Should I still be in pain this long after getting my wisdom teeth out?

Question

I got my wisdom teeth taken out over a week ago (1/15). I had the bottom two removed, both very impacted with part of the bone removed.

I am still experiencing pain on both sides that starts at the the socket and spreads down to the front of my mouth along the gum line. During the day (when I take Motrin) it's just a dull ache. But, in the middle of the night when the meds wear off it's a sharp pain thats so severe it keeps me awake the whole rest of the night. I still can't eat anything and am on a liquid diet. My dentist office won't see me until Thursday.

Shouldn't I feel better by now?

Answer 1

My mouth hurt for several weeks post-op with no complications. I had all four surgically extracted at once, they had to cut each tooth into several pieces to be able to remove all of each tooth without removing that flap of bone in the jaw. Each person heals at different rates and experiences different levels of discomfort, and each surgery is individual. My sockets still ache once in awhile, and this is years later.

See your dentist on Thursday, but just relax. Most likely it's just the way your body is reacting and healing and is nothing serious. The more you work yourself up about it, the more pain you will perceive, regardless of actual pain.

Answer 2

I'm a dentist. I remove impacted wisdom teeth (properly known as third molars) all the time, and I tell my patients the following: Extraction of third molars is a very routine procedure, and risks are generally low--especially if you're in your teens. Pain and swelling typically increase for the first few days, peaking at about the third day after surgery. After that time, the pain and swelling will start to taper off and by a week's time you shouldn't have discomfort other than a little soreness. After about four or five days, however, a complication called "dry-socket" can occur, which is basically bone at the base of the socket that is exposed to the oral environment and inflamed. It is very painful and not helped much by pain medications. Your dentist (or oral surgeon) has materials to alleviate the pain until healing occurs. After your surgery, you will be given instructions (verbal and/or on paper) to follow. Follow them carefully! I cannot tell you how many times I get patients complaining of complications after third molar extractions that occurred specifically because they didn't follow our instructions. Generally I prescribe a week's suppply of a medication called Tylox (it contains 5mg oxycodone and 500mg acetaminophen, i.e. the same thing as Percocet 5/500), which is more than adequate when taken every six hours. Some dentists prescribe Vicodin or Lortab, which is weaker. I may also prescribe an antiemetic like Phenergan if patients report nausea with narcotic pain meds. As far as eating goes, it's going to be cold and soft for the first day. Beyond that, whatever you can tolerate as long as you keep the extraction sites clean. Keep in mind, though, that oral tissues heal quickly and surely, and you would have to majorly undermine your body's healing efforts to prevent the extraction sites from healing properly. Follow the instructions and you will be fine.

Answer 3

I had 4 impacted wisdom teeth removed and I was in severe pain for a couple of weeks (it was so bad that I would have actually traded the pain for childbirth)!!

Answer 4

i had mine out a few weeks ago n my dentist said that if it was hurting its called dry socket and gets painfull before better(sorry for that lol) just garggle with salt water and take pain killers x x

Answer 5

sorry it'll be about another week..much longer after that go to dentist for poss infection in bone