bump on gums...from dental work? Won't take antibiotics

[PB's Mom]

My now 3 yrs old had dental work about a year ago, and has been screaming lately while we brush his teeth. Went to dentist couple days ago and they found a little bump on his gums where he had his dental work. The dentist said to give him anitibiotics for 10 days, and it should go away. He wants him to come back in 2 months, and if it has returned, then he will have to go in there and clean it out.

Does this sound right? I don't like giving my child antibiotics if I don't have to.....which leads to my other problem. My 3yr old WON'T take the antibiotics. He absolutely refuses. Any suggestions? I also have this problem with trying to give him tylenol or any other kind of medicine. The only thing I've ever been able to get him to take is an orange flavored chewable. With the tylenol he will either spit it out or thow up. So I don't think forcing it will work. I've tried offering candy/toys, etc. I've tried explaining that if he doesn't take it we will have to go back to the dentist and it will hurt to have him dig around in his mouth. He said he would rather do that then take the medicine.

I could use some suggestions!!! Thanks

[malamamama]

Sounds like an abscess

My 2 & 3/4 year old dd had two abscesses on teeth that had been capped 5 months before. Her dentist gave her antibiotics to get the swelling down and then 7 days later removed the teeth. Once the infection is in the root, it may go dormant, but then could keep surfacing. This infection could cause further complications so the best thing was to remove the teeth. There's more info about this in the threads if you want to read more. Basicly a dentist will do what they can to save a tooth, but sometimes extraction is necessary.

My dd's abscess was painful which made teeth brushing impossible, plus she wouldn't eat or drink and then she got a fever and her top lip swelled. All in the course of a day and a half.

To me, it sounds a little strange that he would wait 2 months. Our dentist did an x-ray after the swelling went down and could see the problem in the root.

I don't know, maybe its possible to wipe out this infection with massive doses of Vitamin C. Although too much will give diarrhea, and he would lose the C that way. I was nervous about complications so chose the route of antibiotics this time.

As for the antibiotics, my dd was impossible with that. So what I did was get a little T-set with 3 cups. (These were actually more like saki cups) I put the anti-biotics in one, juice or water in another, & chocolate soy milk in the other (teaspoons at a time like the antibiotics). She could have refills of the soy &/or juice, water as long as she kept drinking the "pink stuff" (antibiotics). I made a big deal of her doing it all by herself and she too was so proud of doing it all by herself. Soon she would just drink it straight down. If she left a tiny bit in the bottom, I would set it in the fridge and fill it up with the next teaspoon at the next time. Allowing her control over the situation made all the difference.

I am not one to choose anti-biotics as defense either. However, with an infection in the gum, it can move into the bone, and up into the brain in the worst case scenario. If you notice swelling, of the lip or jaw, call the dentist and especially if you see it in the eye area, call the dentist immediately. This is a sign that the infection is moving.

You could probably find some of Smilemomma's posts that talk about abscesses from a dentist's perspective too.

[PB's Mom]

Thanks for the info. He did several x-rays, and he compared them to the x-rays he took at the time of his dental work (over a year ago), and he said he saw no difference. The x-ray didn't show anything. I guess that's why he is hoping the anitbiotics will take care of it. He said that if in 2 months it has come back, then he may have to go in and clean it out. He said he saw this happen once about 7 years ago with a little boy, and he battled with that tooth until it fell out. I guess it's a good thing that it doesn't happen very often to this dentist (that means he's a good dentist, right???) Just wish it woudn't happen to MY little boy!!!!

by the way, we've gotten him to take the anitbiotics so far (a little miracle in itself!!)

[PB's Mom]

update............he's finished taking his antibiotics, but the bump is still there. We also no longer have insurance, so I really don't want to take him in if it's not going to help. Anyone have any suggestions?

[Smilemomma]

Check out chevy's thread!