I have a terrible toothache..i cannot touch the second and the third molar on my right side (31,32)?

what should I do..?! I am in the States working for two more weeks, and then I will be back to Italy (where I should meet my dentist)..Would it be better to cure it with ibuprofene 200 twice a day plus Anbesol (local anesthetic - benzocaine 20%)..or I better go to a dentist here? Your answer will be appreciated..


ps I have a vague idea of accesibility and costs for these services here in the US: please let me know. Thanks! Ciao, Maurizio

I have a terrible toothache..i cannot touch the second and the third molar on my right side (31,32)?
I'm a dentist.





Topical anesthetics are borderline useless for toothaches. Their benefit is more of a placebo effect. Benzocaine is used exclusively as a topical, and certainly will not make it through the layers of tissue and through the bone to anesthetize those teeth.





Be aware that terrible toothaches can sometimes become life-threatening infections rapidly.





I would strongly urge you to see a doctor here who may provide some sort of temporary treatment for the tooth until you can have more definitive treatment in Italy.





By the way, 200mg Ibuprofen every 12 hours is child's play--assuming you have no liver or kidney problems. A healthy person can take a maximum of 3200mg's of it every day--generally not to exceed five days.
Reply:take some advil and buck up
Reply:You should go to the dentist as soon as you can. It could get worse. Good luck.
Reply:Get some anti-bio-tics, don't drink liquor. You can crush some aspirin and put it on your gums. You need to go to a dentist!:)
Reply:go to a dentist.. i had the same thing and i ended up getting a root canal
Reply:Any dentist worth his shingle will see you on an emergency basis. I don't know where in the U.S. you are, but I had to have an extraction (wisdom tooth) about ten years ago and my dentist charged $60.00.
Reply:there is some really good o-t-c medicine called red cross, it helps alot. use that with 3 motrin at once every 4 hours. it will


be somewhat bearable.
Reply:It could be pretty serious, possibly an infection. You should go in to the dentist for a consultation to see if something can be done temporarily until you get back to Italy.
Reply:could be that wisdom tooth, 32 thats causing all that trouble. you may want to see a dentist in case it is infected, in that situation you would definetly need antibiotics. the cost could vary, and if the wisdom tooth is impacted it could really go up in cost. it could just be decay though, in that situation you would still need to see a doc here, they would have to take x-rays, and the cost could go up to the hundreds. for now, take some clove oil and apply it to affected tooth. you can buy clove oil at most pharmacies.
Reply:the pain will only get worse,If you can wait, then wait, but the last time that happened to me i don't think I could have waited any longer, only you can know if you can tolerate the pain that long, Will flying aggravate the pain (pressure?). You can also try Aleve pain reliever, it is a little stronger than Ibuprofen, also you can alternate Tylenol, and Ibuprofen, or you could double the ibuprofen, which would give you prescription strength.
Reply:first would be go to dentist. second use clove oil works wonders you can find it in a drug store by dental floss and stuff. good luck as a matter of fact i,m using it now on a sore gum. don,t abuse the ibruprofen since it thins the blood .
Reply:go to the dentist
Reply:it's your pain. If you can deal then wait until your home. If it hurts and you can't stand it then go to the Dr. If you here for 2 more weeks then i would recommend going to a dentist now though. good luck and have a safe trip home.
Reply:You definitely need to see a dentist. You may have an abscessed tooth, which can become quite serious if left untreated, and the damage can occur very quickly. One abscessed tooth can affect an adjacent tooth. Whatever you do, DO NOT apply aspirin to your gums! It can ulcerate and destroy the tissue. Call the local dental society for advice on where to go for treatment. There may be a dental clinic nearby that will charge less money, according to your income, etc. When you call for an appointment, be sure to tell them that you are in extreme pain so they will make time to see you ASAP.