What causes severe pain and swelling following a wisdom tooth extraction?

Q.
Hello Doctor,

Please help me. I had two lower wisdom teeth extracted on Friday 19th of Nov. Surgery went well under general anesthesia.

Bleeding stopped second day and a severe pain started on third or fourth day. Swelling was really bad especially on the left side which has now gone down.

I still have persistent sharp excruciating pain on the left side, it runs through the jaw and merges into the chin., i can feel a vibration in my temple and its really bad.

I went to hospital for a check up today at Eastman Dental, the dentist said it ‘could’ be an infection, she eliminated possibility of dry socket as she said that would not respond to pain killers, I am taking 2 mandanol 500 g to relieve pain.it gets better for a few hours.

She did not take any xrays and said because i could feel pain when she ‘poked’ at the site it was a good sign.

I have been prescribed Amoxicillin 500 mg for five days,

I am still worried as i have to teach in college and i can barely talk longer than five minutes, i have been off work for ten days now so this whole thing is really affecting me pretty badly.

DO you think i could still have a dry socket, and are these pains due to infection? I was given antibiotics at the start for five days, how did infection still develop, i have been keeping the site clean.

Please help, all i need to know if the diagnosis was alright or should I worry, I am due to travel in a few days.

A.
Sorry to read of your problems.
A pain that starts about 4 days after an extraction is often an infection. Amosxycillin is a good antibiotic but does not work for all bacteria all of the time. It would be worth getting another opinion regarding an additional antibiotic if symptoms have not started to improve.
Rob
Dr Rob Tennet St Johns Dental Practice 18 Bennett’s Hill, Birmingham, B2 5QJ Web: www.e-dentalpractice.co.uk
April 27th, 2011 at 08:47 PM
Amelia Says :

i have a sever pain n my teeth…..its almost empty…wt to do ..

January 11th, 2012 at 08:47 PM
islam mohamed fathy Says :

i am dentist in egypt ,dry socket is treated by going to the Doctor to remove all food debris form socket then scratch the socket from inside to make it bleed for healing and good course of antibiotic like clindamycin and the doctor may add metronidazol for anaerobic bacteria

Leave a Reply