increasing swelling following apical surgery

[Kerdmk]

In April Ihad a root canal.  Thre times after this root canal, I developed an infection.  The third, in November, was the worst. I was sent back to the dds who had performed the root canal to "redo" it.  He found a root he had missed.  The redoing of the root canal then caused the infection to go completely out of control even though I was on clindamycin.  It was so bad that anitbiotics had no effect and it had to be drained ( a most painful procedure).  After the draining, slowly it went away.  Then on Dec. 29th I had apical surgery to take care of the root canal.  My cheek continued to swell even 5 days after the surgery.  Today, Saturday, I went back to the oral surgeon.  HE said if the swelling hasn't stopped, much less reduced by Monday, to return to him.  Even from this morning, it has gotten significantly worse. The swelling reaches from my eye area to my chin and lower jawbone.  I am not running  fever and he has upped the dosage of the antibiotic.  I have been faithfully rinsing with salt water and am taking both ibuprofen and vicodin.  The pain is from the swelling espcially around the stitches.   I will call his emergency number tomorrow, but at what point do I need to go to the emergency room if I can't reach him?

[scottma]

Going back to your dentist to have a post-op exam is advised.

[Kerdmk]

Went back.  I was healing very quickly, combined with the very well done stiches, so the normal post op bleeding was not able to drain and was pooling.  The moment we took out the stiches (about 4 days early) te blood was able to drain and I no longer looked like a mugging victim.

Thanks.