Hi frostyjohn,
I agree with the ENT that your symptoms may indicate a sinus communication which can occur when the roots of an extracted upper molar were in close proximity to the sinus. Sometimes the tooth is removed and the sinus membrane remains open because either the opening is large and/or bacteria is preventing it from closing. Usually the opening will close within a few months at the most.
When you explain your symptoms to the oral surgeons, what is there reply? Did the oral surgeon who did the extractions mention anything about a sinus communication when he removed the tooth?
I would bring a copy of the panoramic xray from the original oral surgeon to the new ENT so he can see what the area looked like pre-operatively.
I hope the new doctor is able to diagnose the problem. It does sound like a sinus communication associated with the removal of the tooth.
Please let us know the outcome.
Bryanna
Quote:
Originally Posted by frostyjohn
Hi, everyone
I'm a 21 year male who got his wisdom teeth out in December of 2011, so it's been almost three years. After my gums had healed (so about two weeks later) I noticed that I would get this funny taste from discharge from the upper left corner of my mouth, one of the extractions sites. On top of getting discharge, I would get this smell in my nose that smelt like poop, facial pessure on my left cheek, and throbbing on my left cheek. I went to go see the oral surgeon that took the teeth out and he said he didn't see a hole and that's it common to have some sinus problems after wisdom teeth removal. He gave me some amoxciclyn and told me to wait it out.
It didn't get better after about another month, so I went and saw another oral surgeon near my university, since by this point I was back at school from winter break. This oral surgeon also said he didn't notice any hole or anything, but did a CT scan just incase. He said he found nothing on the CT scan and that things like this heal spontaneously.
Fast forward two and a half years and I still get discharge everyday, facial throbbing on my left cheek, the rancid smell in my nose, and when i close my nose and blow I can blow air (and sometimes the discharge) into my mouth. I got another CT scan a few months ago, so around the two year mark, and the oral surgeons still found nothing. The said i did have mucosal build up and a polyp, but they can't understand why it leaks out through the extraction site. They suggested I see an ENT and get am MRI.
I decided to go to ENT and told him my problem. He immediately said I must have some type of communication between my left sinus and my mouth, but it's a matter for the oral surgeons. In the mean time I got my MRI, which says similar things to the CT scan. I'm seeing another ENT soon and maybe he will be better help.
Does anyone have any advice? This problem has annoyed me for almost three years and I have no idea what next step to take.
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