Briefly:
    It would be helpful to know why the tooth was extracted.
    Some swelling post-extraction is normal, depending upon how difficult
the extraction was.  If the tooth was sectioned or any bone removed, I
would certainly expect mild swelling of the cheek next to the extraction
site.  There is also occasionally some bleeding into the tissues which
can lead to a somewhat harder swelling.
    There may be some soreness in the tooth behind the extraction if the
dentist exerted pressure on that tooth during the extraction.  Certainly
if that tooth is significantly sensitive to pressure after a week it
should be looked at.
    Normally in extractions that aren't sutured, the gum heals by secondary
intention: ie, the extraction fills with a clot, and gradually the clot
is infiltrated by granulation tissue and the gum tissue migrates from
the margins of the extraction site and eventually covers over with gum
tissue.  There can be a significant divet in the gum for quite some
time.  Meanwhile, bone gradually grows through the granulation tissue.
It may take up to a year for the bone to heal completely (although the
gum is healed long before).
    You should note that some bone is always lost after extraction--the
alveolar bone the roots of the tooth sit in unique in that it requires
the function of the teeth to maintain itself.  Without the tooth this
alveolar bone is gradually lost.  For this reason some dentists are
grafting extraction sockets now, esp. if there is consideration of
implant placement.

Hope this helps,
Steve

You should have been told to gargle with hot, salty water
every few hours to help heal the area and prevent infections.

Why did they pull your tooth?

If the pain persists call your dentist.

Thomas

Thank you for all your help and answers.  

The tooth was extracted because it had root canal done and it broke.
When the root canal was done, another dentist inserted metal post
into one of the roots but it was too large for the canal (as I was
told after by my current dentist) and it fractured one side of the
root.  Couple months after this post and other metal supporting posts
were put in, I bit down on something and the tooth crown (at this time
mostly made of white filling) broke.  I was told that the tooth cannot
be saved (a crown put on it) because the root was not stable and
healthy, etc.  After the tooth was extracted, the dentist told me
that the tooth was actually broken inside as well.

What worries me right now is that the tooth in front of and one behind
the extraction site are very pressure sensitive and painful as well.
I'm hoping that everything is all right with the bone.  The pain is
really not getting any better.

Even though the dentist told me I should think about an implant
because of the "good bone structure", he did not take any measures of
filling the extraction site.

I have been rinsing with warm salty water 4 times a day after 24 hours
on as I was instructed by the dentist.

I also called the dentist yesterday because I was worried about
infection, and he seems to think it's OK and that I might have a dry
socket.  He basically told me to wait whether it gets worse.

It just does not seem all right to me.
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Posted at: http://www.GroupSrv.com
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Thanks Steve.

I thought that dry socket usually develops on the third day?  Well the
pain and swelling that I have has really been constant since the first
day of extraction which was Friday.

My regular dentist will check it out on Wed. morning if it doesn't
improve.
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Posted at: http://www.GroupSrv.com
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Well, my pain seems to be getting worse - now I have pain beneath my
jaw around lympnodes to the ear, the two teeth around the extraction
site are very sore, and 600 mg of Ibuprofen is not working anymore.
It has been since Friday, so maybe I'm getting resistant to
Ibuprofen?... I don't really know.
I tried 2 tablets of Tylenol 3 yesterday, but that didn't even work as
much as Ibuprofen.  I'd like to know how is it possible that I'm
resistant to this supposedly strong pain killer?  I tried to tell my
dentist that this really doesn't work for me (I had it prescribed
before for tooth ache) but she prescribed it anyway.  I remember my
previous dentist then prescribed Oxycodan which really worked.  Is
there anything bad with Oxycodan that Tylenol 3 is always much more
readily prescribed even though it doesn't really work?

So these are my not so good news.  The good news is that I'm seeing my
regular dentist tomorrow morning, so hopefully she can figure
something out.

Viera
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Posted at: http://www.GroupSrv.com
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Do not swish with water, or drink (suck) with a straw.

This can interfere with the Clot forming and give you a dry socket.

Those are nasty, nasty.

Emma

Well, my dentist confirmed that it's a dry socket.
She cleaned it and put the healing gauze inside of the socket which
has awful taste, but as long as that will do the job and heal the
site, I'll be happy.

Thanks for everyone's help.

Vierka
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Posted at: http://www.GroupSrv.com
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Thanks Steve!

The filler for the socket definitely makes me feel much better.  I
didn't take pain killers since 6:30 am and now it's 3:35 pm.  There
is no chance I'd last this long yesterday.

How long should the gauze stay inside of the socket?  Is it a
treatment for several days?  
I thought it's just for today...  
The doctor said that it will slowly come out in pieces (which it does)
and that I should not rinse today.  How can I clean it?
When should the socket start healing then?

Vierka
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Posted at: http://www.GroupSrv.com
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Hi,

the extraction site seems to be getting better, but I have a really
large and raw canker sore on the outside gum of the extraction site
and the tooth behind.  I think it was caused when the local
anesthetic needle was injected sideways and then the ends of the
stitches were always on that side.  That's probably how that place
got irritated and the canker sore developed on Monday.  I treat with
a herbal spray for oral sores, but it is not improving.  My lympnodes
are quite sore, so there seems to be a fight going on in there.

Also, how long is the gauze dressing supposed to be inside of the
socket?  The pain has definitely subsided and the socket hole is not
so wide anymore, but I thought it's supposed to fall out on its own
after a day or so?  I now have it there since Wednesday morning.

Thanks.

Vierka