Jess,

The nosebleeds and sinus congestion on that same side may be linked to the sinus communication that the surgeon acknowledged at your post op appointment. If the pimple is a fistula and there is infection, you will continue to get drainage from that fistula so long as it stays open. Keep rinsing with warm salt water...... 3-4 times a day is adequate enough to keep it open. If the swelling gets bigger and you can't get a hold of that surgeon, call another one or go to the ER. Your oral surgeon is legally obligated to return your call........ cannot believe he hasn't done that yet!

There's not much else I can suggest to you. Hopefully the swelling will not increase and you can get in to see him on tuesday.

Please keep in touch here.......
Bryanna

Hi Bryanna. Well, the dentist called back. Actually two times, since I didn't hear the first call. He left his house number and I talked to him directly. He thinks the pimple has to do with the sinus communication and thinks I may also have a possible infection caused by the sinus. I'm now taking Azithromycin (sp?) for 5 days, and have to go see him Tuesday morning. He's going to refer me to an oral surgeon, since he's a dentist. He said the oral surgeon has much more experience in sinus perforations than he does. I read that the Azithromycin isn't the best for tooth infections, but is good for sinus infections and since I'm allergic to Penicillin and most other antibiotics, I think maybe that's why he put me on it. As long as it works and heals my mouth, I'll be happy. It's been such a frustrating 6 weeks. Thank you so much for helping me through this. You are awesome.

Jess,

I think there may have been an infection with that tooth prior to it being extracted. The infection could have also invaded the sinuses prior to the extraction. The sinus communication indicates the infection was already present and/or it was perforated at the time of the extraction.

I think your situation could have been handled a lot better than it has been and for that reason I think it would be wise to see an oral surgeon to have this evaluated.

For future reference...... we need to be careful in choosing a dentist for our oral surgery needs simply because many general dentists have limited experience in anything more than simple routine extractions.

Hopefully you will start to feel better soon and this whole ordeal will soon be just a memory....

Bryanna

Well I finally went to see an oral surgeon yesterday. Turns out I don't have an abscess. He said the area actually looks like it is healing well. I guess the pimple on the gum and bleeding, he believes is being caused by bone chips that are stuck in the socket area (I hope I understood him correctly). He said alot of times it can cause inflammation. He said the pimple on the gum is gone, but there's a tiny little hole that he thinks bone may have come out of. He said the body will try to push the bone chips (he actually had a name for them) out on their own, but if they don't come out in a week, he wants to make an incision and clean the area out. He also told me to wash my hands really good, wet my finger and massage the gum above the area to bring blood to it to help speed up the healing. And the sinus issue I was having seems to either be healed or is healing really well too. I guess according to him, oral surgeons have more skill with extracting teeth and aren't as barbaric as my dentist was (my words, not his). I go back tomorrow and he will evaluate it again before I leave on vacation. He also seemed to genuinely care about how distraught I have been. Refreshing change from what I've been dealing with the last 6 weeks! Thanks again Bryanna!

Hi Jess,

Well I am glad that you saw an oral surgeon and had it evaluated. The bone chips are called bony fragments or slight bony protrusions. These are actually tiny slivers of bone that have splintered from the bony socket. These occur when there is excessive force used to remove a tooth and or the bone was deteriorating prior to the extraction and the fragments are remnants of unhealthy bone that were not removed during the extraction.

It would be helpful to get blood flowing in that area to help speed the healing. However, instead of your finger, you could use a very soft toothbrush and just very gently massage the gum with it. Whichever you use, it's important to make sure it's very clean.

Hopefully you will not be bothered by this while on vacation!!
Keep us posted.........and have a great time!

Bryanna