Hi there,

Pretty much the only relevant information about my issue on the web is found in this forum! So I decided to sign up and ask my own question.

I had all 4 wisdom teeth removed just under 2 months ago by an OS under GA.

• Week 3 - One side of face was significantly swollen one day with a large amount of pus discharge. Went to GP for antibiotics (was a weekend)
• Week 5 - Pus appeared again and went to OS for evaluation; was prescribed another course of antibiotics and to continue salt-water rinses. Said it was probably food stuck in the holes

It is now week ~8 and I noticed pus coming out of one of my holes again Have booked an appointment with my OS who is going to cut into my gums and clean it out.

I don't have much information about this procedure; I've read it termed as 'debridement' on this site, but searching about this is difficult due to another more common procedure being called this.

So my questions are, what does this procedure entail exactly? I assume it will be under LA (I don't fancy paying a hospital again!), but what will the recovery be like? Will I be put back on a soft food diet?

Also, are infections this far out from wisdom teeth removal common? I must admit that I am a smoker; would this be a contributing factor?

I'm really starting to regret having this procedure done now, it was all going so well

Hi sortaoverit,

I am in the dental field and can offer you some help here.

You definitely have described a bad infection. It is not due to food or debris in the surgical site. It is most likely due to bacteria from the infected tooth and perhaps the socket was not debrided (scraped) out well enough after the extraction.

The procedure that you speak of is referred to as a surgical debridement. An incision is made in the top portion of the gum, the tissue is opened up a bit for viewing and instruments to fit down in there. A lot of firm scraping will take place and the socket will be irrigated with copious amounts of saline. He may or may not suture it closed.

It may be difficult to get you numb for this procedure due to the infection as the bacteria fights the anesthetic medication. So some form of IV twilight sedation, not general anesthesia, would be helpful in pain management with this procedure.

The recovery from this surgery is similar to having a tooth extraction. Yes, you would be on a soft food diet.

Smoking is a huge factor in the lack of healing after oral surgery. It deprives the mouth of oxygen, just like in the lungs. The blood has a hard time clotting and the oral tissue is constantly inflamed and irritated. In addition to those things.... the chemicals in tobacco are carcinogenic. So think about those chemicals saturating the blood clot and the tissue of an extraction site deep down to the exposed bone level in the surgical wound. Chances are you would not deliberately soak a piece of gauze in those chemicals and put it inside of the socket. But that is essentially what is happening when you smoke.

Sorry to be so graphic.... but it is important for you to understand the ill affects smoking has on your ability to heal and if you continue to smoke, this surgery will most likely not have any long term benefit.

I wish you all the best.
Bryanna

Thought I'd come back and thank you for the information Bryanna.

The OS did indeed cut open the gum and flush out the site, and did not suture it closed. It healed really well and I had no more problems with infection.

Thanks for you help again

Hi sortaoverit,

Oh you are very welcome

This is great news!! Thanks for so much for updating us!

Bryanna