normal post-extraction pain??

[bobbythejobby]

Any dentists or toothy people around that could maybe put my mind at rest?

I finally had a tooth out yesterday, the first pre-molar (or as the dentist called it, a "4") that I have had problems with since March. I didn't want a root canal as I've already had two failed root canals and I don't think they could do it anyway. So it was kind of my choice to have the tooth out and I don't regret getting it out. It didn't have a raging infection or an abscess, it had a large filling in it that went very deep and was close to the nerve and was worn away from my grinding my teeth in my sleep.

So it's not been quite 24 hours since I had the tooth out but my god it is painful! I've had a tooth out before, I once had two teeth out in one go, but don't remember it being as painful as this. Just a real sore achy feeling where the tooth was and all the teeth around it hurt also. My face looks a little swollen when I look in the mirror. Eating hurts, drinking hurts, talking hurts. Surely

[bobbythejobby]

Posted too soon lol.

The end of that was meant to say: Surely it's too soon for a dry-socket and I was led to believe dry sockets don't happen all that often, if at all, in upper teeth. So is this normal post-extraction pain? Maybe because the other extractions I've had weren't that bad I've had an unrealistic idea of what this one would be like.

Someone want to put my mind at rest lol. I'm particularly worried about having to go back to the dentist or getting a dry socket because it was not easy arranging travel to even the closest urgent care centre in my area (in fact, to be honest, it was a nightmare but I was just grateful I'd gotten an appointment at all) and my own dentist has just opened today but for limited emergency treatment and they can only see something like ten people in a day.

[RHRA]

@bobbythejobby
Yes it can be extremely painful after an extraction and this doesn't always mean you will develop a dry socket. As you're not quite 24 hours post extraction and you've got swelling( which is most likely trauma-related at this stage), get a bag of frozen peas, wrap in a cotton hanky and put it on your swelling for 15 mins, 15 mins off/ on for the rest of the day. This is just for today.
Pain relief wise, you may have to cycle paracetamol and ibuprofen for the next few days. You can take up to 4 doses of 2 paracetamol 500mg tabs and up to 2400mg ibuprofen in a 24 hour period. So that gives you about 8 doses of pain relief to take in a 24 hours. You may have to do this for a few days and then start to taper down the pain relief. Remember to eat something like yoghurt, before each dose of pain relief.
At 24 hours you should start with warm salt water - not aggressive rinsing- you'll disturb the clot. Just sort of let the salt water puddle as long as possible around the socket. Do this 4 times daily after eating.
For a week.
Prop your head on loads of pillows overnight while you're healing.
See how you go on but if you've done all the above and you still feel like you've been hit in the face with a baseball bat on Wednesday AM, give your dentist a ring first thing re possible dry socket. Treatment for the latter is straightforward, so don't worry.
Good luck

[RHRA]

And just to add that if you do need to ring your own dentist Wednesday, make sure it's first thing 9am; they should be able to see you within your practice rather than a UDCC referral again. Treatment of a dry socket doesn't involve generating an aerosol.

[Kolo]

Mine (upper wisdom) felt like I'd been punched in the face the day after, when I guess the anaesthetic had fully worn off? It wasn't sharp, just a tender ache, which sounds a bit like you've described?

[labazsisgoingmad]

yes ive had this if you think about it during the extraction you get a certain amount of bruising from pulling etc. i always take nurofen that helps. might be helpful to hold a warm hot water bottle against your face too

[RHRA]

Hot water bottle from tomorrow; use the ice packs I’ve described to get the swelling down quickly today.

[bobbythejobby]

Thanks for the really good advice. The ice-packs are quite helpful, didn't know you could take up to 2400 ibuprofen (the box I've got says six in 24 hours which seems very low dosage), going to get myself lots of extra pillows for tonight. Started the salt-water rinses earlier today too so will be doing them religiously for a week. It feels a little better tonight so fingers (and toes) crossed no dry-socket develops!

[bobbythejobby]

I maybe should have amended my reply to say 2400mg ibuprofen, not literally 2400 ibuprofen in a single day.