I have an abscessed lower wisdom tooth that after six days on an
antibiotic (clindamycin, 150mg four times a day) has cleared up in every
way but one. I can't open my mouth more than one inch.

This was a fairly nasty infection that made a large lump on my lower jaw,
an earache, and infection on the affected side of my tongue and throat.
Part of the gum in that area got very soft an mushy, and occasionally I
would spit out small pieces of it. And of course, there was substantial
pain. The tooth extruded and hit the upper second molar resulting in
severe pain after eating. I had to give up solid food.

I really want to avoid a sedated surgical extraction. Given that the
earache, sore throat, sore tongue and pain have disappeared entirely, and
the lump on my jaw is almost gone, any guesses as to how long before I
could open my mouth to have the tooth extracted by conventional means?

Can I stay on the clindamycin for longer than seven days?