Hi Terry,

Glad to hear the tooth was removed!

You should apply constant pressure while biting onto the gauze for the first 45 minutes. Remove it and if it is actively bleeding, slightly dampen 2 more pieces of gauze and bit down for another 30-45 minutes. Continue to do this until the bleeding stops. Usually by the first or second time, the bleeding subsides.

If it continues to bleed.... you can moisten a tea bag and bite down on that for 20 minutes. The tannin in the tea will cause the blood to clot.

Please do not use any mouthwash to rinse with. Gentle salt water rinsing is all that is necessary and therapeutic beginning 24 hours after the extraction.

If you get a chance... let us know how you are doing.

Bryanna

Thanks Bryanna,

I've had the gauze in since I left the surgeon's office, changed it twice. thought I would have to keep it in all night but I could see myself swallowing it. My daughter had dry socket when she had her wisdom's taken and I remember how much pain she was in.

Thanks again, Terry

Just rest. Don't worry if you can about dry socket. I had four impacted wisdom teeth removed, and three this year. NO dry socket, and easy healing. Most go just fine. ginnie

Hi Terry,

Just checking in to see how you are doing?

Bryanna

Hi Bryanna,
Not bad, just dozing in and out on half a pain pill at a time. It is strange not to have that tooth, I didn't think it would so much because it is a back one. not eating much, just soft stuff.

I was amazed last night to receive a phone call from the surgeon seeing how I was doing!

I will use the salt water rinse later today.

Have a good day, Terry

Terry,

Okay, sounds like you're doing ok

When that area heals, you will not miss the tooth as much as you do now. One day at a time.....

Bryanna

Hi Bryanna

Finally got an appointment to see the oral-surgeon (I'm in the UK). They did an Orthopantomogram and the senior specialist had a look at it. I can't post here - I asked for a CD but they wouldn't give me one (that's the NHS for you!)

He found an unerupted wisdom tooth with a hole in it! This tooth is 2 along from the one I feel is where the pain comes from, although the surgeon said it could well be referred pain. But I may have 2 problems.

He first advises extraction of the wisdom tooth, let it settle and then see what happens. I will also still have the MRI (due next week).

My question is - have you ever heard of an unerupted wisdom tooth having a hole/infection in it - how does that happen if it hasn't come through?!!!

Thanks again

Lynne

Very surprised that in UK they don't let you have your MRI. In this country as bad as some of the issues are, it is a law, that you have a right to your records. Can you get a copy of the results? I don't think it is fair to ask a patient to make a decision on anything, unless they can look over, research their own records. I do wish you all the best. ginnie

Hi Lynney,

I will answer your question capital letters...

<<My question is - have you ever heard of an unerupted wisdom tooth having a hole/infection in it - how does that happen if it hasn't come through?!!!>>

YES. IRRELEVANT OF WHETHER THE WISDOM TOOTH COMES THROUGH THE BONE AND GUM OR NOT DOES NOT ALTER THE FACT THAT WISDOM TEETH DO NOT ALWAYS FORM COMPLETELY. THE DEFORMITY COULD BE WHAT THEY ARE REFERRING TO AS THE HOLE IN THE TOOTH. OR... BACTERIA HAS ACCUMULATED IN BETWEEN THE WISDOM TOOTH AND SECOND MOLAR AND ACTUALLY CAUSED TOOTH DECAY IN THE WISDOM TOOTH. THIS WOULD CAUSE AN INFECTION TO START BREWING AND IT IS IMPERATIVE TO HAVE THE TOOTH REMOVED.

ALSO, IT IS VERY POSSIBLE TO HAVE REFERRED PAIN FROM THIS SORT OF SITUATION. HOPEFULLY THE PROBLEM IS ISOLATED TO JUST THE WISDOM TOOTH. WHEN THEY REMOVE IT, THEY WILL HAVE A BETTER LOOK AT THE SECOND MOLAR.

Hope this answer helps.

Bryanna

Thank you for your reply. I could see the 'hole' the surgeon was referring to, which was a dark shape in the middle of the unerupted wisdom tooth. The tooth looked a normal size, but underneath the gum. I just didn't understand how that could have happened. Could the 'hole' always have been there? And only now causing me problems (I'm 55) or could it have developed recently...?

I know I have to go ahead with the extraction (not looking forward to that - the tooth is upper jaw and I have a small mouth!!!)

I've opted for just a local anaesthetic, not IV, perhaps I'm being stupid rather than brave! Don't have a date yet, but can I keep in touch while I wait anxiously for the appointment?

Thank you