Severe Pain After Tooth Extraction — Causes and Treatment

If you’ve ever had a tooth extraction, you know there can be a lot of pain leading up to it. How about a broken abscessed tooth? It can be accompanied by excruciating pain if it’s bad enough to warrant a visit to an emergency dentist. Even wisdom teeth cause pain when they push against other molars as they try to break through the gums. The chances are you are expecting a tooth extraction to relieve the pain, but what if it doesn’t? What if the tooth extraction pain gets worse? 

 

Severe pain after tooth extraction 

In many cases, tooth extraction gives immediate relief from pain or discomfort. In other cases, tooth extraction pain steadily decreases over a few days. However, if the pain persists, you should visit a dentist to ensure there is not a serious problem. Typically, there can only be a few reasons for severe tooth extraction pain. These include:

• Infection 
• Dry socket
• Sinus Perforation

 

 

Signs of infection 

With today’s modern procedures, tooth extraction is safe and straightforward. However, complications can arise, including infection at the extraction site and bone infection, although the latter is very rare.  

Bacteria can sometimes infect the extraction site. This is more likely to occur if the patient has gum disease. Failing to follow after-care instructions can also lead to infection. Severe pain isn’t the only symptom experienced with an infection. Patients may also notice pus coming from the area, they may feel feverish, and any swelling that would typically reduce may be increasing. If you’re experiencing severe pain after tooth extraction, contact an emergency dentist for a same-day appointment. 

Although the chances of bone infection occurring after tooth extraction are scarce, it can happen. It is called osteomyelitis when the mouth’s open wound becomes contaminated, and the infection spreads to the underlying bone. Signs include fever, tenderness or pain around the extraction site, warmth or redness in the affected area, and fatigue. Oral surgery may be necessary to drain and clean the infected area together with a course of antibiotics. In severe cases, your dentist may recommend a bone graft to repair damaged bone. 

Signs of a damaged sinus include:

• Liquid coming out of the nose when drinking
• Periodic nose bleeding from the extraction site
• Air moving from the nose to the mouth when breathing

By choosing an experienced dentist or surgeon for tooth extraction, patients can rest assured that their procedure will go as planned. 

 

Dry socket

Dry socket is the most common reason for severe pain after tooth extraction. Tooth extraction leaves a small hole in the gums. Blood forms a clot to protect the underlying nerve and bone. Sometimes, the clot fails to develop correctly, and other times the clot is lost before the gum tissue can fill the hole. When this happens, a patient has what is known as a dry socket. The pain can be unbearable when food and air reach the exposed nerve. 

Our dentists can clean the area to remove any food debris and pack it with medicated gauze to protect the bone and nerve and promote healing. The best way to prevent dry socket after a tooth extraction is to avoid things that could dislodge the clot, like drinking from a straw or smoking. 

 

Sinus perforation 

When removing teeth, a common concern is whether extraction can impact nasal passages and sinuses. The sinuses are located directly above the teeth in the upper jaw. Due to their location, there could be an issue when an upper tooth is removed. However, the sinus floor’s location varies from patient to patient. While one person may have a sinus floor way above their tooth roots, another individual could have a closer sinus floor. Patients with sinuses almost touching the tooth roots have increased chances of the sinuses being harmed during tooth extraction. In other words, dentists or surgeons need to be extremely careful when removing upper teeth. Without a diagnosis, sinus perforations can lead to unpleasant infection and drainage. Fortunately, dentists can use x-rays and 3D scans to check the location of the sinus floor. A sinus lift may be performed if it’s too close to the tooth roots. The dentist will take all necessary precautions during the extraction procedure to protect the sinus. 

 

Are you experiencing severe pain after tooth extraction?

Please don’t wait to get it treated. Our emergency dentist will do their best to fit you in for a same-day appointment. Help for tooth extraction pain is but a phone call away. Why not schedule a consultation with Synergy Dental Group. Call on (03) 7003 2185 or use our online booking service. 

 

 

Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.

 

 

 

References 

Colgate – Bone Infection After a Tooth Extraction – Symptoms, Treatment and Prevention
https://www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/tooth-removal/bone-infection-after-a-tooth-extraction-symptoms-treatment-and-prevention

Foundation For Oral Rehabilitation – Sinus Lifting 
https://www.for.org/en/treat/treatment-guidelines/edentulous/treatment-procedures/surgical/surgical-protocols-maxilla/sinus-lifting