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Dr. Andrew Rynne

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Wisdom Tooth Removed Due To Impaction, Unable To Open Mouth With Dull Pain. Suggestion?

I had all four of my wisdom teeth removed on Thursday, Jan. 24 via surgery due to impactions. It has been nearly 2 weeks now and I am still unable to open my mouth all of the way. I have researched trismus and other related issues that may be my problem but I am not quite sure yet. The pain is dull when I attempt to open my mouth, however my breath still smells really bad. I have brushed my teeth every day since the surgery and even for the past week have been able to brush the molars next to where the wisdom teeth where at. What do you think I should do?
Wed, 10 Jul 2013
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Dentist 's  Response
Hi and welcome to HCM,
After reading your history i can say you have developed Dry socket at the extraction site.
dry socket is the dull aching concdition caused due to dislodgement of blood clot from the extraction site which exposes the alveolar bone to the oral environment leading to infection.
Traumatic and long standing surgical extraction also end up in forming dry socket.
dry socket along with super infection leads to pain , fowl odour , discomfort and restricted mouth opening as you have mentioned.
i would suggest you to consult a dentist , as the socket needs currettage to remove the infection and induce frsh blood to accelerate healing .
Zinc oxide eugenol pack is applied as a dressing and it is replaced every 2 to 3 days till the symptoms subside.
meantime maintain good oral hygiene and you can use lukewarm saline water to rinse the mouth .
i hope this helps,
take care.
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Dentist Dr. Farah Hussain's  Response
Hi and welcome to HCM,
After reading your history i can say you have developed Dry socket at the extraction site.
dry socket is the dull aching concdition caused due to dislodgement of blood clot from the extraction site which exposes the alveolar bone to the oral environment leading to infection.
Traumatic and long standing surgical extraction also end up in forming dry socket.
dry socket along with super infection leads to pain , fowl odour , discomfort and restricted mouth opening as you have mentioned.
i would suggest you to consult a dentist , as the socket needs currettage to remove the infection and induce frsh blood to accelerate healing .
Zinc oxide eugenol pack is applied as a dressing and it is replaced every 2 to 3 days till the symptoms subside.
meantime maintain good oral hygiene and you can use lukewarm saline water to rinse the mouth .
i hope this helps,
take care.
I find this answer helpful
Dentist Dr. Farah Hussain's  Response
Hi and welcome to HCM,
After reading your history i can say you have developed Dry socket at the extraction site.
dry socket is the dull aching concdition caused due to dislodgement of blood clot from the extraction site which exposes the alveolar bone to the oral environment leading to infection.
Traumatic and long standing surgical extraction also end up in forming dry socket.
dry socket along with super infection leads to pain , fowl odour , discomfort and restricted mouth opening as you have mentioned.
i would suggest you to consult a dentist , as the socket needs currettage to remove the infection and induce frsh blood to accelerate healing .
Zinc oxide eugenol pack is applied as a dressing and it is replaced every 2 to 3 days till the symptoms subside.
meantime maintain good oral hygiene and you can use lukewarm saline water to rinse the mouth .
i hope this helps,
take care.
I find this answer helpful
Dentist Dr. Anshumala Singh's  Response
dear friend,
thanks for sharing your concern,

you are right it is called trismus , traumatic and long surgical extraction procedures leads to pain and trismus.

visit to the dentist for reevaluation of your healing socket, for dry socket condition too. if it is a case of dry socket .

it has to be treated by debridement, irrigation and placement of suitable medicament in the healing socket .

a course of antibiotic and analgesic can also be given after clinical evaluation.

meanwhile, you are recommended to use chlor hexidine 2% mouthwash,

frequently do warm saline rinses ,

do not stop chewing, keep a chewing gum in your mouth and keep chewing, from other side. this promotes salivation.

take plenty of fluids and juices, time being take semisolid diet.

if required you can go for muscle relaxant too eg. diclofenac MR.

these measures definitively help.

don't worry it will be fine.
thanx

I find this answer helpful

1 Doctor agrees with this answer

Dentist Dr. Anshumala Singh's  Response
dear friend,
thanks for sharing your concern,

you are right it is called trismus , traumatic and long surgical extraction procedures leads to pain and trismus.

visit to the dentist for reevaluation of your healing socket, for dry socket condition too. if it is a case of dry socket .

it has to be treated by debridement, irrigation and placement of suitable medicament in the healing socket .

a course of antibiotic and analgesic can also be given after clinical evaluation.

meanwhile, you are recommended to use chlor hexidine 2% mouthwash,

frequently do warm saline rinses ,

do not stop chewing, keep a chewing gum in your mouth and keep chewing, from other side. this promotes salivation.

take plenty of fluids and juices, time being take semisolid diet.

if required you can go for muscle relaxant too eg. diclofenac MR.

these measures definitively help.

don't worry it will be fine.
thanx

I find this answer helpful

2 Doctors agree with this answer

Dentist Dr. Bindiya Bhaskar's  Response
Hello,

Thanks for writing to us.

Take complete course of antibiotics-analgesics prescribed by your dentist.

Gargle frequently with warm saline.

Dressing the socket with zoe can enhance socket healing.

Adequate rest is adviced and avoid anxiety.

Maintain oral hygiene well.

Rinse your mouth after every meals.

Take care.
I find this answer helpful
Dentist Dr. Juhi Soni's  Response
Hi
thanks for the query,
Consult dentist for irrigation of that socket and ZOE dressing.
Do warm salin rinses after every meal for a week.
Maintain oral hygiene anduse antiseptic mouth wash.
follow antibiotic coverage .
Take a muscle relaxant and try to open your mouth slightly on your own daily.
Take care
I find this answer helpful
Dentist, Pedodontics Dr. Manisha Behl's  Response
HI AND WELCOME TO HCM
Dry socket is a complication faced frequently after surgical extractions. I would advice you to visit your dentist as soon as possible for an obtundant(desentising)medicament.it will be placed by him in you extraction socket.till then you can do warm saline rinses and continue your medication course which will mainly comprise of antibiotica and pain killers.

hope you have a speedy recovery
tc
Dr.Manisha Behl
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Dentist Dr. Anshumala Singh's  Response
Dear friend.

Thanks for sharing your concern.

Traumatic wisdom teeth extraction causes trismus.That is, less or no opening of mouth subsequently,post extraction,as appears in your case.

Do not worry,this happens due to infecion in your mouth. Also,due to distant and poorly accessible location of third molar, it becomes difficult to brush there.

Therefore, i would suggest you to revisit your dentist and get started with a course of antibiotics.

Also keep chewing chewing gums.so that maximum salivary production takes place.Take semisolid diet and plenty of fluids.

Also do warm saline rinses.

Hope it helps.

Thanks.

Take care.
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2 Doctors agree with this answer


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Wisdom Tooth Removed Due To Impaction, Unable To Open Mouth With Dull Pain. Suggestion?

Hi and welcome to HCM, After reading your history i can say you have developed Dry socket at the extraction site. dry socket is the dull aching concdition caused due to dislodgement of blood clot from the extraction site which exposes the alveolar bone to the oral environment leading to infection. Traumatic and long standing surgical extraction also end up in forming dry socket. dry socket along with super infection leads to pain , fowl odour , discomfort and restricted mouth opening as you have mentioned. i would suggest you to consult a dentist , as the socket needs currettage to remove the infection and induce frsh blood to accelerate healing . Zinc oxide eugenol pack is applied as a dressing and it is replaced every 2 to 3 days till the symptoms subside. meantime maintain good oral hygiene and you can use lukewarm saline water to rinse the mouth . i hope this helps, take care.