- Joined
- Mar 9, 2017
- Messages
- 2
Hello! A lower wisdom tooth had become severely decayed and started breaking into pieces several months ago. (I've been out of work, uninsured, and broke, so unable to see a dentist.) Had occasional pain and perhaps some mild swelling along the way, but nothing intense or long lasting.
Stayed very vigilant about keeping it clean and the hollow/open portion cleaned out with a toothpick. Tonight, the remaining 3/4 portion of the tooth (above the gumline) fell out. It looks like a baby molar, with no root. I *thought* wisdom teeth had roots, but I just can't see or feel anything left in the big open socket. It's a little tender, so I don't want to poke TOO hard, though, so maybe there is something solid still in there. I don't know! (I'm 43, and no dentist has ever mentioned anything unusual about my wisdom teeth or roots, btw.)
Okay, so questions are:
1. Can I assume there *is* a root still in there? Or could it have fully decayed or perhaps have never existed, etc.
2. Big open socket. How do I care for it? With the tooth, I brushed, flossed, and picked it regularly. The socket feels too tender for that (right now at least.)
3. What complications might I need to be watchful for now?
4. If I need a professional to look/act... would the first step be a general dentist or an oral surgeon? I've never had a tooth removed, so I just honestly don't know how that works.
Thank you so much for any insight!!!
RE: image. This is the 3/4 portion that fell out tonight. The other 1/4 had fallen apart into shards at various points in time over the past couple of months.
Stayed very vigilant about keeping it clean and the hollow/open portion cleaned out with a toothpick. Tonight, the remaining 3/4 portion of the tooth (above the gumline) fell out. It looks like a baby molar, with no root. I *thought* wisdom teeth had roots, but I just can't see or feel anything left in the big open socket. It's a little tender, so I don't want to poke TOO hard, though, so maybe there is something solid still in there. I don't know! (I'm 43, and no dentist has ever mentioned anything unusual about my wisdom teeth or roots, btw.)
Okay, so questions are:
1. Can I assume there *is* a root still in there? Or could it have fully decayed or perhaps have never existed, etc.
2. Big open socket. How do I care for it? With the tooth, I brushed, flossed, and picked it regularly. The socket feels too tender for that (right now at least.)
3. What complications might I need to be watchful for now?
4. If I need a professional to look/act... would the first step be a general dentist or an oral surgeon? I've never had a tooth removed, so I just honestly don't know how that works.
Thank you so much for any insight!!!
RE: image. This is the 3/4 portion that fell out tonight. The other 1/4 had fallen apart into shards at various points in time over the past couple of months.