Surprise swelling 3 weeks after wisdom tooth extraction
 

Hello! In looking for some advice for my issues, I found this forum and figured I'd post my situation.

I had 3 wisdom teeth removed on 9/10/15 - two on top and the bottom right. Both top and bottom on the right were impacted and the top left erupted about a year ago and never caused me any trouble. I did not have a fourth.

Healing was hell. I had a reaction to the pain killers and had severe vomiting for a few days and then my bottom right side got a dry socket and it was the worst pain I've ever had. I went to get it packed once, but did not go back again and instead took motrin + tylenol to manage the pain as I don't like bothering the dentist for her to tell me "pain is normal with a dry socket"


Anyway, the pain finally started to subside yesterday but today I woke up and my bottom right side was a little swollen. Oddly enough, the extraction site feels better than ever and my teeth sensitivity is gone.

With the swelling, it feels like a sore muscle but hurts quite a bit. I discovered that area is where the "masseter" muscle is and it can sometimes be strained during the procedure, but I'm not sure why it would suddenly start to swell now after 3 weeks.

My boyfriend seems to think swelling = infection and I don't think he is wrong, but I have no other symptoms of infection. I feel mostly fine, I don't have a fever, no swollen lymph nodes or anything.

Any idea why I'd have swelling now? 3 weeks after my extraction? I plan on going to the dentist tomorrow, but I'm just worried and wanted to see if anyone had any idea what's going on! So far, research has led me to believe it's either an up and coming jaw infection or muscle trauma.
Thanks for reading!


Oh, i'm 26, have pretty excellent oral hygiene I'd say, never had cavities, have been rinsing and irrigating with a syringe and warm salt water only, and have been following all instructions to a T. There is a fairly large hole, but it seems to be healing fine. No pus or weird smells and it's not red or anything.

Hi kate9989,

It is best to see the oral surgeon to evaluate the swelling on the lower right side. The sudden swelling this long after an extraction is not typical of muscle inflammation unless you did something to strain your lower jaw. Infection does not always cause pain until it becomes severe so it's best to have it checked to rule out infection. A single xray would be helpful to determine if there is a piece of broken tooth or splintered bone in the area.

Please check back and let us know what the oral surgeon has to say about it.

Bryanna

Thank you Bryanna for your speedy reply! You help so many people here!

I have an appointment to go get everything checked out in about 2 hours. I'll update after.. I hope it's nothing too serious.

antibiotics but no answers :(
 

I went back to the dentist today around noon and she said the site looks really good and like it's healing well then prescribed me some antibiotics for the swelling and just said come back if it doesn't get better in a few days.


I picked up my antibiotics and have taken them 3/4 times today so far and the swelling seems about the same. It also hurts like hell. I'm so tired of being in pain and I hate taking so much motrin, tylenol and antibiotics. ugh.

Here's hoping the antibiotics I just got prescribed takes care of whatever is causing the swelling. I'm not sure how "everything looks great!" when my cheek is swollen and hurts so bad.

I've read about post extraction infections and people having to go in for debridement and the idea of that has me in a panic after all the pain and stuff I've already been through. Not only that, but I don't know if I can even afford another procedure :(

Haha, all my friends and family said wisdom teeth extractions are no big deal and I would be fine in a few days! yea right!

Hi Kate,

Antibiotics take 24-48 hours to get into the blood stream and stay there. So if they are going to help, you may not notice any real improvement before 24-48 hours.

Is the dentist an oral surgeon or a general dentist?

Bryanna

Thank you for the reassurance! I'm hoping the antibiotics work.


She is a dentist. A friend recommended the place as he got his wisdoms out there and had no problems. The place seemed really nice and I didn't feel apprehensive at all going in.. Looking back though, I can't believe they didn't tell me things like - "you'll have a big hole in your gum"

I didn't even realize I'd need an oral surgeon instead of a dentist! I thought wisdom teeth extractions were a dentist thing :(

Hi Kate,

Oral surgery is not the same as general or restorative dentistry. Oral surgeons have 3-5 additional years of school to perform surgery. General dentists have been taught to perform basic tooth extractions. The removal of wisdom teeth is usually more than basic and it is different for every person.

General dentists are sometimes not as well informed as oral surgeon about post operative complications following the removal of wisdom teeth. So if you do not notice significant improvement after 2 days of the antibiotic, you may consider seeing an oral surgeon to evaluate the situation.

Bryanna

Hiya Kate,

I don't know if you'd still frequent these forums after a few years... but I was wondering if you ever found out why it was swollen? I've got random and new swelling 2 months after all four were removed. My dentist had a good check and x-ray and couldn't see anything wrong, so just told me to stay on anti-inflammatories and see if it goes down... I had bone chipped away at the bottom right, so she thought it perhaps wouldn't be so unusual for the bone to still be healing. That area hasn't quite finished healing up (although the other 3 have done well and quickly).

I'll go back if it hasn't in a few days but it's bizarre. I take Bryanna's point on oral surgeons and I'll try going back to them, but waiting lists are long and I'm not sure I'll be able to soon.

Thanks in advance, if you can shed any light at all!