Re: Wisdom extracted, help also chronic headaches



Amy wrote:
Hi everyone!

I am new here.

I am a female 26yo, not smoked for 16 months, off the pill for 2.5
weeks before extraction (heard this plays a role, estrogen levels?). I
am from Sydney Australia. Never had a filling or extraction before,
only cleaning and checkups.

3 days ago I went to my local dentist and had my left upper wisdom
tooth extracted under local anaesthetic, it did not appear to be
particularly troublesome for the dentist and quite quick. It was
partially erupted, it had been trying to come out for about 18 months
and he said it was pointing really forward towards my cheek! He
actually said "that's it you are all done!" I laughed, I thought
he was kidding but there was the tooth! It had a big brown ring around
the middle of it and he asked whether I had antibiotics as a child, no
idea what that was about?... anyhoo...

I am TERRIFIED of getting a dry socket. I was not give a single bit of
post care advice, just handed a spare gauze and was told "she'll be
right in 30 minutes". I went home and changed the gauze, the
bleeding did not stop for about 10 hours? I called up and the dental
assistant and she said bleeding up to 2 days is ok? I did not get a
stitch at all for the hole.

I got on the internet and learnt all about what not to do, no sucking,
spitting, no straws, smoking, hard foods, rinsing for 24 hours etc. I
did my very best to stick to all these rules but in the first 2 days
did sneeze and blow my nose? I have read this can dislodge clots?

I am going on a holiday in another 4 days (so that will be 7 days post
extraction) and it is to tropical Darwin so there will be much drinking
and fun. I have some questions that have been stressing me out a lot
these last few days and hope someone can please help put my mind at
ease! I can barely think on much else at the moment!

1. How long until you are out of the woods/risk of dry socket?
I have read 3-4 days on some websites but then others say dry socket
can happen anytime in first few weeks?
2. How fragile/easy to dislodge these clots is it? Should I be scared
rinsing with salt water?
3. Not sneezing and blowing nose, for how long?
http://www.dentalfearcentral.org/healing.html does not stipulate.
4. How long will this hole take to close up enough for me to stop
fearing dry socket, eat properly?

Also for the last 18 months I have had chronic constant headache
(24/7/7 days a week) dull aching on the left temple, just above where
the wisdom tooth has just come out. I have in this time been to the
optometrist, physio, acupuncture, neurologist, had cat scans, MRI, gone
off the pill etc all to ease this chronic headache, no pain medications
(prescribed and over the counter) have provided relief. The dentist
did not find it likely that the wisdom tooth would have caused it but
it is just so close to where the headache is I couldn't help but hope
that removing of the tooth would help it. Since extraction I have had
the headache L but am wondering if that might just be some residual
nerve shifts?

Do you guys have some thoughts on this headache? Please help.

I've only very occasionally seen dry sockets in UPPER third molar extractions in young non-smokers. I wouldn't stick anything into the socket, but with reasonable care I think you're almost out of the woods. In 3 days or so the clot is already being invaded by healing connective tissue. I wouldn't worry about sneezing either.
Sorry, I can't help you about the headache. I agree that if the wisdom tooth was not severely decayed it's unlikely to have been the source of the headache.

Steve



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Relevant Pages

  • Wisdom extracted, help also chronic headaches
    ... weeks before extraction ... tooth extracted under local anaesthetic, it did not appear to be ... I am TERRIFIED of getting a dry socket. ... Also for the last 18 months I have had chronic constant headache ...
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  • Re: Dentist damages an unrelated tooth - now what?
    ... There was NO stated risk, and no pressing reason to extract the wisdom tooth other than its possible contact with the opposing crowned and root canaled 2nd molar that was having some minor pain, possibly from contact with the super-erupted wisdom tooth. ... Had I known about any significant risk from extraction, then I probably would have left it right where it was. ... Many dentists choose to extract an unopposed third molar before it hits the opposite gum. ...
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    ... There was NO stated risk, and no pressing reason to extract the wisdom tooth other than its possible contact with the opposing crowned and root canaled 2nd molar that was having some minor pain, possibly from contact with the super-erupted wisdom tooth. ... It certainly could be negligence, but IMO not necessarily, because you would have to assume that another dentist exercising due care would be able to do the extraction without damage. ...
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  • Re: Problems after wisdom tooth extraction
    ... upper left wisdom tooth extracted in mid-November, at age 44, after I had several wisdom tooth infections in it in rapid succession, in the several months prior to having it extracted. ... About two weeks ago my cheek on that side became swollen and the area where the wisdom tooth was extracted became painful. ... But the cheek still swells to a more minor extent, then I get a taste like blood inside my mouth, and as I taste blood, the swelling in my cheek goes down - as though the swelling was draining. ... The third possibility, and probably the least pleasant, is that the extraction may have led to a communication with the maxillary sinus, and this communication may be infected. ...
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