Burt Campbell

Burt Campbell
Survivor

I had been dealing with a toothache for a short time and saw a local dentist I was referred to by a friend. The dentist took x-rays and informed me I needed a root canal, which he would perform in three days and gave me a script for Augmentin to make sure infection would not be a problem. I took the antibiotic and went in for the root canal, only to have the dentist stop more than half way done because he did not have the proper tools to finish the job. He gave me more antibiotics and said he needed to obtain the proper instruments to finish the job. (Sepsis and Dental Health)

By 3:00 the following day, my pain was terrible and my cheek area was red and very hot to touch. I had a friend drive me straight to ER and they immediately put me on two IV antibiotics and admitted me for treatment of sepsis. After a two-day stay and many scans to determine the extent of damage done, I was released to a doctors care who specialized in infectious diseases. Turns out I almost died because of a failed root canal and poor case management. My message to readers is to get to a hospital at the first sign of advanced infection, and see a real endodontist when in question concerning a bad tooth. Sepsis moves very quickly, and minutes can matter. One good thing came from my hospital stay however. Doctors discovered a brain tumor, and I am in the process of treatment. It is likely I would have learned about the tumor too late had I not been forced by pain into the hospital.

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