Numbness After Wisdom Tooth Extraction? Posted: 10-08-07 16:51pm
A week and a half ago, I went to have my
left wisdom teeth out. When I got the
injections, I got this sudden sharp pain
down my tongue and then nothing, so I
thought it was normal. During the
procedure the doc discovered my lower
wisdom tooth was impacted. He had
previously taken x-rays, so I thought he
should have known this then, but he acted
pretty surprised. He cut the tooth out,
but as he was actually pulling the tooth
out, pain shot down my jaw to the front of
my chin and was so bad it took my breath
away. I started crying right then and
there, and the doc just stood there like
"gee, what's wrong with her?" After a few
minutes catching my breath and calming
down, he removed the rest of the tooth.
Again, I was told everything was ok. I
don't think my very young doc even thought
to check my inferior alveolar nerve for
damage then and there.
The next day, with the anesthetic totally
worn off, realized I couldn't feel my
left lower lip. Or my chin, or my lower
left teeth and gums. And the tip of my
tongue was numb, with no ability to feel
temperature. I called and was told to wait
a day or two, that it happens occasionally
where the anesthetic just takes longer to
wear off. That was a friday- I called
again on Monday with the only difference
being a burning feeling in my gums and the
bottom edge of my chin, burning in my
lower lip like it's split, and pain
radiating up into my cheekbone when I try
to lay on that side of my face. I was told
to call back when it started to tingle,
because that means "something is
happening." That was a week ago and
finally today I called them back and
demanded a recheck. (The doc didn't order
a follow-up visit.) I was told there is a
1 in 200 change I might not get the
feeling back, due to what he's decided is
damage to the inferior alveolar nerve.
Meanwhile, they can't get me in until next
tuesday- a week from now. I am an office
manager and I have to be able to talk, but
talking is very difficult. I drool on
occasion without feeling it and my face
feels like rubber. Have you ever seen
someone with a stroke who can't move one
side of their lips? That's me at this
point.
I don't know what to do from here. Anyone
with any advice??
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UCanQuit
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 24 Feb 2007 Posts: 109 Location: SEATTLE
Posted: 10-08-07 17:32pm
I had a cist develop next to my lower left
wisdom tooth. I was 32 when they pulled
that wisdom tooth. They told that the
cist was pressing against my nerve and one
of the possibilities was that extracting
the cist and tooth could leave the lower
part of my jaw numb.
Sure enough, after surgery my lower
left jaw was numb. They told me that I
might get feeling back after a few days or
that I may not.
Well I never did get feeling back in my
jaw. It has been over three years since my
surgery and though I don't have complete
feeling in my Jaw. I did get a lot of
feeling back. I don't really notice it
anymore. As a matter of fact I forgot
about it until I saw your post.
It sounds like the same thing happened
to you. I't might feel extremely numb
right now, but you will get some feeling
back. It may just take some time.
I'm not sure if your doctor informed you
of the risks before the surgery. My oral
surgeon informed me of the risks before
the surgery. It sound though that your
surgeon sounds a little incompetent.
As far as the pain you mentioned. I
can't really say anything about that,
because the doctor put me under when they
performed the surgery.
