AboutJoel S. Teig, DMD, FABOMS Expertise I am a board certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon and I am available to answer questions related to tooth extractions, implant insertion, facial recontruction, facial and oral tumor removal, TMJ dysfunction and various successful treatments, including surgery if all else fails, and occlusal discrepancy requiring orthognathic or jaw surgery.
Experience Board Certified Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon practicine for over 20 years. Assistant Clincal Professor and State University School of Dentistry.
Organizations American Dental Association, American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
Education/Credentials BA
DMD
Awards and Honors National Honor Society (OKU), Philadelphia County Dental Society, Mosby Book Award, Oral Surgery Honors, Summa Cum Laude
Question QUESTION: I did jaw surgery on July 11 to remove a cyst from my lower right jaw. The
cyst formed under a tooth that was filled with the silver fillings over 11 years
ago. One dentist told me that the tooth had a fracture and that it died at
some point. In June of this year I only began to experience pain and the site
was swollen. The surgeon took the cyst out and sent it for testing. It is now
July 20th and while the swelling is gone I still have pain deep in the bone
area. Why is this so after a week? Why would the cyst form at that tooth?The
tooth and parts of the bone were extracted.
Erica
Erica
ANSWER: Erica - You didn't mention if that tooth had root canal treatment. If it did, some cells at the end of the root can with time and inflation in the tooth grow and produce a cyst (usually a dentigerous cyst). I say the above assuming the cyst touches a root of that tooth. .
Why the pain? Well after the removal, I am sure blood bled into the cyst hole. That blood can become a breeding ground for bacteria producing an infection. I don't know what you are taking or doing, but it is very important for you to do warm salt water rinses for about 5 minutes 4-5 times a day. The rinses will encourage the drainage of trapped fluids and the pressure producing the pain should subside.
I suggest you contact the surgeon. He should definitely examine you to see if an infection or other process is occurring. I wish you well and hope you feel better soon. If you have any further questions, feel free to contact me again.
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Dear Dr. Teig,
Thanks for your answer. No, I did not get a root canal on that particular
tooth. The dentist told me that since it was fractured and experienced trauma
from the large filling I got back in the 90's it was just best to take it out. I did
and the whole experience was horrific for me. I actually heard the dentist
scraping against the bone in my jaw to get the cyst out. When they took the
cyst out it was white and round and it actually broke into four pieces. They
told me that it did not look like cancer, but I am still scared to even get the
results tomorrow. The cavity seems to be healing nicely and I am taking
antibiotics for two weeks. The dentist also said that it was a chronic abscess.
What is that? Sorry for bothering you. I am just afraid and the surgeon that
performed the surgery will not be available for another 3 weeks.
Erica
Answer Erica - For them to even suggest cancer when it was a firm lesion within the bone is almost non-existent. If it was a chronic abscess, it was not a tumor, but just a slow growing infection in the bone. I cannot believe that the surgeon who treated you refuses or is unable to evaluate you now for 3 weeks. That is totally unethical. When you have a postoperative condition where there might be a problem, you need to be examined immediately. You need to have your dentist call the surgeon and tell him he wants to have you evaluated immediately.
I hate to hear stories about doctors who feel more important than the patients they are treating. You need to put your foot down with your dentist and surgeon. You need to be seen now!!
I wish you the best. Don't let them get away without examining you now.
