Hi dydx,
Extraction sites will generally ooze for the first 24-48 hours after the extraction. If the sites are still oozing a week later, that is not normal. I can only share with you what I know from my extensive dental experience as a chair side assistant and tell you what I would do if this were me. I would make it very clear, irrelevant of how annoyed someone gets, that I want to be evaluated by the oral surgeon who did the surgery. It is a good sign that the original site is improving, but not normal for the other side to start oozing at this point.
Common sense should tell any dentist that the average patient is not going to be comfortable or confident in irrigating an extraction site that is painful. So it is not your fault that you feel this way and should not be made to feel that way.
When you rinse with the warm salt water. rinse aggressively so as to be thorough and productive with the rinsing. The motion of rinsing can dislodge most debris that is caught in the wounds. If the wound is infected at the bone level, then all the rinsing in the world is not going to reach that area.
Your new symptoms on the one side are not normal for this time of healing. You should have all 4 sites evaluated by the original oral surgeon.
Braces and extractions and eating ..... oye. It is so imperative that you keep your mouth as clean as possible with brushing, flossing and tongue scraping. i know it's hard to clean your teeth with the braces on but spend the time using every gadget that you have to clean your teeth. It will be so worth it in the long run. Also, put some more effort into what you can eat that is soft and nutritious. Veggies, fruits, smoothies..... lean protein are your best options. I know this is difficult but please don't give up and crawl under a rock hoping this will all go away. You want to heal properly so that you do not end up with any additional problems down the road.
If you end up seeing the resident, I would suggest that you make it perfectly clear that you know your symptoms are not typical and would have appreciated if the oral surgeon had followed up when problems occurred and you want him to know that this is how you feel. This does not have to be done in a mean or suspicious manner... just being deliberate and matter of fact will get your point across. Believe me, you have every right to feel this way.
Make sure all 4 sites are checked especially since you plan on traveling soon.
Please check back when you can...
Bryanna
Quote:
Originally Posted by dydx1
Thank you so much Bryanna.
I had all 4 extracted at the hospital by a qualified oral surgeon. HOwever from here on out if I have difficulty the person who sees me is a oral surgeon resident (student?) as he takes all the emergency appointments or fit in appointments I guess. I called the nurse this morning and she told me my surgeon wasn't in today and didn't tell me when he would be in. I asked if I could have a follow up and that was her response. I think she's getting annoyed. I think he only works once a week so maybe tomorrow he would be in. Should I wait until then to go down?
Since he irrigated that problem socket I no longer have pain and the oozing is very minimal. I haven't been irrigating it myself because I have no confidence in doing so. I try to spray some salt warm water on it but am not confident digging into the wound that isn't healed.
Now, the problem is my OTHER lower socket (seems strange that this would happen since yesterday when I saw the resident) is oozing the way my left one was and I can feel some pressure/ mild pain but nothing that has required ibuprofen overnight.
Do I just let it ooze out? Do I go back down and see the resident today (nurse said he will just flush that one) or take my chances and wait until tomorrow and HOPEFULLY (but still maybe not) catch my actual surgeon.
I'm very panicky about this because I'm going home for the holidays in under a week. And am confused because my gut feeling was that the irrigating was going to leave me with more problems (that lower left socket seems to be "sunk" down a lot now compared to the one on the right that's oozing) which you also think too.
And thank you for the food suggestions. I guess I have somewhat been starving myself because I'm so paranoid about getting food in the infected wounds (and that I have braces and chewing is generally difficult anyway) but I need to take more chances.
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