My lower wisdom tooth was impacted and lying sideways. 4 days after a difficult extraction, performed under local anasthesia I am having annoying, deep soreness on the site of the removal, slight pinching pain and the feeling that something's stuck between my teeth even after I floss and rinse with salt water. I live on Ibuprofen 800mg every 8 hrs. Most embarrassing of all, my jaw/cheek is swollen and jutting out like I have cotton balls shoved in... now bruising showing on my skin. Went to visit my dentist today and he removed the stitches. He doesn't suspect an infection is present but I just came off Augmentin (antibiotic); he gave me another prescription in case I want it BUT he wasn't keen on making me start another regimen yet as I don't have dry socket although some food was hiding under the stitches. When can I expect the pain and ugly swelling to reduce?

All you describe is normal, even the sensation that something is between your teeth.
Keep an eye on the color of your gum, and the tenderness, and maybe take your temp once a day.
If you can exist on ibuprofin without screaming in pain for percs and codeine, you are doing OK.

Thanks for your answer. Day 6, the pain and swelling is slowly reducing, but I must have that 800mg ibuprofen on schedule or have the pain. Today I can open my mouth bigger to examine the work... I was alarmed to see there was a square chunk taken out of my cheek opposite gum that held the pesky wisdom! No wonder I have swelling and the awful pinch that feels like an instrument is on it. Didn't know this was normal procedure.