Shattered Jaw? - Dental Health Message Board

LucysDad · 05-08-2007, 09:27 AM

I recently (6 wks ago) had my teeth pulled and received immediate dentures.

My problem is now that my gums are healing and receding, I have jagged bone fragments protruding and erupting through the gums. These are NOT from the tooth sockets, but along the jawbone edge. One came through midway down the inside gumline where a wisdom tooth is/was.

It's equivalent to a baby cutting teeth. It's constant pain until it erupts through. The slightest pressure or touch increases the pain.

Once these protrusions erupt, I've been able to numb the area with a topical lidocaine and pick or break away the jagged pieces with hemostats. Some have been chips broken away while others are still attached. Once the fragment is removed, the pain subsides within a day, and that area of the gum seems to heal.

Though I have removed 7 such fragments (the largest being @ 1/4" long), I still have at least 6 remaining on the upper jaw, and 5 on the lower jaw.

Is this a normal occurrence? (I've been told fragments come from the tooth socket, but that's not my problem.)

Was the jagged jawbone an existing problem that was masked because of my teeth?

Did the dentist somehow shatter my jaw?

Should I consider a surgery having the gums opened to remove the protrusions? (That might solve the problem in one sweep.)

What are my options?

Any info will be appreciated. THANX

anitak1982 · 05-08-2007, 12:01 PM

Truth is your surgeon didn't clean you up enough of bone fragments from having your teeth pulled. I would take it up with him. Maybe he can redo your surgery and get them all. But no he didn't shatter you jaw just left a bunch of bone fragments behind.

It isn't unusual for this to happen.

LucysDad · 05-08-2007, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anitak1982

...just left a bunch of bone fragments behind.

It isn't unusual...

Thank you for the info.

Apparently I wasn't clear in my description of the problem. I can understand fragments remaining in the tooth sockets, but this problem is NOT coming from the sockets or the socket edges.

I think my mistake is calling them fragments. They don't become fragments until they are exposed through the gum and I break them off of the jawbone. Until I break the protrusion off, thereby producing a "fragment", it is just a jagged edge of the jawbone itself,

The protrusions are mostly along the outside edge of the jawbone and rake the inside of my cheek, with a few along the inside edge that rake my tongue.

Maybe I should rephrase my question: Is it common for the jawbone to have sharp, jagged edges that cut through the gums?

I can't think of a more simple description to help you visualize it.

As for returning to the surgeon... he's 500 miles away. I was in CA at the time, but am now back in NM.

anitak1982 · 05-08-2007, 07:13 PM

You sound like me, my surgeon was 500 miles away too. Why did you go so far away? I went so that I could have dental implants and no one close by knew how to help me. So I can understand your anxiousness. Call him anyway I certainly was on the phone all the time.

If it is finances that is your problem. I was able to travel by angel flight to my visits. Look into it that might be an option to help you get back to them to fix this.

LucysDad · 05-09-2007, 01:08 PM

Just returned from a dental surgeon. He had to open my gums and file down the protrusions. Apparently, the dentist that pulled my teeth did do damage to the jawbone. He managed to chip the edge in several areas. Over the 6 weeks of healing, the chips basically grafted or attached out of position, causing the protrusions. As the gums receded, they were pushing through. (like cutting teeth)

I should be good to go now... when these 9 areas heal. Also, I can now wear the lower plate for the first time.

Thank you for the info and support.