Bone/Gum Graft Issues
 

Hi,

I had bone and gum grafting done on August 27 in practically my entire lower jaw (except the very back tooth on each side). The bone graft was the ground up bone turned into putty… I had major crowding in my mouth and could not get braces until I was about 31 (I am now 38). I am told that when they rounded out my bottom teeth, they pushed them partially out of my jaw which caused the gum rescission (i did have some prior due to the crowding). I also had 4 teeth (not my wisdom teeth) pulled at that time to make room for my teeth (eye teeth?) .

It has been about 2.5 months since my surgery, and there is a lot I still cannot eat, such as meats that are not ground meat (chicken breasts, pork, etc.). I can eat meatloaf and browned ground meat in pastas, but even a hamburger is a bit dense for me. It's not that I can't physically chew it - i can, but afterwards I swell up - the more firm something I've tried, the more I swell up. Sometimes I have pain with it.

As long as I stick with my softer foods and ground meat, I have only a very low level of swelling and no pain.. I have never had a fever, so I am not worried that I have an infection.

My periodontist did not explain things well to me at all... They told me before the surgery 1 week liquids then 1 week soft foods, and then I can start to eat more normal. Then I had the surgery and at my 1 week they told me 1 more week of liquids (before anyone even looked at my mouth) and then at my 1 month they told me I could just work my way up to a normal diet. I had no idea it was going to be this long!

I haven't contacted them because I don't want to pay for a visit for them just to tell me it's a normal part of healing.. my next follow up isn't until next September (1 year). And I figure it's not like they can just cut me open and take it all out...

Should I be worried about my progress? Is it possible that the bone graft is not taking well??

Thank you very much in advance for your time!!