Should it really take this long to recover from wisdom teeth extraction?

[Princess Row]

OMG! Now that's a nightmare! No one should have to go through that!

Question for you - I was surprised that the incisions are still gaping holes in my mouth. He exlpained that gum incisions heal from the bottom up - so they will be that way for awhile. He said it's not skin like on your body, when you cut yourself skin heals & grows over a wound - it's the opposite for your gums. Ok well now that they're not packed anymore for dry socket, food gets stuck in them instantly (and they're very sensitive - anything cold sends me through the roof), then to flush them out is even more sensitive (and he wants the tip if the irrigation syringe IN the incisions to flush them). My question is - how long until these holes are gone in my mouth? Weeks? Months?

I also have one VERY sensitive molar now, that started when the one wisdom tooth erupted sideways & was pushing against that molar (so it's not a side effect of the surgery). He said it probably wore the enamel off the good molar - is this normal? I can't get anything - even a sip of water - near that molar or I'm through the roof with pain that goes into my jaw & other teeth. I will tell the dentist about it at my next appt. but has this happened to anyone else? Will I ever be able to eat or drink on that side of my mouth again?

The holes should be gone soon. After the whole incident mine almost completely healed within 3 weeks. You really need to flush it even if it is painful....as the food will cause bacteria and it will be 10000000 times worse.

 

[GraysMom]

Wow Tara, I'm sorry to hear you are still dealing with this . Unfortunately, I know all too well about horrible tooth pain. I haven't chewed on the left side of my mouth in almost 3 years because of a painful tooth on that side (that has had a major, 2 hour root canal done on it and has been capped). I have super sensitive teeth with very long roots that criss-cross at the base. Add in my dentist until I was 24 was a quack who didn't get all of the decay out when I had fillings done, and I have a hard time eating lots of things . I'm so scared something will happen to one of my teeth on my good side and I won't be able to chew at all.

I hope you get everything cleared up quickly and as painlessly as possible . Keeping my fingers crossed that your headaches remain a thing of the past, even after you stop taking the pain meds.

 

[TARDIS]

Well, this thread shall send me to bed with nightmares. I just had two back molars pulled about 48 hours ago. I'm rooting for no dry socket. I've been very careful. I've been so tired. I've basically slept for the last two days. The pain! It's more my jaw than anything. Quite swollen and sensitive. I think the tiredness is a combination of pain meds and lack of calories from liquid diet. Annnd having said all that, it's time to take some pain meds and try to forget some of the horrors I just read.

Tara, I'm sorry to read about all you've been through

 

[TaraPA]

Wow Tara, I'm sorry to hear you are still dealing with this . Unfortunately, I know all too well about horrible tooth pain. I haven't chewed on the left side of my mouth in almost 3 years because of a painful tooth on that side (that has had a major, 2 hour root canal done on it and has been capped). I have super sensitive teeth with very long roots that criss-cross at the base. Add in my dentist until I was 24 was a quack who didn't get all of the decay out when I had fillings done, and I have a hard time eating lots of things . I'm so scared something will happen to one of my teeth on my good side and I won't be able to chew at all.

I hope you get everything cleared up quickly and as painlessly as possible . Keeping my fingers crossed that your headaches remain a thing of the past, even after you stop taking the pain meds.

Oh no!! So you know how hard it is to take a drink of any liquid but not let it get near the sensitive tooth - it's almost impossible! That is what's the most annoying, moreso than the incision sites being sore & irrigating them.

Well, this thread shall send me to bed with nightmares. I just had two back molars pulled about 48 hours ago. I'm rooting for no dry socket. I've been very careful. I've been so tired. I've basically slept for the last two days. The pain! It's more my jaw than anything. Quite swollen and sensitive. I think the tiredness is a combination of pain meds and lack of calories from liquid diet. Annnd having said all that, it's time to take some pain meds and try to forget some of the horrors I just read.

Tara, I'm sorry to read about all you've been through

Ok it's been 72 hours for you now - feeling any better? You sounded at 48 hours exactly like I did. I was in bed most of the day at that point.

 

[Bluestars]

Tara, curious who you went to? I have to make an appointment for my 16 year old- I guess this summer? He saw his dentist for his 6 month check today, and he told us "at our leisure"...but I want him to have it done over a break so he can recover.

My 16 year old had all four of his wisdom teeth pulled last month. He went to the same oral surgeon who pulled mine in my 20s. He was examined and x-rayed the day before the surgery. He was given antibiotics the day he was examined and told to begin taking them that day. This was to prevent infection.

For the procedure, he was given an IV with three medications. I can't remember the name of the medications, but I think one of them was some type of steroid to prevent swelling. I believe the other two were a combination of narcotics to cause a twilight sleep. As soon as the IV is stopped, the patient wakes up.

My son said that he remembered the assistant coming into the room and starting the IV. He closed his eyes and thought only five minutes had passed when he opened them. He thought the procedure hadn't even started, but it turned out they were finished.

He had no complications. The dentist told him to put an ice pack on his face for the first day and continue taking the antibiotics until there were no more pills. He also was not to rinse his mouth the first day. He had to replace the gauze every few hours. His face never even got swollen. He had the surgery in the middle of his spring break week and went back to school on Monday. His face looked like nothing ever happen.

I had the same experience many years ago. I think the surgeon's attention to prevention by the use of antibiotics and steroids made the side effects minimal. Maybe all oral surgeons do this. If not, I highly recommend finding one who does something similar to this.

 

[TaraPA]

That's idenitcal to what they did for me, only they started my antibiotics about 4 days before the surgery. Seems to be the standard all around I guess! I had 3 rxs for after the surgery, the anti-inflammatory for swelling (which worked well), the Percocet for pain & then an rx mouth rinse.

Tardis - feeling any better today?

 

[TARDIS]

Awww thanks for asking! My jaw is still sore, but it seems better. At the very least not worse. I have an appointment on the 3rd to get the stitches out so hopefully they'll be able to get in there and tell me how it's healing. I was able to get out yesterday. I went to the mall with my DH and kids to get some supplies for our WDW trip. So that's sayin' something! I even ate some real food. Course when I came home I was in a lot of pain and had to take meds and go right to bed . But I think it's coming along okay.

How are things going with you?

 

[LITTLEMISS92]

I am 23 and had 1 wisdom tooth extracted last year. No problems. This passed Friday I had the remaining 3 teeth extracted. Its now Thursday morning and the right side of my face is in umbearable pain. I am so miserable. I also work 12hr night shifts which makes this very difficult. I am freaked out by any other problems. I can only open my mouth an inch but hurts and the pain is throbbing. Ive followed everything I could to avoid complications but Im still suffering. I will be seeing the dentist today just to make sure everything is ok. Im still on a liquid diet. Its been just about a week. I JUST WANT TO EAT AND LIVE NORMAL