I had pain on my upper wisdom tooth and got it removed today. my dentist did not give me antibiotics. is that ok? i am afraid to get an infection. what to do to avoid it? what are warning signs?

Pain does not always mean infection. Needless use of antibiotics may result in bacterial resistance over the long run. If your dentist thought you needed medication s/he would have prescribed it.

While antibiotics are often overused, if the pain was from a sore and swollen gum (rather than a toothache) I get more concerned when infected gum tissue is opened to remove a tooth. The unopened gum often slows / limits the spread of infection; an opened gum can allow faster spread. With the latter, I would suggest returning to your dentist more quickly if swelling is worsening after 1st 2 days.

Your Dentist or specialist Oral Surgeon is well trained to asses the need for antibiotics. Not all surgical procedures require antibiotic coverage. By the second or third day you should begin noticing gradual signs ofnhealing. If not, return to your practitioner for a post-treatment reevaluation.