“How do I know if my tooth extraction is infected?”
I am a 23 year old male. I want to know how do I know if my tooth extraction is infected?
7 Answers
OralandMaxillofacialSurgeonOral&MaxillofacialSurgery
Post operative tooth extraction infection, known as Dry Socket, is extremely painful. It is more likely to happen with back teeth, lower teeth, difficult or lengthy extractions, elderly patients and diabetic patients or patients taking Aspirin as an anti-coagulant. You should never smoke tobacco after a tooth extraction. The pain of dry socket usually does not start immediately after the numbness has worn off, and may not develop until the third day. Your dentist or doctor can prescribe pain killer but antibiotics will not be of any benefit.
Prolonged pain and swelling indicate infection. Pain and a bad odor without swelling usually indicates a dry socket.
You will need to see a dentist to diagnose this.
Most commonly, the complication after the extraction could be dry socket, especially if the patient is a smoker. You should have it evaluated by a dentist as it needs to be evaluated clinically.
Typical symptoms would be increasing pain, swelling, redness, a bad taste in your mouth, a fever. If you are not already taking an antibiotic, you should return to your surgeon's office to evaluate and make sure it's ok.
If you develop a fever, or if swelling develops several days after the extraction, see the dentist who did the extraction as soon as possible. If a few days after the extraction, you develop pain, you may have what is known as a dry socket. Your dentist or surgeon can provide a treatment that brings very quick relief.
Hello,
The best way to know is to go to a doctor to have him/her exam you. Without doing that, you would have to look for signs of infection like swelling, pus, pain, distorted tissues, etc. However, some of these signs may not indicate infection. They could indicate dry socket, or normal healing. How long after the extraction has it been? When did the symptoms start occurring? These are all things that need to be known for infection. Hope this helps.
My best to you!
William F. Scott IV, DMD
The best way to know is to go to a doctor to have him/her exam you. Without doing that, you would have to look for signs of infection like swelling, pus, pain, distorted tissues, etc. However, some of these signs may not indicate infection. They could indicate dry socket, or normal healing. How long after the extraction has it been? When did the symptoms start occurring? These are all things that need to be known for infection. Hope this helps.
My best to you!
William F. Scott IV, DMD
