Dental pain, dry socket or absess?

[Tinky Joe]

I had a tooth go bad.  Dentist was unable to re-crown, not enough root left. He pulled it and made a bridge. The area where the tooth was pulled really hurt for several days afterwards, but finally let up a bit. Yesterday, three weeks later, I was fitted with my new bridge. The area was so sensitive that I had to be numbed to place the bridge. It really hurt after the bridge was placed. Now, 24 hours later, my jaw hurts, I have some ear pain, and I about died when I drank coffee this morning! Cold drinks also really hurt. Coffee was the worst. Is it possible that I have dry socket, especially after several weeks? Is it possible that there might be a little piece of old tooth left, and it's flaring up? This pain reminds me of how it felt before it was pulled. Any ideas?  Barb

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I had a bridge that came out and last wednesday the dentist extracted the decayed tooth i have had nerve pain and jiust contining pain since went to the er on friday they did a mri and found a infection so I was put on a higer dose of antibotics but I am still in a lot of pain comming from that tooth area also a lot of swelling at the lower jaw area any suggestions to relieve the pain and why is ther so much pain I have not been able to sleep or eat.

[Jerome Bogin, D.D.S.]

It is not a dry socket at this point. I would suggest you look into the possibility that one of the teeth involved with the bridge is in need of root canal therapy.

[mike1105]

In my opinion, 3 weeks after the extraction to have a bridge cemented is way too soon. I usually wait 8 weeks even to take impressions (10-11 weeks to place the bridge) becasue the area where the tooth is extracted needs that long to heal. Placing a bridge too soon can lead to problems like you are having. I'd get another opinion.