Expert: Zev Kaufman, D.D.S. - 11/18/2008

Question
Hi,
I had 3 wisdom teeth removed in September. I had a numb lip and tingling teeth which resolved after a month and also a hard lump in my cheek and restriction in opening my mouth. My dentist was not concerned about any of it and just said in 6 months you will be fine, he didn't know what i was talking about with the tingling teeth either. After asking someone a question on this board, I started doing salt rinses regularly as the lump was probably a heamatoma and the tingling numbness nerve damage. The lump went down to perhaps a small pea size and my jaw movement was back to normal. i have a pocket that food gets sstuck in also. However the last 4 days the lump has got bigger and bigger to a walnut size, it is painful to touch, lie on that cheek, and is noticable from the outside. I cannot open my jaw any more than 1.5cm. I have just been back to the dental surgeon and he took an x-ray as his only explanation seemed that it could be some tooth left in there. This wasn't the case and he ended up giving me antibiotics for a gum infection from food stuck in the pocket?? does this ring true with you?? it seems strange to me as it's the exact symptoms, opening jaw restrictions and lump i had after the initial surgery, and I wasn't told it was a gum infection then. In any case it is above the jawline in my cheek, not my gums. AND he said many times that he wasn't sure what it was, so is he just guessing and hoping the antibiotics will fix it by chance?
I would be grateful for any advice.
Thankyou Roseanne


Answer
Dear Roseanne:
You MUST go and see an Oral surgeon.  Infections in the head and neck regions can be serious.  Empirically treating an infection with any antibiotic without a proper diagnosis is not right.  If there is a tooth remaining in the jaw, it has to be removed, otherwise it can get infected.  If your dentist never heard of something, it does not meant that it does not exist.
To find an oral surgeon go to www.aaoms.org and locate one near you.
Do not neglect this.  I will be more than happy to speak with you personally over the phone, if you are having troubles locating a qualified oral surgeon.  www.drzevkaufman.com will have my info. 212-758-2758 is the phone.
Best wishes, and do not procrastinate.
Dr. Zev Kaufman