I had a tooth extracted 6 days ago. Yesterday, I went back in to the dentist because there was a sharp edge poking out at my tongue, and I couldn’t chew, talk, or swallow without pain. My dentist ground down the edge a little. It still bothers me, but it’s tolerable.
Will this go away in time as he says? And how long will it take before it feels normal?
Thanks,
James in Massachusetts
James,
Yes, having sharp edges of bone after an extraction is fairly common, and your body will smooth it out as it heals, over the next few weeks.
There is a reluctance of dentists to remove any more bone than necessary after an extraction, because they want there to be as much bone in the ridge afterward as possible, so I can understand your dentist’s reluctance to trim your sharp edge any more than necessary to enable you to be reasonably comfortable.