Infection after wizzie extraction - why??

[nikkistar]

Yikes! My sockets got infected! What gives?

I'm 27 and had all four wizzies extracted last week week. The surgeon warned that the left-side gave them trouble so expect swelling. A week later I was in agony and my jaw was clenched shut.

I returned to the surgeon and after cranking my jaw open he used the irrigation syringe to clean out the holes on that left-side. A LOT of gross stuff came out and he said I had developed an infection (despite being on penicillin). Stronger antibiotics were prescribed.

My question is - WHY DID I GET AN INFECTION?? The surgeon said this is uncommon but didn't give me an explanation why! Any advice you can give on the cause of infections would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Gordon]

If you'll forgive the language, it's because sh*t happens, basically

Probably you were unlucky enough that a small piece of food worked it's way deep into the extraction socket, lodged there and provided a locus for infection to start.

 

[DrMike]

I take it you were rinsing as instructed, avoiding smoking and alcohol etc? Infected sockets are much more common in smokers.

Other than these things as Gordon says- it just happens sometimes, especilly if the procedure was quite difficult- as it sounds was the case here. The most important thing to do is follow their instructions and although you will feel a bit miserable right now- it will get better in time.

 

[nikkistar]

Thank you, that makes sense. My jaw was so swollen it was impossible to get the irrigator back there and, I probably rushed it on eating the spaghetti o's!

One follow-up question, about the irrigator. How can I tell if I've got it down far enough into the holes, and, could I cause damage by using it more than recommended? I was told to use it morning and night but would prefer to do it 3-4 times during the day, just in case I don't get it cleaned out on the other two tries!

ps - this website is awesome