4 Factors to Consider If a Sinus Perforation Isn’t Healing

When I asked a dentist to extract a molar last July, I thought it was an emergency because of the intense pain and the way the tooth felt. I quickly found a dentist online because, at the time, I didn’t have a regular dentist. Well, he perforated my sinus, and about three weeks later, a small piece of bone came out. I thought it healed, but this week, when I blew out a flame the other day, the location of the missing molar put pressure on my partial denture and moved it out of place. I guess the extraction site hasn’t healed.

I called the dental practice and was told that the dentist who did the extraction relocated to another city. I was hesitant about scheduling with another dentist there. I’ve made the mistake of not finding another dentist since the incident, so I need some reliable advice about what to expect before I pick a new dentist.

Thanks. Mason from Biloxi, MS

Mason,

Whenever you think you have an urgent issue with a tooth or any part of your oral cavity, it’s best to get it checked rather than allow it to linger. You did the right thing by seeing a dentist. More than six months have passed since your extraction, so the site should be healed. If air is passing through the site, it will delay the healing process.

Your dentist should have referred you to an oral surgeon to repair the site. There are several things to consider.

• You can return to the dental practice and politely ask them to take responsibility for the error and pay for the care you need for an oral surgeon to correct it.
• A patient can experience sinus perforation with even the best dentist. A thin membrane separates the sinus from tooth roots, and sometimes the roots that support molars are very close to the sinuses, and perforation occurs—no fault of the dentist.
• After an extraction, a dentist should check for any signs of perforation or risky bone fragments, correct the issues, and monitor the site to ensure it is healing well.
• If you’re completely uncomfortable with the dental practice, you have the option of finding a new dentist and asking for a referral to an oral surgeon.

Best wishes on a full recovery, Mason.

This post is sponsored by Monroe, LA dentist Dr. David Finley.