I am to have a tooth extraction in four days. It is really painful. Is this to!

I am to have a tooth extraction in four days. It is really painful. Is this too long to wait?

Doctors gave me amoxicillin and vicodin to help with the pain and infection. I know I waited too long and feel that four days is O.K. My family thinks a dental emergency means immediacy. Nothing too bad should happen in four days, right?

Since you are on antibiotics nothing horrible should happen. If you start to have a big bump growing in your gums, or along your jaw, or a huge jump in pain - then call the dental surgeon ASAP. Otherwise the 4 days will be painful but shouldn't compromise the outcome.

In fact letting the antibiotics start to work is a good idea because that should in theory reduce the swelling and make the extraction easier for you. As well it is easy for the infection to enter the blood during extraction and the antibiotics in your blood stream should help clear that up quicker.

If you smoke - try to stop now. The sucking action from smoking tends to cause dry sockets and can prevent proper clotting. Or consider using the patch while you are healing.

I don't have a specific source, however I have had 5 dental surgeries, and 4 tooth extractions. I've heard a lot in those offices and this is advice I've heard those surgeons give.

And next time don't wait. A tooth infection can spread to a jaw infection. I was in the hospital beside a lady who got a chunk of her jaw taken out because she didn't get a tooth taken care of quick enough and it infected the bone. She was in big time pain. My sister got a blood infection via an infected tooth. You are lucky this time.