Should I take the antibiotics, or not?

[sarahsmiles]

Please don't tell me I'm stupid for getting an implant (the tooth was barely hanging on) or for going to the resident clinic (money is an issue and it's really not negotiable) or for getting IV sedation (I'm a woos--sue me!)

After many years of putting it off, I finally needed to have an implant placed for a front tooth. The surgery didn't go as well as I thought (I started to "wake up" from IV sedation while the resident at the student clinic and the assistant were trying to get the supervising doctor to come check their work) and it's been downhill since then. I've been in pretty much constant pain for a week.

I finally called and got an appointment and the resident removed the stitches a few days early thinking the stitches themselves may have caused some of the irritation and pain. He prescribed an antibiotic "just in case" but I didn't get it filled, and now I'm wondering if I should. I don't like taking antibiotics "just in case" and the surgery is seven days healed, with no signs of infection.

I realize this board might not be the place to ask if I should be doing this, since I'm probably being too mainstream, but DH thinks I'm crazy not to follow doctor's orders, so I'm looking for an alternate view.

I'm just looking for some reassurance here.

[kaPOW!]

Awe, that sounds horrible!! I don't think anyone here would think to flame you for something like that. People frequently mention implants as a viable alternative to toothlessness, and there are a LOT of folks here who are scared of dentists and need GA. This is your forum too!!

Of course, all that said I don't think I can help much. Is there anyway you can go in for a follow up and have them check for infection? If there's no infection then ABx seem silly to me... If there is, than dental infections are definitely something I'd use ABx for.

I hope things heal up well for you, and fingers crossed for zero infection.