What is causing a lump near the extracted tooth?
Patient: hi there i had a tooth extracted just over 3 years ago now and have been back to the dentist many many times since then due to a big lump above extraction site plus keep getting abscesses , have burning and sting to right side of tongue, he always says it is caused by smoking or come back in 3 months but no other treatment now i have a new dentist and i demanded a x-ray, she states that i have a infection in the bone and that only surgery will solve it now, would this be what is causing the lump? how much damage will have been done as it has gone on for so long what will surgery do? Doctor: Hard lump below tooth extraction site can be there because of some tooth part still left in tooth extraction socket or can be a bony prominence present. It can also be there because of some cyst or some other pathology. Without clinical examination, it is difficult to give definite diagnosis. You can visit your oral surgeon for evaluation and treatment. If hard lump is because of part of tooth still left in tooth extraction socket, then it can be pulled out. Part of tooth still left in extraction socket can cause infection and pain later on. If it is a bony prominence present, then it will regress on its own or surgical intervention will be required for it. For more info on complications after tooth extraction,