[dianajune]

I had a rather difficult extraction of my lower right (second molar?) tooth that was located next to where the wisdom tooth used to be. I knew the extraction would most likely be hard because part of the tooth broke off the night before I went in.

When he started the extraction the tooth began to break, so he had to use a combination of several different instruments, including a drill. He took a couple of xrays during this to make sure he got it all, but at the end he told me it was difficult to tell if there was a tooth fragment left. He said if there was, it would work its way out.

He ended up giving me sutures (dissolvable) because I had trouble with bleeding. He asked if I was a smoker, and I said no. I don't take blood thinning meds either, so I don't know why this was an issue. I do, however, use an oral steroid (Advair) for my asthma, so perhaps this is why that happened. Don't know. The procedure ended at around 12:15 Tuesday afternoon and I had some bleeding (not heavy) until around 9pm that evening.

When he sutured me, he didn't go all the way across the extraction site, just one end of it and towards the middle.

I had a low-grade fever two nights ago that has since cleared up. I doubt there's an infection, but he did put me on amoxicillin which I have been taking faithfully, and I started the salt water rinses yesterday like I was told to.

So why am I still having bad pain? He gave me the antibiotic, not because I had an infection but as a precaution. The pain felt like it lessened considerably this afternoon (Friday) but once I got up and moved around and started running errands, it got worse. I read somewhere that one shouldn't exercise after an extraction - but I wouldn't call what I was doing "exercise."

Sometimes the pain radiates across my bottom right jaw towards the center and sometimes it goes away completely and then comes back. I realize this was a difficult extraction and that the recovery process wouldn't be a piece of cake. Even so, it seems worse then when I had my wisdom teeth out!

How long will this pain last? I don't have the signs of an infection. That fever was only for one night and was very low. I don't have bad breath or a bad taste in my mouth, and the swelling has gone down considerably. I just wish this pain would go away and I hope that I won't be told to come back to his office because I don't have the money.

Thoughts, anyone? Should I just try to sit this out a bit longer? Can difficult extractions take awhile for the post-op pain to lessen to the point where its tolerable? I am even scared of eating because I don't want to screw up anything. Help! Thanks!

[Bryanna]

Hi dianajune,

Difficult extractions can take several days to feel better. Retreiving a root tip that's broken off in the jawbone can cause alot of trauma to the area during the removal. The (temporary) end result of that trauma is inflammation in the bone. Oral steroids for asthma generally do not cause any additional bleeding, pain or swelling to the extraction site.

Since the dentist was not sure whether or not he removed all of the tooth, it may be wise to have an xray of that area at your next cleaning appointment to see if there is a root tip still in the bone. Sometimes they have to be removed and sometimes natures slowly moves it up and out of the bone....... depends on where it is and how wedged it is in the bone. Sometimes root tips can be left in without any problem and other times it can become infected. So it's good to monitor it periodically with xrays ........if there is a root tip still in there.

If the pain has not decreased considerably by tuesday of this coming week, or it gets seriously worse, then it may be wise to see your dentist to rule out a dry socket. As I said, it can take several days for the area to feel better but difficult extractions especially with the lower teeth can some times end up not healing properly.

It may also be helpful to eat a soft diet which gives the jaw muscles a needed rest since sometimes there is alot of strain on the TMJ area during a lower extraction and this could also cause continued pain in the jaw.

Keep up with the warm salt water rinses several times a day for the next several weeks, avoid eating on that area and make sure you brush and floss your whole mouth so it stays nice and clean.

Please let us know how you are doing!

Bryanna

Originally Posted by dianajune

I had a rather difficult extraction of my lower right (second molar?) tooth that was located next to where the wisdom tooth used to be. I knew the extraction would most likely be hard because part of the tooth broke off the night before I went in.

When he started the extraction the tooth began to break, so he had to use a combination of several different instruments, including a drill. He took a couple of xrays during this to make sure he got it all, but at the end he told me it was difficult to tell if there was a tooth fragment left. He said if there was, it would work its way out.

He ended up giving me sutures (dissolvable) because I had trouble with bleeding. He asked if I was a smoker, and I said no. I don't take blood thinning meds either, so I don't know why this was an issue. I do, however, use an oral steroid (Advair) for my asthma, so perhaps this is why that happened. Don't know. The procedure ended at around 12:15 Tuesday afternoon and I had some bleeding (not heavy) until around 9pm that evening.

When he sutured me, he didn't go all the way across the extraction site, just one end of it and towards the middle.

I had a low-grade fever two nights ago that has since cleared up. I doubt there's an infection, but he did put me on amoxicillin which I have been taking faithfully, and I started the salt water rinses yesterday like I was told to.

So why am I still having bad pain? He gave me the antibiotic, not because I had an infection but as a precaution. The pain felt like it lessened considerably this afternoon (Friday) but once I got up and moved around and started running errands, it got worse. I read somewhere that one shouldn't exercise after an extraction - but I wouldn't call what I was doing "exercise."

Sometimes the pain radiates across my bottom right jaw towards the center and sometimes it goes away completely and then comes back. I realize this was a difficult extraction and that the recovery process wouldn't be a piece of cake. Even so, it seems worse then when I had my wisdom teeth out!

How long will this pain last? I don't have the signs of an infection. That fever was only for one night and was very low. I don't have bad breath or a bad taste in my mouth, and the swelling has gone down considerably. I just wish this pain would go away and I hope that I won't be told to come back to his office because I don't have the money.

Thoughts, anyone? Should I just try to sit this out a bit longer? Can difficult extractions take awhile for the post-op pain to lessen to the point where its tolerable? I am even scared of eating because I don't want to screw up anything. Help! Thanks!