Why Is My Jaw Still Swollen After Tooth Extraction and Antibiotics?
Posted by AllSmiles
I had a tooth extracted next to my lower right wisdom tooth last Tuesday. I had swelling around my jaw before the procedure. The dentist prescribed amoxicillin for an infection. Despite taking the antibiotics for four days, the swelling is much worse. The area below my jaw is now hard and swollen like a golf ball. Pain medication doesn’t work. – Thank you. Kaleb from Austin, TX
Kaleb,
When an infection worsens, report it to your dentist even with antibiotics. Your dentist should prescribe another antibiotic. It doesn’t seem that your dentist has done anything wrong. Amoxicillin is a good first choice for a tooth infection.
Why Is Your Jaw Still Swollen After Tooth Extraction and Antibiotics?
If you have lingering jaw swelling after tooth extraction and antibiotics, you may be experiencing bacterial resistance to whatever was prescribed. Sometimes, an infection won’t respond to amoxicillin because the bacterial strain has developed antibiotic resistance. Switching to another antibiotic may give you better results.
Jaw infections can become quite serious, so don’t spend more time seeking online opinions and delaying treatment. Work with your dentist to find an antibiotic that will control the infection. If your dentist cannot resolve the infection, get an urgent appointment with another dentist.
Chandler, Arizona, dentists Dr. William Walden and Dr. Tyrel Beavers sponsor this post. Read how they strive to give patients some of the best dental care in Chandler.