Bryanna, just a couple of more questions ( now it's been 5 weeks after the tooth extraction and the gums still feel puffy ). I'm so scared to go back and have this extraction site opened up ( nobody with experience answered my post ), but at the same time I'm so upset and angry because I'm convinced that my problem is only because the OS didn't clean the extraction site after he pulled the tooth, and he knew it was a root canaled tooth. What should I ask him before the procedure ? I don't know how he will be talking to me, my experience with him it's not good. I was taking clindamycin , just in case ( I'm sure I took it for nothing ) and on a third day I got a little rash on my stomach, I got scared it's an allergy ( I'm allergic to z-pack and amoxcillin ) so I called his office. When he called back he said if I'm allergic to every antibiotic he can give me, what can he do ? and a little rash is nothing, when I'll be covered in rash all over my body, then I should stop taking the antibiotic. It's hard to find another OS so I have to go back to him. I didn't make the appointment yet. Thank you !

Should I have an x-ray or ct scan before the procedure ? and he should send tissue for pathology ? What if he say he doesn't do that ? then I should find another OS for sure ? About the antibiotics : if he gives them to me again , should he give me something different then clindamycin ( I'm scared to take them again after that rash and I had stomach issues after I finished taking them ). So sorry for so many questions , I'm out of my mind worrying.

nyuszisue,

Has the discomfort gotten worse? Does it look like the wound is healing closed? Is it still very red or inflamed... are the gums in that area still bleeding when you brush?

If you feel you need to be seen again, I would suggest you find a different oral surgeon because this guy sounds like a jerk. Regarding the rash that you developed.... it is not wise to wait until the rash progresses... that is just stupid. Has the rash cleared up?

There are reasons why you are so sensitive to medications and the OS should understand that and discuss that with you, instead of being sarcastic and disinterested. He may have this attitude because he either does not feel it warrants any attention, feels that you have not given it enough time to heal and/or he is just a jerk.

You may not need any intervention and it just may need more time to heal. I cannot tell you yes or no from my view point here as I have not seen you clinically, or seen any xrays or photos of the area. So I truly cannot tell you if it needs intervention. I am not going to describe what the surgical procedure would be if the OS was to open it up again because you may not need that and depending on the situation the procedure can be done a couple of different ways. I have no visual to go by as to what may be happening to you.

If you decide you need to see someone... find a different OS and make sure you bring all of your pre and post op xrays with you. Do you live in a very rural area? If not then oral surgeons are not that difficult to locate. Are you concerned about finding one in your insurance plan? If so, you may have to see someone out of network.

nyuszisie,

I thought you had a ct scan via the ENT dr and said it was normal?

During the consultation with a new oral surgeon, discuss your concerns about the area not being cleaned out thoroughly and the possibility of residual bacteria still present. If he agrees that may still be a problem and says yes, I think that we need to go in an do a debridement. Then tell him you want a swab taken of the bacteria/tissue during the debridement and sent to the pathologist for a culture to determine the proper strain of antibiotic to treat that infection. Assertively tell him you have an elevated sensitivity to medications and want to be sure that you are taking the correct one rather than one that might or might not do the trick.

He may agree that bacteria is still present but he may also feel that a debridement is not necessary at this time and that the area is healing without surgical intervention. In that case he would assess you clinically, radio-graphically and take into consideration your chronic symptoms and the severity and duration of those symptoms before prescribing another antibiotic.

Please do not hesitate to discuss your concerns about taking medications. MANY people are allergic or sensitive to meds... so you are not alone in that.

I do have a suggestion........ to help with your intestinal health and overall health, start taking a probiotic supplement. A really good one that is well tolerated by most people is called Culturelle. You can buy it in most food stores, drug stores and online. Take one capsule a day with or without food and ideally every single day just like you would take vitamins.

When on antibiotics, take two caps a day but do not take them within one hour of your antibiotic. Ex: take one probiotic cap first thing in the am.... an hour later take your antibiotic and continue as prescribed. Sometime after dinner and before bedtime take another probiotic cap... again not within an hour of the antibiotic.

One reason why you have reactions to meds is due to a lack of healthy bacteria in your gut. Supplementing with a probiotic every day helps to build up a healthy supply of beneficial bacteria so that in case you do need to take an antibiotic, you will be less likely to have an intestinal reaction from it.

Another suggestion if the OS feels the area is healing and does not need to be debrided or need to prescribe an antibiotic but you want to boost your immune system a bit ..... two natural bacteria killers are Oregano Oil and Garlic. Eating fresh raw garlic is best but taking it in pill form is okay too. Kyolic is a good brand of garlic supplement. Oregano Oil should be standardized and Gaia Herbs is a reputable brand.

I know this is a difficult situation and I really wish you were getting more help from your dentist. But please try not to be so alarmed. I wish I could give you a definitive answer...... but I really cannot.

Let me know how you're doing and if this information is helpful to you.

Yes, I had the ct scan by the ENT and it was normal. And yes, I'm taking probiotics and I took them while I was taking the antibiotics.

The wound is closing but it's still red, and yes I have more pain again the last couple of days, usually it's better in the morning ( the pufiness also ) and gets worse as the day progresses. The gums are not bleeding anymore. And I should get my pre and post extraction x rays tommorow I will post them for you.
Yes, your posts are everything to me they are very helpful. Thank you again so much !

nyuszisie,

The site is closing over.... okay. The pain and puffiness gets worse as the day goes on... okay. When you bend your head down towards your feet, do you feel any pressure in that side of your face, cheek or near that eye or ear?

Are your rinsing with anything during the day? Are you putting anything on that area during the day? Do you drink hot coffee or tea or eat spicy foods during the day?

No pressure when I bend my head down. I rinse with salt water in the morning, late afternoon when I get home from work and after dinner and before going to bed. I have a cup of coffee around 1 pm, but I'm trying to drink it on the other side ( maybe not successfully ), no spicy foods, and I was trying to put on the gums PerioRub with phytoplenolin ( and other soothing herbs like aloe vera, echinacea,calendula,olive leaf ). Today I didn't put that on, and I still have some pain even after taking 600 mg of motrin ( today is the worst day regarding the pain. it's not unberable but it's there ).

nyuszisue,

Okay sometimes applying something to the wound can cause further irritation and puffiness. Keep in mind it is an open wound... open to the bone. So you really don't want to put anything on the opening that could get inside to the bone because the bone needs to remain sterile. I would suggest that you put nothing on the site. No herbs, nothing. Salt water rinses are good and keep doing that for several more days. When you see the oral surgeon, tell him what you have been putting on the site. It could be that the area is just severely irritated and that's why it's taking long to heal. But I cannot say that for certain.

No pain upon bending forward usually indicates that the sinus is not involved. So that's good. See if you can reduce the motrin to 400 and give it at least 30 minutes to kick in. You can always take another 200 mgs if necessary.

I wasn't putting that gel on the wound, just on the gums above where the tooth was and above neighboring teeth. I don't brush over the wound yet just around as close as I can and floss the teeth next to it, and don't eat on that side yet at all.