Dry socket or infection?

[karlew]

I was in pain in my whole jaw, inside my ear, bottom and top teeth were hurting/aching badly.   I went to see the dentist and she prescribed low dose antibiotics for 5 days.The surgery did some interim treatment to relieve my pain and drilled the nerve out. Although tender around the area of the 'bad' tooth at the base of the gum the pain did subside.  Two days later I had the tooth extracted.  As soon as the anaesthetic had worn off I was in incredible pain, no pain killers touched it.  I didn't sleep that night and could not eat or drink anything.  I went back to my dentist who packed it and gave me high dose antibiotics.  She told me it was a dry socket, which I don't understand as I was having this pain prior to the extraction, but nobody will answer why I would have the same pain before AND after the extraction.  I had to see an emergency dentist at the weekend to have the tooth redressed, she told me in was very inflammed and infected.  I saw a dentist 3 days later and she said there is no sign of infection.  The area of extraction is still very sore, the tender part at the base of the lower gum now has a sharp thing coming out of the side, which I'm told is a shard of bone that will eventually work it's way out.  

I'm finished on the antibiotics now and am incredibly concerned that I haven't got a full answer to what has been going on.  I'm petrified this awful pain will return now I am no longer taking antibiotics.  My lower teeth (all of them) are throbbing, under my chin, my jaw and teeth (upper and lower) and my ear and cheek are still aching deeply and, at times the pain is like electric shocks.

I am now 3 weeks post extraction and even though the pain has subsided I'm still having difficulty talking, eating and drinking due to the pain. I'm really getting fed up now.

Should I still be suffering like this?  I would very much appreciate your opinion on this.

Many thanks

[Jerome Tsang, DDS]

Have you gone back to your dentist at all?  You might want a referral to an oral surgeon to get the area checked out.  Yes, sometimes there are small pieces of bone that remain after an extraction.  It will gradually work its way out but if its painful, it might not be a bad idea to open the area up again and remove the bone.  But since you said there was a sharp thing coming out at this point, I'm assuming its almost out anyways.  

Try posting this question in the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery section.  The oral surgeon there may have a better idea and may be able to make a more solid recommendation than me.

[ellem8]

You mentioned the pain sometimes feels like electric shocks? Did you feel this type of pain before you had the extraction? I am not a Doctor or Dentist but my Mother has gone through something very similar.