I had all my teeth extracted and now I’m wondering if what I’m dealing with is a dental emergency? The ultimate plan is to have my teeth replaced with a mix of dental implants and dentures. Anyway, it turns out that I had a sinus perforation. I went back in and the dentist took care of it by closing it up. But, it’s been several days after that appointment and I have some clear fluid coming out of my nasal cavity. I can’t breathe out of that side either. Nothing is relieving the congestion. I’ve tried over-the-counter decongestants and nothing is working. Steam in the shower with saline rinses aren’t helping either. After all this, the last thing I want to deal with is a dental emergency. Also, I am on antibiotics since the perforation was discovered. What should I do?
-Lance in Arizona
Lance,
It’s time to see an ear, nose and throat specialist. So far, your implant dentist has taken the proper steps to resolve the sinus perforation. But it’s time to have that sinus issue examined further. Get in touch with your dentist and ask for a referral to an ear, nose and throat doctor. It could be as simple as a change in antibiotics, or as serious as a piece of bone or tooth fragment that has been displaced. Although it wouldn’t be considered a dental emergency yet, it is important to get it taken care of asap. If you are seeing liquid draining from the site, you may have developed an infection.
Sinus perforations are not that uncommon when teeth are extracted. The dentist could have done everything correctly, and sometimes it still occurs. It sounds like the dentist closed it surgically, which is the correct course of action. Yet it would be in your best interest to make an appointment with an otorhinolaryngologist. Thank you for your question.
This post is sponsored by York PA dentist Donald H. Currie, DMD