Expert: Lawrence Spindel DDS, www.lspindeldds.com - 11/25/2008

Question
I had all 4 wisdom teeth pulled in 2001...no problems since untill 2 weeks ago I started having a toothache on the bottom right 3rd from the back....the next day it felt like a different tooth and the next day the upper right....now it is pretty much the whole right side....I have noticed that where my bottom right wisdom tooth was pulled there is something trying to push up through the gum...and that is where the intense pain is coming from....my whole right side of my mouth hurts all the way around to the front of my teeth.....what could this be??? the gum is sticking up about 1/2 inch (feels like) above the surface of my other molars.....is this a tooth or a bone possibly? I understand you cant diagnose over the computer...but I thought you could give me some ideas....I dont have a dentisit right now ....or should I call the oral surgeon that pulled my wisdom teeth....thanks so much Kat

Answer
Dear Kathy.

If you can, I would call the Oral Surgeon who pulled your wisdom teeth. If you need an appropriate referral, he can give you one.  Certainly, he can make a diagnosis and give you any needed Rx's.

You could have any number of problems.  In general, once a patient is in pain, some of it gets referred and it can be hard for a patient to know where the problem is localized.  Also a number of gum problems can start locally and seem to spread. Anug(Acute necrotizing gingivitis for one).  Patients with Anug(A bacterial infection) complain of a bad taste often have a malodor in their mouth. This is usually found in patients who haven't had a cleaning in a while and whose immune response is weakened by stress or lack of sleep. Also patients can have viruses in the gum that can cause symptoms like yours.

Another possibility is that you have an abscessed tooth.  Sometimes an infected pulp can cause a lot of pain( a tooth that needs rootcanal).

I am not sure about the likelihood of another tooth trying to push through--It does not sound likely.  

Truly the best thing is for you to visit a dentist for a thorough diagnosis and it does sound like it is time for you to have a check-up and a cleaning.  Why don't you call your Oral Surgeon.

I hope I have answered your questions and please feel free to contact me again with any future dental questions.