In a thread about an unrelated topic, LVBoPeep said this:
“I’d do it for the simple reason that I know of someone in their 30s that had a tooth root abscess and died! because of it. He kept putting off getting it fixed, went to the doctor because he felt feverish and was dead within 24 hours. Not to scare you or anything but I’d be VERY proactive about anything involving teeth.”
I have no reason not to take this person at their word. I’m now terribly scared for someone I know and care about who is doing this very thing. While it’s annoying I had no idea it could be life threatening.:eek:
Thing is this person is extremely hard headed about such things. Since I don’t have the faintest idea how to research this, what to google, etc. I was hoping for some help from my friends here on the Dope.
Is there any research/evidence you can point me to that would help me to convince this person? The clearer and more straight forward the better, did I mention the hardheadedness?
Let me just thank you, very much, in advance, after all, it seems you could be saving a life!
Dental abscesses are a) near bone and b) near the brain and any infection can spread to the bloodstream and lead to septicaemia.
Why is your friend resisting treatment?
Financially, a simple course of antibiotics is cheaper than a long hospital stay.
Fear of dentists- one root canal would be better than having major dental surgery because of bone loss in the jaw.
You need to figure out why your friend is resisting treatment and tailor your arguments accordingly.
All infections are serious- infections which have the potential to spread quickly to the brain or bone are doubly so.
What I’m looking for is actual evidence that an abscessed tooth could lead to death, or has led to death.
He knows about sepsis, thinks there is little risk as he hasn’t symptoms. He is worried about the cost of a root canal. A friend convinced him that in this age there is no need for anyone to actually loose a tooth. He could afford an extraction but won’t for this reason. He seems to think it’s okay to just put it off until he exhibits symptoms.
LVBoPeep’s experience tells me that’s not true, frighteningly so, in fact.
I was hoping for hard evidence that this can, and has, led to death and very rapidly after the onset of symptoms.
Did I mention his head is hard as a rock? I’m looking for some hard irrefutable evidence.