected.

2) I have been having some low grade fever since the tooth died....and energy level is a little down.

3) The tooth is an upper molar with roots close to the sinus cavity.


What brand is best? Mayo clinic prescribed my some Penicillin V. I have heard Clindamycin is great but really powerful and can lead to temporary colitis.

Clindamycin now this is an antibiotic that I dont miss taking it is really powerful it was perscribed to me for an abcess I had I was on it for a week berfore I got the infected tooth pulled the surgeon told me I cant believe the dentist put you on those so instead he gave me amoxicillin which i think work great with low side affects

Oh yeah, Clindamycin...I hated that one!!! I had a severe infection in two teeth before they could pull them and EXTREME pain, they had me on penicillin that didnt work, he put me on Clindamycin....it did clear me up but I had nasty side effects AND I was allergic...I busted out in a red bumpy itchy, painful rash. I stopped that instantly!!!!!! That is an antibiotic you really don't want to use unless it is absolutely necessary!

Glad you asked that question! I had an upper molar removed 11 days ago. Same as you, low grade fever and I also had an infection in the bone and the tip of the root was in the sinus tract. The Doc pulled the tooth without antibiotics and now I am sick as a dog with a sinus infection. Fever, nausea, headache, and pain in the upper gum still.
Let your doctor know of your fever and pain!
I am on Clindamycin for 2 days and nada thing has changed! I'm off for my 6th visit today. ugh!

You should never take an antibiotic unless it's an infection that your body can't eliminate itself. There's a serious problem in this country with the overuse of antibiotics, especially broad-spectrum antibiotics. Because of this we're getting more and more antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The antibiotics once used to treat certain strains of bacteria are no longer effective and new antibiotics have to be created. If the infection is mild, your own body's natural immune system will take care of it when it's pulled. If it's serious, then an antibiotic is in order.

Hi
I had an upper molar extracted and the tooth had been dead for years! I think I was taking penicillin VK for only a few days before the extraction, and it was obviously infected because it was draining thru my gum, and I had no problem at all..No pain or anything after and no lingering infection..
Im sure u will do fine..

Nance,

Why did you leave the tooth in for years if you knew it was dead? They usually recommend a root canal or extraction as soon as a tooth dies.



I went to the oral surgeon today for a consultation about antibiotics....he recommended a huge dose of amoxicillin one hour before the surgery. BUT that was it no more antibiotics other than that one big dose.

[QUOTE=CASurfer]Nance,

Why did you leave the tooth in for years if you knew it was dead? They usually recommend a root canal or extraction as soon as a tooth dies.

When the dentist I was seeing at the time noticed it, he said your tooth is dead, you need a root canal..Told me I didnt need novacaine, cos the tooth was dead and I wouldnt feel anything..As soon as he started drilling, I felt it...So even though there was a bump on my gum, he said cos I felt it, the nerve must not have died..He sent me to a root canal specialist who did all the tests and said the tooth was fine, I just had a gum infection..Gave me antibiotics and it cleared up for awhile..Then saw a new dentist, and when it would flare up and drain, I would go back to this dentist..He said he didnt know what it was so he gave me antibiotics...Again, it would clear up temporarily...So this went off and on for years..I even saw a regualr doctor about 3 times (different ones) and they said it was a mouth ulcer, gave me meds, etc...It seemed no one could tell me what was going on! Even with an xray..Finally last year, it never really cleared up and seemed to be draining all the time and I was getting face pain, etc....Now I was sick of all this going on for years and seeing different dentists, endodontists, doctors, etc. so I made an appt with an oral surgeon..He looked at it, took one xray and in 2 mins told me the tooth is dead, and infected and I needed a root canal or an extraction...I still cant imagine why no one else could have told me that all these years...And the first endodontist I saw, he should have told me that the molar has more than one root and maybe one part was dead and the others were not, thats why I still felt sensitivity and pain to some of his tests..But he still should have done a root canal! I was so sick of the whole thing, I told the oral surgeon to just pull it....I had IV sedation, it was out, and I have been fine ever since...He couldnt believe the run around I was give for a few years with an infected draining tooth and no one could figure it out..duh...I think u prob learn that in your first year of dental school..Sorry to go on, but again here is the incompentency of some dentists, and even so called specialists! Are u sorry you asked now? lol
Nance

Nancy,
I've had some really bad experiences with dentists, not so much with pain, but with their diagnosis or attitude, and outrageous charges, but what you went through with just that one tooth is far worse. What a terrible thing to have to live with for so long. The pain of a dying root is excrutiating (I know from experience). I'm so glad you were finally able to have it removed and are feeling better.

I really didn't take much antibiotic before and after the surgery when I had my 4 wisdom teeth out.