Dental stuff - another abscess after extraction?

[GlitterGlue]

Urgh, had a rubbish few months dental wise. Ended up with an extraction after an abscess as root canal not possible. Then dry socket. After packing and a couple of rounds of antibiotics seemed to be finally on the mend (been about five or so weeks since extraction). Until now.

The horrid taste is back and I feel a bit pants. I'm going to try and get an appointment for next week, but is it likely to be yet another abscess? Someone has helpfully suggested it could be oleomylitis of the jaw.

Does this sound particularly abnormal? I don't want to lose any more teeth. :(

Hey. It could indeed by osteomyelitis which is when the infection is in the jaw bone. This would probably need to be treated with surgery to scrape out the infected bone and then a lot of antibiotics.
Or it could be an abscess, or even some shards of tooth left behind in the gum.
Definitely go and get it checked out.

Oh shit, really? I was hoping they were massively exaggerating.

How would the dentist tell the difference? It's actually been fine for a couple of weeks. The gum just doesn't feel right now and tastes yuk.

Go back to your dentist urgently ,and if this infection is definitely related to your non-healing extraction site, you must get referred urgently to the local Maxillo-Facial/Oral Surgery Unit for an opinion/treatment.

Some underlying medical conditions/ medications complicate healing, as do any retained roots.....so don't automatically assume osteomyelitis......good luck OP.

Oh crikey.

Will an X-ray show retained roots or other issues? How will they determine if it's related?

As far as I know there aren't any complicating factors affecting healing and I don't smoke.

Yes re X-ray & roots.

Don't over-think it; just make sure you get referred soon as, if this is to do with the extraction socket-, (rather than an adjacent tooth IYSWIM! )

Yes x rays. I also had an MRI to confirm osteomyelitis of the jaw

Thanks. I'll get an appointment asap next week.

I was really rather hoping you'd all tell me it was ok and nothing to worry about. I'm quite fed up with it now and just want it to be better right now. :(

Well They squeezed me in first thing this morning. She took X-rays which were fine. Extraction site now closed over and no sign of infection or roots etc. She thinks could be some food got trapped and has caused the yuk taste and irritation so everything given a really good clean and I'm to see how it is in a few days.

Great news