Hi maverickk,

Welcome to our forum! You did not get anything wrong as you can post or comment on any thread that is already started. In the future what you can do to make sure that your post is easily seen, just start a new thread with your particular topic of concern. Otherwise, you did good :)

You should definitely go back to see the oral surgeon. However, a couple of things come to mind that could be contributing factors:

1) Was the wisdom tooth infected prior to extraction? If not, what was the reason for extracting this tooth? What is the general health of your teeth and gums?

2)The fact that this was an upper tooth makes me wonder if you have a sinus perforation. Did the surgeon mention anything to you about that? Have you had or do you have any sinus pain or pressure on that side of your face? Any unusual drainage from that nostril or any post nasal drip going down your throat?

3) Is the molar next to this extraction root canaled? If it is, then this molar could be contributing to the infection.

4) Do you smoke or drink alcohol? Both of those things can reduce your ability to heal well which can result in a lingering infection.

5) What are you using to rinse with and how often are you rinsing?

The fact that it is 3 weeks post op and you still have pus exuding and now have developed a fever all indicate an active infection. So it is best to see the oral surgeon asap to have an xray to check on the status of the sinus and to see if there is any bony fragments or pieces of tooth still in the socket. The oral surgeon may say you don't need an xray..... however it would behoove you to insist on having one because it is the only way for him to visually see the sinus membrane and check the socket for other remnants of tooth, etc.

In the meantime, rinse your mouth 3-4 times a day with warm salt water to encourage the area to drain on its own. In one cup of warm water add a 1/2 tsp of salt and stir. Rinse, do not swallow it. I would not touch that area to express the pus as that could result in bacteria entering the site that could cause further infection to develop.

Also, be sure to drink lots of water, not soda or any sugary drink, throughout the day to keep hydrated and to help flush out the toxins from the infection. The correct amount of water to drink each day = your weight divided x 2. Example weight 100 lbs = 50 ounces of water per day.

Please keep in touch and let us know how you are doing.
Bryanna




QUOTE=maverickk;1179660][Hi Bryanna,

I'm new around here so excuse me if I got something wrong. I had my upper left wisdom tooth extracted more than 3 weeks ago. I didn't take any antibiotics because I'd had this kind of surgery 3 times already and I'd been fine without antibiotics. After the first week the swelling hadn't subsided so I went to see my oral surgeon. He told me I've got an infection, prescribed me one course of antibiotics and I went to see him a few more times to drain the pus. After the swelling came down I had a hard lump left in my cheek and he told me that it would take time for the tissue to get back to normal. That was a week ago and so far the lump hasn't changed at all, except that it started to move down slightly. Last couple of days I had a fever and pus started draining in my mouth again when I apply pressure. I don't panic easily but it's been almost a month now and I'm not sure if I should give it more time or seek a second opinion. Any advice would be helpful, thanks.[/QUOTE]