Bryanna,
Thank you so much for explaining to me about the "cyst" at the end of the root tip (the jelly like substance I saw stuck to the tooth roots after my tooth#14 was extracted.) My dentist told me that this "jelly like substance" was the infection i was looking at...he never mentioned anything about a cyst! Now I am even more scared that this dentist really might not have a clue about anything he is doing! Why would he tell me that this was the infection on the tooth, and not a cyst??
(Also, you stated that all root canaled teeth develop cysts on the roots...why is that, and are all of these "cysts" the pre-amble to an infection??)
Regarding my "sick tooth #14 extraction" and my "cheek skin graft".
Yes, the dentist did this wonderful procedure ON PURPOSE.
He has been out of town the whole week, and my next appt with him is next Monday! Naturally, I have been freaking out...and have talked extensively to his office assistant who is not a hygenist or dental assistant, but seems to know the answers to ALL of my questions for some reason...or at least he makes it seem like he does! I am not sure how he would have so much knowledge, but every time we talk, he seems to know what he is talking about, so it calms me down and makes me feel more sure that I am going to heal..but the question is, will I really? And...what if all the discomfort I am feeling is infection that is still in my body...causing inflammation and pain.
He told me that the reason for my "cheek skin graft" is because the tissue from my cheek, {which is still attached to my cheek and stretched over and sutured around my extraction site, on the inside of my old tooth #14}, is LIVING TISSUE..able to supply the extraction site area with fresh blood and oxygen, helping to keep infection out of the area, due to my "compromised oral immune system".
Apparently, if he had used skin from the roof of my mouth for the skin graft, this skin would have been "dead tissue", which would not have kept my extraction area vital and healthy. DOES THAT MAKE ANY SENSE?? (I have a feeling u will say "NO"!) I STILL dont know what or who to believe!!!!
Now...although the swelling on the outside of my cheek has gone down, and I dont see anymore bruising, the inside of my mouth is raw and sore around the stitches at times (I rinse with salt water and biotene which helps this rawness)...but the worst part is the feeling of my cheek skin being attached to my extraction site and, if I run my tongue along the area, I feel a swollen ball of tissue between my cheek and gums. The swelling in that area has not gone down. I have a feeling that there is infection in there, keeping it swollen, and, that the cheek tissue is going to have to be cut away from the extraction site later on.
Secondly, ever since this extraction of tooth #14, my jaw pain has worsened immensely!!! I have pain going down the lower jaw bone, which I had before, but its now much worse. (I dont know whether the pain is coming from an inflamed nerve, or swollen glands, or simply, jaw bone pain due to a jaw bone infection from a past wisdom tooth extraction!!!)
Before the extraction of tooth #14, I also had soreness and swelling in the lower, left wisdom tooth extraction site. A feeling like I have been chewing gum on it for hours...and, to the touch, it is swollen and looks swollen, compared to the other side of my mouth. I had my wisdom teeth extracted over 20 yrs ago, and it seems that this extraction site has hurt, on and off, since then. (I also had dry socket in that extraction site after that wisdom tooth was extracted, 20 yrs ago). This extraction of tooth #14 has caused my jaw pain to increase immmensely, along with causing that wisdom tooth extraction site to feel much more sore and swollen.
Is there any connection between an upper molar extraction and pain and swelling in an old wisdom tooth site, on the same side, on the lower jaw?
Two more things to ask u...thank u so much in advance for any answers u may be able to provide for me!
Do u feel (or have u heard of ) ANY connection between thyroid nodules and tooth infection?? I am curious because I have had a feeling, for a long time of pressure in my left thyroid area...(again, everything is on the LEFT side).
I also have a continuous feeling of mucous, deep down in my throat/neck on the left side when I swallow. Sometimes I choke when I am falling asleep, because my throat dries up and feels blocked, and my voice gets very hoarse, too. I dont know if I have a thyroid nodule, but, if I do, its on the left side, and so was my sick tooth. I still feel, however, that even though tooth #14 is gone, there is STILL some sort of infection in my system!
Lastly, what do u think of implants vs. partials?? I am now scared to even think about getting a tooth implant! With all the jaw bone pain I have, and swelling in my wisdom tooth extraction site, wouldnt I be risking more pain and infection if I were to get an implant??
Thank u so much for all of your guidance and information...
I TRULY APPRECIATE YOUR GUIDANCE!! (I dont know what I would do without it).
Sincerely,
Kimberly
