Hi,

I'm an 18 year old male student studying Computer Engineering in Sydney, Australia.

On the 26th of March 2015 I had both of my lower third molars and two upper second pre-molars extracted under GA in anticipation of orthodontic work (I now have braces).

After the extraction the maxillofacial surgeon informed me that the wisdoms were both very large and very deeply impacted.

Recovery was okay, initially painful as expected (I didn't take any pain killers as I'm the type of person who isn't too bad with pain and I like to know whats going on with my body).

About a 3 weeks later (maybe a bit more) I started to get some inflammation/pain on the left side and my cheek puffed up like it had post extraction. I suspected an infection so I went back to my surgeon who prescribed amoxil. That cleared it up.

About a week after that I got a similar thing on the right side. Again, he prescribed amoxil and that cleared it up yet again.

You guessed it, a week after that I got yet another infection on the left side again. Unlike with my previous infections, I decided to push on the inflammation. I got a mixture of pus and blood in my mouth, coming from my rear left "hole". I went back to the surgeon and yes, you guessed it, he prescribed me amoxil.

I hate to repeat myself but about a week later I felt yet another infection coming on. I went back to my surgeon and he wrote up a script for amoxil. At this point I started to get quite worried about what I was dealing with and I was beginning to become quite skeptical of my surgeon. So before taking the above mentioned course of antibiotics I went to a GP at the medical center I work at. He suspected retained tooth fragments and ordered an OPG which revealed some mucosal thickening but no signs of retained tooth fragments. He recommended that I take the antibiotics prescribed and so I did.

Then it all seemed to clear up. No issues whatsoever. No tenderness, no pain. I was so happy to just leave this behind as a chapter in my life and turn the page!

That was until about two weeks ago when I noticed a relatively small bump appear on my left jawbone. It was about the size of a marble and not really noticeable externally. It wasn't particularly painful although there was some pain/tenderness when I applied pressure to it. I applied quite a bit of force and boom it "popped". I had blood rush out of the "hole" from the extraction and into my mouth. The blood appeared to be very well oxygenated and there was no pus accompanying it. Upon further feeling around there was another little bump adjacent to it. I applied more pressure and that went too. After doing that I felt around where the two lumps where and it felt great!

A week later I was thinking about it and I figured that I may have had a small food particle and that was causing all of my problems and that the blood would have essentially flushed the area.

Today, I noticed an abnormal yet familiar feeling (some sort of inflammation but no real pain) in/on my left jaw. I touched it and there it was, a marble sized lump. As with the previous it was quite firm. As with the previous episode I decided to press it and yet again blood drained from whatever it is and into my mouth through the "hole" at the back of my mouth. Upon further inspection I noticed yet another lumpy thing. Rather than press on this one I decided to call up my surgeon's office and make an appointment to see him. They slotted me in for that day (today). I went in, and explained to him what had happened. He had a look and a feel and said he thought it was just a gland. I then said, "look I'll show you" and started to press on it with quite a lot of force. He just stood there and watched as I went to town on this thing. He kept on telling me "your not going to get any blood from that". I pressed a bit harder and I could taste a little blood in my mouth. I got up, spat it out and continued. Now sure that there was more to come I gave it one final press. Then *BOOM!* I felt the lump collapse (it reminds me of popping a cystic type pimple, that sort of feeling when everything rapidly escapes). He, quite amazed asked me to open my mouth so he could have a look. After having a peep and confirming that the blood was in fact coming from the hole he asked me to spit it out and wash with full strength savacol.

Since there wasn't any puss mixed in with the blood (as with last time it was also well oxygenated) he didn't think there was an infection. He think's it a "haematoma cyst like thing" and that it is just a result of the massive trauma associated with extracting wisdoms as large as mine were. He also thinks that it is to do with "delayed healing as a result of the infections". Now I love to be an optimist, but I'm really worried that it is something more serious. The possibility of a cyst or Osteomyelitis still seems pretty real to me and I don't think he even really knows what is going on here. Apparently cysts and things of the like can be very destructive to surrounding teeth, tissue and bone. I guess another possibility would be necrotic tissue. I'm not a doctor or a dentist but whatever is going on with my mouth seems anything but routine considering that it's been 4 months and I certainly don't want to risk my health because my surgeon has an inflated sense of pride. If there is an issue I would love to kick it in the proverbial teeth while I can.

Does anybody have any insight into whats going on with me? Do you think it would be wise for me to pop into emergency and ask for another opinion?

I'd really love to get on with my studies but it's hard when I've always got this in the back of my mind.

Thanks for you help and apologies for the long post,
Jabroon

Hi jabroon,

I think you are correct to be concerned about this ongoing problem in your lower jaw. It is not uncommon to develop osteomyelitis or a cavitation in the jaw bone after the removal of a wisdom tooth both of which can have ongoing symptoms as you have described.

Dentists and doctors who practice conventional medicine/dentistry often do not recognize the signs of osteomyelitits or cavitations of the jaw bone until the problem has become more widespread. I would recommend that you see a biological dentist who has education and a clear understanding of what these infections are and if diagnosed as such can guide you on your options to treat it. In searching the IAOMT (International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology) website I came across a clinic in Sydney who seem well informed on biological dentistry. The founder, Dr Patel, may be the most informed of the three dentists. Although I cannot personally vouch for their integrity or skill, it may be a good place to get information. You can call them and inquire which of the three would be best to see for this problem. The site is http://bcd.com.au/

Please follow up on this problem with getting the proper help and don't assume it will resolve on it's own. Let us know how you're doing.........

Bryanna