Hello once again Bryanna,

I found your advice useful and reassuring the last time I posted so when another problem arose after the holidays, I came straight to this board.

The last post, I had a problem with some white stuff coming out of my gums after a bone graft surgery. Now, I have an infection on he side of my gums where the surgery was performed. I have an appointment with the doctor tomorrow but why and how did I get this infection in the first place? I have been doing everything as instructed. I even added your advice to my daily oral cleaning. Do I need to do more?

Things seem to happen during the weekends or holidays with me. I noticed my gums a little swollen over Christmas break, but didn't think anything of it. I had my check up earlier in the month of December and the doctor said everything was fine, will see me in 3 months.

Now, I have this bump on the side of my gums. It seems to be filled with puss. What will the doctor do for this infections? Do I need to suggest an x ray? I dread getting x rays due to my strong gag reflex. The new digital machine they have just makes me gag. Is there something else they could use to get an x ray of my mouth?

Please help!! It seems when all things are going accordingly, something else horrible creeps up. I don't want to have this infection ruin my bone graft.

pv

Hi p-v13,

If you "still" have an infection in the area of the surgery/bonegraft then the area was never free of infection to begin with. Meaning this would not be a new infection... it would be the same infection with perhaps some new or additional strains of bacteria. So irrelevant of what you did at home with regard to oral hygiene... it was not something you could have gotten rid of on your own. If your oral hygiene regimend was very poor this whole time, then a new infection could have started from a build up of plaque. But from what I remember, your dentist told you that you were doing a good job and not to worry about the white stuff coming from the gum.

Swelling of the gum tissue is a definitive sign that there is plaque buildup and/or bacteria brewing in that area irritating the tissue. Is this the same area of the surgery? Is this the same area of that bump on your gum? The bump is called a fistula..... and yes it is usually filled with pus. The fistula forms when there is an infection in the bone that has traveled through the bone to the outside.. thus a pimple forms as a release from the pressure of the infection.

If the fistula is in the area of the surgery... then most likely the graft would have to be removed and the site would have to be cleaned out. If the fistula is in the area of an existing tooth.... then that means that the tooth is infected. Treatment options are root canal therapy or extraction.

I am SO sorry to tell you all of this... I feel very badly that you are going through this. I would suggest that you do not touch that bump with your fingers and rinse with warm salt water to help keep it soft.

Please let us know how your dental appt goes.......
Bryanna




If

Hello,

well, i got back from my dental appt. he wants to do a gingival flap procedure at no cost to me. is this a good idea to have the area cut on again? an x ray was taken showing no signs of infection in the tooth but did show some bone growth from the graft. the infection is in an area that is not on the bone graft site, it's on the side of my gums where he had to cut to do the bone graft procedure. i asked point blank will this infection in any way ruin my bone graft. he reassured me that it will not.

i am starting to doubt some of his answers due to the fact that problems keep arising. he was referred to me by my regular dentist so i just went with their recommendation.

i was given amoxicillin 500mg for 7 days. i need to take it 3x daily. my procedure will be on jan. 19.

do you think any of this would help or do i need to prepare myself for losing the tooth?

i am still in shock that a wisdom tooth extraction i had over 10 years ago is causing all of this.

pv

Hi pv,

He wants to do a gingival flap procedure.... and at no cost to you? This means he is going to resurgerize the same area because there is an infection there. Why is it still infected?

My suggestion would be for you to call the dentist who referred you to this guy, ask to speak with him directly and tell him what has taken place. Tell him you are very concerned that this infection is never ending and you don't know why.

Then it may be wise to seek a second opinion from a periodontist who is not associated with either of these dentists. Do you think that would be possible to do?

Bryanna

Bryanna,

Yes, he suggested a gingival flap procedure at no cost to me.

As for the infection, i had one before the bone graft surgery but was told it was cleaned out before the bone graft was placed. Now that you mentioned it could be the same infection, i am scared.

At my appt today, i remember asking how this could have happened. he replied that something could have gotten in the area. he showed me on my chart where the infection was. it is nowhere near my bone graft. Plus, i do my best not to chew on that side even though i was told i could.

i wish i could go get a second opinion but my finances are very low and i paid the whole total up front to have the bone graft procedure done. And having this problem around the holidays didn't help.

do you think the gingival flap procedure might or will help get rid of the infection? if not, should i cancel? what will it do to my gums since it will be re cut opened? will my gums shrink more?

what other suggestions would you recommend besides seeking another dentist. i would do that if my finances where better.

pv