How long does it take...?

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wxxre - 01 Jul 2005 21:01 GMT

How long does it take for a tooth extraction to heal? I had my tooth pulled
out (lower number 5) a month ago, the hole still hasn't closed, and it still
hurts. It even seems as though this last week it has been hurting me more
than before! Otherwise, there are no signs of inflammation, it doesn't seem
to be swollen - the extraction site (hole) looks clean, no puss or anything
like that, but it really hurts - dull, long-lasting pain, sometimes very
faintly, but at its worst it feels as if my whole jaw on that side is
hurting. The other day it started hurting after I just took a sip of juice.
I have heard of "dry socket" but I don't think I have that because I would
have noticed that earlier (by the intense pain, I suppose), wouldn't I?
I had some trouble with the tooth for a long time before I finally got it
pulled out - a recurring (actually constant) gum boil, apicotomy, a big
paradontal pocket, curettage, until my dentist finally took it out and saw
that it was cracked (the part under the gumline). So, I'm being told that
it's no wonder it's taking me some more time to heal - but still, I'm kinda
anxious about it. (After the tooth has come out, the gum boil has finally
disappeared.)

(BTW, I don't know whether this is important but the tooth next to it is
missing too, it was extracted together with a cyst underneath it a couple of
years ago) - I guess the whole jaw is disfigured by now... - my oral surgeon
made a panoramic x-ray of my teeth/jaw last in late March/April this year
after the apicotomy, so before the extraction, and everything else seemed to
be just fine.

Thanks in advance for any replies, suggestions, encouragements...

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Jacob - 02 Jul 2005 02:41 GMT

It's hard to say for sure without examining you and seeing your radiographs.
However, it is possible that you have a dry socket. It also is possible
that there are small pieces of dead bone that are gradually working their
way out. If this is the case, these pieces will come out on their own, but
until they do, they can be uncomfortable. If the problem persists, the
dentist might be able to remove them, and this could hasten the healing
process. I'm not sure which tooth you mean by "lower number 5], but
nevertheless, be assured that eventually, everything will heal. The hole
itself will take some time to heal over and look "normal" but that is not a
problem. At any rate, if you have ANY concerns, you should definitely see
your dentist rather than try to solve your problem via the newsgroup. Good
luck!

> How long does it take for a tooth extraction to heal? I had my tooth pulled
> out (lower number 5) a month ago, the hole still hasn't closed, and it still
[quoted text clipped - 22 lines]
>
> Thanks in advance for any replies, suggestions, encouragements...

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Steven Fawks - 02 Jul 2005 14:02 GMT

A 'lower 5' is probably #20 or #29. The International system uses a
quadrant designation followed by a second number to indicate the
position from the midline. 11 is the upper right central incisor. 16
is the upper right first molar. 46 is the lower right first molar.

Back when I was having ortho treatment, the orthodontist would commonly
make comments like, "Band the 6's" or "Let's get the 4's out of there"

I believe the military developed the common U.S. system of #1-#32 so
there was no chance of confusing which '6' was being treated.

It's kind of like the metric system, if everyone else in the world is
using it, maybe the U.S. should also.

:-)

Fawks

> It's hard to say for sure without examining you and seeing your radiographs.
> However, it is possible that you have a dry socket. It also is possible
[quoted text clipped - 62 lines]
>>
>>Thanks in advance for any replies, suggestions, encouragements...

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james - 02 Jul 2005 16:22 GMT

> A 'lower 5' is probably #20 or #29. The International system uses a
> quadrant designation followed by a second number to indicate the
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> It's kind of like the metric system, if everyone else in the world is
> using it, maybe the U.S. should also.

Or say "to hell with all the numbering schemes" and refer to each tooth
by name. Everybody has to mentally map the numbers to actual teeth,
anyway. Might as well save them the trouble.

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W_B - 05 Jul 2005 16:05 GMT

>> It's kind of like the metric system, if everyone else in the world is
>> using it, maybe the U.S. should also.
>
>Or say "to hell with all the numbering schemes" and refer to each tooth
>by name. Everybody has to mentally map the numbers to actual teeth,
>anyway. Might as well save them the trouble.

OK then you get a note from the 'ortho' to extract Barney.
--

W_B
Take out the G'RBAGE
wubbabubbazG@RBAGEyahoo.com

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