Hi there
Im really hoping someone can help me, 14 days ago i had an abcess in my bottom right molar which was already root filled, 9 days ago i had the tooth removed, it was a difficult extraction as the roots were hooked into my jaw bone? anyway i ended up with dry socket and in terrible pain. My tooth is now healing nicely BUT i have this big swelling in the area between my cheek and my gum, its so hard to explain what its like, its very uncomfortable, like i have something about an inch long stuck in my mouth, it hurts to touch (begins to throb) my dentist said it would just go away, i have had 2 courses of antibiotics but it hasnt taken the swelling/lump away.
Does anyone know what it is as its beginning to worry me alot
Thanks
Terri-Jane

Hi Terrijane,

Once again, another story of a root canaled tooth becoming abscessed! Just a matter of time, they all abscess eventually.

The dry socket, again this occurs with the extraction of a root canaled tooth more so than an extraction of a tooth that had not been root canaled. Typically the symptoms of a dry socket will diminish within 7-10 days... but when the bone is not healthy from a chronically infected tooth, the residual swelling can take a few weeks to calm down.

Did your surgeon instruct you to continue rinsing with warm salt water? This is usually helpful and can speed the healing process. Also, do not rinse with any mouthwash as it is too irritating to the surgical site and can interfere with the healing... no smoking or drinking alcohol as both of these will impede healing also.

Did your surgeon say he was able to remove all of the tooth? Or did he leave any pieces of the root in the bone? I ask that because sometimes a swelling develops between the cheek and the gum when there is something irritating the socket.... usually it's a piece of the root.

Bryanna