Hello,
I hope Bryanna can help me on this, at least to make me feel less... afraid.
I have had a problem on my upper jaw for a while now, the gum will swollen (only have this in the morning when I wake up) and when I press it a yellow stuff comes out. So I thought this is an infection... due to the fact that I moved to Canada from Spain a couple of years ago, I didn't go to the dentist until my papers were ready.
So I told my dentist about it and he sent me to a Maxillo-facial surgeon. My dentist was saying I'm missing a tooth. My parents never took me to the dentist when I was small so I told him nothing had ever been removed from my mouth.
So I went to the surgeon and he took some x-rays. Apparently, one of my teeth never came out, it seems to be located very close to the sinus and he said that if there is infection it has to be removed....
he also told me that he couldn't guarantee 100% that I wasn't going to have problems with the sinus after, and that he has dealed with problems like this a few times.
he has 30 years experience, I mean, I'm not worried about that, but since he said he has to go through the sinus and that is tricky to remove it when it is in that location... I'm literally freaking out...
I've been reading some people's posts here and in other forums, and they have had some serious problems after surgery.
The operation is next wednesday... how worried should I be?
please reply before wednesday!
thank you.

Hi laurynn,

Your description of your dental problem indicates an infection in what is called a retained tooth up in your maxilla bone and it's possibly partially located in your sinus cavity as well. This is a very different issue from the other posts discussed on this thread here. Your tooth is not present/visible through the bone or gum tissue because it never came down with your other teeth. The other questions here are about teeth that are present (visible) in the mouth and their roots are located in or near the sinus. Different issue altogether.

Your oral surgeon has performed this type of surgery many hundreds of times in 30 years of practicing dentistry. It is a complicated procedure in that he needs to get adequate access to the tooth in order to remove it and that is a bit tricky considering where it is. Depending on how far up it is and how close to the sinus it is will determine if he has to enter the sinus or not. Again, he is well versed on this procedure and will know what to do when he gets in there. Any incisions he makes will be sutured closed and post operatively you will need to take a few days to rest and take extra good care of yourself. It is important to plan a nutritious soft diet ahead of time so it's one less thing to think about at the time. Make sure you have plenty of water to drink and a really great natural homeopathic pain reliever is called Arnica Montana. It can be bought online or at a health food store. It comes in small vials and the pellets are put under the tongue every few hours. You can actually start taking it twice a day a few days before the surgery. Homeopathy is very helpful in reducing swelling and pain for all oral surgery if it is taken properly. The pellets should never be touched, use the cap of the vial to place them under your tongue and you should not eat or drink for one hour after you take them.

As for the post operative problems with your sinuses...... that all depends on how extensive the infection is into the sinus.... how much of it he can remove..... how much of the sinus is affected by the infection.... and your body's own natural healing abilities. It is imperative to be healthy during the healing phase of this surgery. Avoid illness as best as you can, keep yourself well nourished and well hydrated with water...... avoid sugary foods, hard to digest foods, and empty carbs because they all lower the immune system.

I know this is scary but you will be ok. Are you being put to sleep for the procedure?

Bryanna

Hi,
Just sat here bleeding quietly having had an hour long extraction- upper left molar. The dentist explained after that 'there is a problem, one of your roots has gone up into your sinus cavity. If there is a problem you will have to go to hospital, maybe there will be no problem. The root may come back out into your mouth, or maybe if will come out of your nose."
I have been given a pile of antibiotics and an order NOT to sneeze ever again (well, for a day or so).
So far the other posts give me the fear.... I have the fear!
What to do?

Hi anotherbrother....

First of all, please don't panic. Fear will not make the problem go away, it's just going to give you something else to deal with and this problem will be resolved at some point.

The post operative instructions to not blow your nose (for about a week!!) is suppose to be given to all patients who have had upper molar extractions. If you have to sneeze, keep your mouth open to avoid pressure in the sinuses. Also, do not drink through a straw, smoke, drink alcohol or rinse with any mouthwash containing alcohol or essential oils. All of those things will prevent the surgical area from closing over.

If the dentist said "a root has gone up into your sinus" this generally means that part of the root was fractured off during the extraction and he pushed it up into the sinus while trying to retrieve it. Depending on where the root is, it may work it's way down and eventually poke a hole through the gum as if you were teething. This would be the best case scenerio.... then a dentist could remove it without difficulty.

The big issue here is the risk of infection. So it is wise to take the antibiotic and be diligent with your post operative instructions including rinsing with warm salt water starting 24 hours from now. If water runs out of your nose when you drink or rinse, then you need to go back to your dentist as this means that the sinus has not closed over. If now or in the future you develop unusual sinus congestion, pain or a bloody nasal discharge, then you would need to see an oral surgeon to evaluate where the root is and determine if there is any pathology going on.

This situation does occur from time to time.... if you are symptom free once the extraction site has healed closed, then it is best to have the area evaluated 1-2 times a year with an xray at your dental office to see where the root is and if there are any unfavorable changes occuring in that area.

Were you planning on replacing this extracted tooth with an implant?

Bryanna

I recently had the third molar extracted and the root broke off in land was pushed into my maxillary sinus. This was Friday dec 29 2017. He continued to prep and put in a temporary bridge but didn’t prescribe antibiotics because I had been on severalthe prior month due to ear infections. The first few days I experienced normal pain after a extraction. However I began to notice increasing discomfort. The Friday following the extraction I woke up in horrible pain with my right nostril congested and a foul tase in my mouth. through the coarse of the day I noticed a foul odor in my nose and a thin mucus started leaking from my nostril. It smells and tastes horrid. That night at 2:30am I went to the hospital where I didn’t receive much attention other than being prescribed augmenten and told it was a sinus infection. I’ve been on the antibiotics 4 days with no relief.
I went for my post ol exam and the dentist was finally able to see the root tip in the x-ray and set me up with the oral surgeon and had me get a 3D X-ray done so the surgeon would know how to proceed. What worries me is the puss like stuff coming from my sinus I have done sinus rinses and had some relief however today it’s hurting much worse. It hasn’t stopped even with the antibiotics. My first fear was dry socket but the extraction sight hasn’t been tender more than expected and I can’t see anything because of the temporary bridge.

To say the least I am frightened about the procedure I am scheduled to have this coming Saturday. I am afraid it is pretty invasive but not knowing yet if he will have to go through my pallet or the check side I don’t know how much so it will be. Then comes the fact that I frankly can’t afford another procedure after spending so much on the original process of extraction and bridge.