Hello!

I had #19 pulled a little over 2 weeks ago and a bone graft at the same time. I had to go back in a few days after to have it restitched, but other than that, I think it's healing appropriately. It still hurts though. Is it normal for it to still hurt? It aches. And when I close my mouth, the tooth in front of the one that I had extracted is super tender. It almost feels magnetic to the tooth above it, if that makes any sense - or like sticky. But I think it's just pain that I'm interpreting in that way.

Because I take fluoxetine, I can't take ibuprofen and tylenol isn't doing anything for it. It's manageable, but it does hurt. It has gotten better since it was done, but the pain level has been pretty consistent for the past 10 days or so. Not worse, but not much better. I'm just hoping it's normal - I'm a bit of a worrier.

Also, I can still see some yellow in the extraction site - is that the membrane? A part of me worries that there's food stuck in there and my skin is going to grow over it and make problems.

My dentist didn't give me any post-op instructions so I have no idea what's normal and what's not. Any advice from you guys would be helpful.

Thank you!

Hi valligator,

Normal post op pain from an extracted tooth varies from one person to another. You should be rinsing with warm salt water 3-4 times a day. Avoid mouthwash of any kind as the chemicals are irritating to the wound and mouthwashes really don't serve any helpful benefit anyway. Avoid eating on that site as much as possible until the gum closes over. Do not try to stick anything into the hole to remove what you think may be debris as you could be pulling out the tissue that was formed by the clot.

You should always have a post op appointment with the dentist who removed the tooth 10-14 days after the extraction for him to evaluate the socket.

Do you have that appointment set up?

Bryanna

Thank you for the response! I've been rinsing when I notice something obvious in the hole, but I will rinse more frequently with salt water. I haven't been eating on that side at all. So it's normal for it to still hurt 2 weeks later?
I saw the dentist 10 days after to have the stitches removed. He said everything looks great. I guess I'm just hoping that it's normal for it to still be hurting. It's not agonizing, but when I close my teeth together, there is (sometimes) a lot of pain with the tooth in front of the one that was extracted. I know it can be common for the surrounding teeth to hurt. Maybe my bite is adjusting? I haven't really been closing my mouth all the way in more than 2 weeks, so I was thinking maybe things are just kind of moving around a little.

Hi valligator,

You are welcome!

Yea, keep rinsing with the warm salt water. If you think you see food debris in there the rinsing will eventually rinse it out.

It is normal for the bite to shift after an extraction. The amount of shifting differs for each person. It could also be a temporary movement of the pre molar that is due to inflammation in the tissue and bone. Could also be due to inflammation in the muscle around the TMJ area from extending your mouth open wide for the extraction. This would feel achey, sometimes sharp and it would hurt more after chewing or moving your jaw a lot. Try to give your jaw a rest and stick to soft foods as much as possible for another week or two. You could also apply moist heat to that side of your face especially before you do to sleep at night as this will help bring the blood into that area and help relax the muscle there.

By next week, if you feel that the pre molar is not improving with each day or it seems to be getting worse, then see your dentist as he may be able to adjust it so it is not hitting into your bite too hard.

Hope you improve with each day!
Bryanna

Thanks again, Bryanna! I went in on Thursday to see my dentist just to make sure it looks okay. He said everything's good - I told him it hurt to bite - he adjusted the bite (ground down the tooth in front of #19 that I said was tender) and it has changed my life. So much better. As a person with lots of anxiety, you are an incredible resource - thank you!!

I have one more question. I was just brushing my teeth and looked very closely at the spot. There's a sharp white thing poking just outside of the spot where my tooth was extracted. What the heck is that?!?! If I were 7, I would say a tooth was growing in. I'm not. So what is it??

Any advice would be appreciated before I start freaking out.

Thank you!!

Hi valligator,

So glad you went in to have it checked and with the adjustment you are feeling better!

That "tooth like" white spot is a bony spur or bone fragment. These often occur after the removal of a tooth. Usually they are tiny little splinters of slivers of bone that fall out on their own as the site heals. Sometimes they become a little troublesome or sore and they are then easily removed by your dentist.

And thank you for the kind words
Bryanna

Phew - okay, thank you! It's not coming out of the hole, but out of the side of the gums of the tooth that was pulled. Is that still okay? It'll just work its way out through my gum?

valligator,

Yes, most often the bony splinters will be coming from the ridge or side of the the gum. If it becomes a problem before it falls out then see your OS.

Have a good weekend!
Bryanna