Dry socket causing lump on jaw?
 

I had all 3 of my existing wisdom teeth removed 2/24/16. One lower and both upper. The lower developed dry socket. I have been treating for a week with the clove gel product Sockit, though I ran out this morning. The dry socket is improving, but still bothersome. Especially the cavernous hole. I haven't eaten solid food in nearly two weeks. The dry socket apparently has a gravitational pull. I tried to eat a steamed carrot one night and got a ginormous carrot piece stuck in there for a day. I haven't tried to eat again.

My questsions are:

It's been a week since I saw the surgeon for dry socket, how much longer will this hole of doom last? Do I need more Sockit? The pain has not "peaked" in two days.

There is a very painful and tender lump on my jaw line just below the dry socket. It feels hard and is very painful to touch. Is this just normal swelling or should I be concerned that I have yet another complication? I really might cry.

Thanks in advance!

Hi snowclover,

Lower wisdom teeth extraction sites can take several weeks to heal closed. However, the tender lump on your jaw line is concerning. What did the oral surgeon say about this lump? Has the surgeon taken an xray since this tooth was removed?

Bryanna

I haven't talked to the oral surgeon since he diagnosed my dry socket a week ago. Since that appointment, the swelling has gone down and the pain deep in the socket has diminished enough that I just noticed the painful lump. That's why I was wondering if it was the result of the dry socket or if I should go in again. I'll call in.

I saw the oral surgeon. After her determined that there were no signs of infection he didn't think that X-rays were necessary and that it felt like scar tissue to him, and that it would become less sensitive and maybe go away in time.

I have fever and discharge at the incision site now, so definitely infection. I'm heading back in tomorrow. Updating for future googles.

snowclover,

Please tell the oral surgeon to take an xray of that area.
Keep us posted.

Bryanna

He insisted there was no infection and what I was seeing was secondary healing. He assures me that everything looks great, the giant painful lump is scar tissue that I need to massage away and all of my pain is from the trauma of the extraction. No X-rays. It's been 31 days since my extraction, I am still using Sockit, heating pads and Ibuprofen to function. I feel like I'm being dismissed while simultaneously assured to call if I have any concerns. I do have concerns! I have been seen four times post op for pain, told everything looks fabulous and tut tut go home now. I am at a complete loss. Will this pain ever go away?

Snowclover,

Unless the oral surgeon has xray vision allowing him to see into places that are not visible to the eye... he cannot say for certain that there is no problems occurring in the bone or the socket.

You need an xray.

Bryanna

Bryanna,

Thank you for your encouragement. I returned to the oral surgeon again. My face had swollen so huge and was hot to the touch that the infection was pretty evident. He did finally do X-rays where it was determined that I did indeed have a very large and very infected abscess. Emergency incision and drainage was performed yesterday and aside from healing an incision and stitches again I feel so, so much better.

I'm not mad at the surgeon, I think he truly believed I was not infected, but I did learn I should have trusted my instincts and advocated for myself more. I knew it was an abscess for weeks before it was treated.

Thanks again Bryanna.

Snowclover,

To be honest, I would be upset with the oral surgeon if I were his patient and he didn't xray the area when the lump was first discovered. There really was no excuse for him not to take that xray at that time. He could not rule out infection just by taking a clinical look at it and he knows that.

I'm glad you have finally gotten some relief.... but the I&D is no picnic and now you have additional healing to do. I hope it goes well for you.

Yes, please in the future trust your instincts and don't hesitate to make your concerns clear especially when there are obvious signs that something is not healing normally.

Hope your healing is uneventful from this point forward.

Bryanna