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Numbness After Wisdom Tooth Extraction?

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Ronniw

New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 08 Oct 2007
Posts: 1
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.

Hang in there. It should get better.



Eric
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