Is jaw pain post impacted wisdom tooth removal normal?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am 29 years old and had my lower wisdom tooth removed eight days ago. They were horizontally impacted. My question is why am I still in pain? I do not have pain in my extraction site. The pain is in the hinges of my jaw and down in my jawbone. My extraction site looks fine, pink healthy gums and it is not swollen nor do I have a fever, so it is not an infection. I was also on antibiotics for the first handful of days anyway.

I got a dry socket on one side three days in and still have packed in that spot (getting it out tomorrow), but the discomfort I am experiencing is on both sides of my mouth and since I had a dry socket I know it is not dry socket pain. So, what exactly is going on here? How long does recovery take? Mine were difficult to extract and more invasive due to the fact they were horizontally impacted.

Please help.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

This type of extraction (lower wisdom tooth) is difficult and usually takes at least two weeks of healing time. It can be painful till then due to the removal of some bone from the sides of the impacted wisdom teeth. Think as if you had a fracture in that area; fractures usually are painful for a longer duration than normal tooth extraction.

Do not worry; it will go away in a few more days. If you cannot bear the pain then take some painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs for a few more days. Just you have to make sure that the extraction site is healing and that you do not have any reemergence of dry sockets in that area.

I hope this helps.

Thank you.