Severe infection after wisdom tooth removal - please help me
 

Hello everyone, thanks for the opportunity to join such a supportive community.

I'm hoping for some help as I'm currently in horrendous pain. I'm a 33-year-old woman from North London with perhaps not the best immune system due to a history of anorexia and very recently grieving for loved ones.

I had my lower right wisdom tooth out on Saturday. At the time, my dentist told me it was infected, (I have had some discomfort for the past few months) and that once out, the infection may spread downwards. He prescribed 15 x 500mg Amoxicillin for this. There were no complications during the extraction which I had under a local anaesthetic, and I went home feeling a little sore once the numbness had subsided.

By Sunday evening I was in terrible pain and have been since. Co-codamol and Ibruprofen are not touching the pain. I returned to the dentist on Monday and he cleaned the socket, put medicine in there, and said there's no debri left, and that I need to ride out the infection. He prescribed 9 x Metronidazole to take alongside my Amoxicillin.

It's now Wednesday evening and I'm no better, the pain is leaving me in constant tears. I can't sleep for more that two hours for being woken by pain. I called the dentist again this morning and they said there's nothing they can do and that I should wait until tomorrow because antibiotics take 3-4 days to kick in. I only have 3 pills left?!

I don't smoke, I have good dental hygiene and have been using salt water rinses and Corsodyl mouthwash (as advised by dentist).

Please tell me all he is saying is right and that things will improve tomorrow? I'm at the end of my tether with this pain and feel so depressed :(

Hi Emmalucy,

You need to see the dentist again. You obviously had infection in the bone and there is no way anyone on the internet can tell you whether you still have infection or not.

Antibiotics generally take 24 to 48 hours to get into the blood stream and take hold of the infection. You then need to stay on them long enough to kill the bacteria. So you may need additional medication.

Your intense pain is not normal if the bone were healthy. If the oral surgeon will not see you, then get in to see a different oral surgeon.

I hope you get relief soon.

Bryanna

Thank you very much Bryanna. I will go back today as the pain is still terrible.

Hi Bryanna,

So I took your advice and revisited the surgery today, my usual dentist wasn't available but I saw another.

She took out Monday's dressing (awful smell), cleaned the site and redressed it, before prescribing a further five days of Amoxicillin. She wanted to anaesthetise me but I declined as it couldn't be any more painful than it already was.

This evening, whilst eating supper, the dressing came out. But it feels better? I'm not in pain!! The painkillers are working!!

I'm just wondering if this is alright or if I should return tomorrow to get another dressing put in?

Thank you

Emma Lucy

Hi Emmalucy,

The dressing that the dentist put in on monday should have been removed by the second day and changed. He did not tell you that?

It is best to call the new dentist tomorrow and tell her the dressing came out and what your current symptoms are at that time. She will decide as to whether you need to come back in or not. Usually the dressing is changed every other day for about a week.

Glad it has brought you some relief!

Bryanna