infected jawbone

[richardroth]

I had a tooth extracted 4 weeks ago. the procedure was extremly painful and my dentist spent an hour trying to remove the tooth. she has to file a small piece of bone down as the roots had hooked themselves under it but unfortunately was unable to remove it all. i was sent home and spent 2 weeks in severe pain and swelling and then a small piece of bone started to push out my gum
i revisited the dentist today and she has said there is an infection in the socket and bone and there are parts of bone being pushed out that my body is rejecting- she has now refereed me to a specialist but i am so scared that i will need an operation. Has anybody ever heard fo this happening or do you think there has been some negligence by my dentist when she preformed the extraction. please help

[daffy654]

I have never heard of what has happened to you but I wanted to say that I hope you get it sorted out without any complications.
There is a person on AnswerBank called Mr.XLA who seems to be a professional dentist/orthodontist/surgeon of some sort and hopefully he will be along to give you some proper advice.

[bensmum]

I had a tooth removed several years ago due to an abscess and was not given antibiotic. Unfortunately the infection spread to my jaw and after a few days of the worst pain I can imagine I was given some antiobiotic (had 2 lots) and it cleared the problem. My case wasn't nearly as severe as yours so I can't really offer any help here. Have you asked your dentist what the course of treatment might be?

[MrXLA]

Hi richardroth, very sorry to hear about your unpleasant experience.
Thankfully most dental extractions carried out in general practice are relatively straightforward and simple (never enjoyable!).
It�s a credit to your dentist that she continued with what was obviously a difficult extraction to a point beyond which most clinicians would have given up (although I'm sure you didn't feel that way at the time).
Sometimes if it�s anticipated that an extraction will be difficult or require a surgical approach a referral is made to an oral surgery department e.g. with impacted/�buried� wisdom teeth.
Teeth are 'fixed' into your 'jaw bone' by their roots a ligament and are encased in bone (which is why they don't fall out unless you have severe 'gum disease' or trauma).
They can be difficult to extract for a number of reasons examples include:
- dense bone
- brittle teeth
- long curved multiple roots
- position of the tooth
Even with routine extractions post operative infection and/or delayed healing can occur (it is a form of surgery and an individual�s susceptibility to infection cannot be accurately predicted if they are normally fit and well).
Occasionally small pieces or even entire roots of teeth can be left inside with no problems, but it depends on why the tooth was being removed.
Unfortunately sometimes these �pieces of root� can give rise to infection.
A tooth cannot be removed without dilating the 'socket' i.e. expanding the bone often small fractures of the bone occur with no consequence because they heal. However occasionally small pieces (boney sequestrae) fail to heal and give rise to local infection.
It�s very unfortunate in your case that you probably have several things going on which have prolonged your discomfort:
- an infected �piece of root�
- small pieces of infected bone
- and of course the pain after the surgery itself

[MrXLA]

I assume you have been referred to an oral surgery/oral & maxillofacial surgery department or a specialist in oral surgery/surgical dentistry
They will remove the root and any loose pieces of bone after which in almost all cases the site will heal and your symptoms will resolve.
I appreciate fully why you are worried but you have already had an �operation� and it will probably be a lot more comfortable and straightforward the second time.
It will be a planned procedure and it will be carried out by someone/a team that has done it countless times before.
If you have any other concerns or questions please ask.
PS with regards to your dentist it doesn't sound like she is guilty of any negligence (of course I wasn't there to witness however) if anything it sounds as though she went above and beyond the normal call of duty as it were

[Bathsheba]

Hi Richard. You've had a thorough + comprehensive answer there from a professional, but thought you might just like to hear from a layperson to calm your fears! I had to have an apisectomy a couple of years ago when part of an instrument snapped during root canal work. I had to wait several months for the procedure, and needed several courses of antibiotics, but the actual apisectomy itself was completely pain free. I had a few stitches which were no problem at all, and I was back to normal after 2 to 3 weeks. No need to worry! Good luck x