What is Inflammation (Alveolitis) After Tooth Extraction?
Hello Dear Readers;
Tooth extraction is an inevitable treatment process in our lives most of the time. Whether it is due to a caries or a buried tooth problem, sometimes we have to pull our tooth out when it is impossible to save it. However, during the recovery process after tooth extraction, he may sometimes encounter unexpected complications. The most common of these complications is inflammation after Decontamination, that is, alveolitis or “dry socket”, which you often hear among the public. In this article, I will explain what inflammation is after tooth extraction, why it occurs, its symptoms, treatment and most importantly, how you can prevent it in detail and in a sincere language.
What is Inflammation After Tooth Extraction?
Inflammation after Decontamination is called alveolitis in medical language or “dry socket” as it is popularly known. A blood clot normally forms in the cavity formed in place of the extracted tooth, and this clot protects the tissues during the healing process and reduces the risk of infection. But if this blood clot disappears early or does not form at all, the bone socket in the tooth extraction cavity becomes open to bacteria, which leads to inflammation, that is, infection.
This infection usually begins 2-4 days after tooth extraction; it manifests itself with unpleasant symptoms such as severe pain, throbbing pain that starts suddenly during the day or at night, bad breath, taste disorder, brownness in the tooth extraction area. The pain can mostly start from the shooting area and spread to the jaw, ear and neck.
The Causes of Inflammation After Tooth Extraction?
The main causes of inflammation after tooth extraction are:
*Early deterioration or non-formation of a blood clot: It is very critical to protect the blood clot in the gravitational cavity. The formation of a clot leaves its place after a while to the gum and filling with the jawbone. However, if the clot is damaged, the tissues remain open to bacteria.
Use of non-sterile instruments: Tooth extraction is a bleeding and surgical procedure, so it is necessary to use sterile instruments, devices and tampons. During tooth extraction under non-sterile conditions, the tooth extraction site passes into inflammation and a dry socket or Alveolitis forms.
In case of Extremely Difficult tooth extraction: The gum is opened during tooth extraction, tooth extraction takes place by partially taking support from the jawbone. However, during tooth extraction, the jawbone may be damaged by excessive strain or bleeding of surgical hand tools on the jawbone and it tends to become inflamed. In this case, the dental extraction socket can turn into a dry socket, that is, into an Alveolith.
*Lack of proper oral hygiene: Inadequate care leads to an increase in the level of bacteria in the mouth and an increased risk of infection.
*Smoking: Smoking reduces blood circulation, delays the healing of tissues and prevents the protection of a clot.
*Weak immune system: Chronic diseases such as diabetes or immunosuppressive conditions increase the risk of infection.
* Insufficient cleaning of the shooting area: Incomplete cleaning or insufficient removal of stitches in dental practice prepares the ground for infection.
- Other infections present in the mouth: Gum diseases or other mouth infections negatively affect recovery after shooting.
How Is the Treatment of Inflammation After Tooth Extraction?
For the treatment of inflammation, the specialist dentist performs the following steps:
* Cleaning the dental extraction cavity: Infected tissues and bacteria are thoroughly cleaned with sterile tools and sterile solutions. It is made sure that solid bones and healthy blood vessels appear. After making sure that a blood clot has formed, it can be left to heal on its own.
* Application of a regional antiseptic buffer: In order to solve the inflammation of the dental extraction area, the area is cleaned with sterile solutions after being cleared of infected tissues. Then, in order to prevent the recurrence of the infection and to avoid antibiotics, special sterile antiseptic tampons are placed in the tooth extraction area. Usually, he also feels sick from the clove smell of this sterile antiseptic tampon in the mouth.
* Antibiotic administration: The infection can be controlled both locally with oral antiseptic solutions and, if necessary, with systemic antibiotics.
* Painkillers: Appropriate painkillers may be prescribed to reduce pain and inflammation.
* Suturing or wound care: The wound is closed properly to support healing, and stitches can be made to bring the gums closer together and heal properly.
Patient-specific care recommendations: Oral hygiene instructions, dietary recommendations such as avoiding habits such as nicotine-containing cigarettes and granular foods are given.
The experience of the specialist physician is very important in the treatment process. Experienced and meticulous dentists in their field minimize the risk of infection, follow the postoperative care process in detail and ensure the most comfortable recovery of patients.
What Should Be Done To Prevent Inflammation After Tooth Extraction?
*Follow all the dentist’s recommendations completely: Pay attention to oral care, especially for the first 72 hours, and eating and drinking, such as avoiding granular foods.
- Do not smoke or drink alcohol: these substances slow down healing, lower the immune system and increase the risk of infection.
*Protect your oral hygiene: Gently clean your teeth with soft brushes, antibacterial mouthwash can be used.
*Avoid hard and hot foods: Feed carefully to protect the wound area in the first days.
- Do not disrupt your regular check-ups: Stay in touch with your doctor to detect possible complications early.
What is the Whiteness at the Wound Site After Tooth Extraction? Should we be worried?
The white layer seen at the tooth extraction site can sometimes be a white fibrin layer that forms on top of the blood clot and is usually normal. But if this is accompanied by whiteness, bad smell, pain and swelling, it is definitely necessary to consult a doctor, because it may be a sign of inflammation.
What are the Physician-Caused Causes of Inflammation After Tooth Extraction?
Although most often the cause of inflammation is due to risk factors such as negligence in the patient’s oral care or smoking, sometimes causes caused by the dentist’s practices can also occur:
*Insufficient sterilization and hygiene: If adequate sterilization is not provided in the surgical area, surgical hand tools and tampons, the ground may be prepared for the entry of bacteria.
* Excessive damage to Gum Tissue: Applying excessive trauma to soft (gum) and hard tissues (jawbone) during surgery makes recovery difficult. It also causes inflammation of the jaw bone or gingiva.
*Insufficient bleeding control: If the appropriate environment is not provided for the formation of a blood clot, the clot may disappear early.
- Tooth extraction takes longer than usual: Tooth extraction is a surgical bleeding procedure, but the risk of infection increases with prolonged tooth extraction.
* Incorrect sewing practice in cases where stitches are required: Small mistakes made in sewing techniques; inability to close the gingival wound site in the tooth extraction area, the use of dental floss prone to bacterial involvement, even removing the stitch under non-sterile conditions can negatively affect the healing process.
- Failure to completely clean the surgical area: Jaw bone fragments or tooth root remnants left in the tooth extraction cavity may invite infection. Abscess or inflammation of the root of the tooth should be cleaned with special hand tools (curette) after tooth extraction and in cases where it cannot be removed from the mouth.
As a result of the retention of the tooth root: Inflammation can occur when the inflamed tooth roots are crooked, if the tooth breaks during extraction and remains in the tooth extraction socket.
However, such risks are minimized by experienced and expert physicians in their field. Ben, by paying attention to such complications with meticulous evaluation and sterilization protocols before each procedure in my clinic, the margin of error is minimized. In our clinic, special surgical techniques suitable for each tooth extraction are used, the gum and jaw bone tissues are tried to be protected at the maximum level during tooth extraction, the tooth roots are tried to be removed without breaking, and also the inflammations at the root end attached to the jaw are removed with special hand tools during tooth extraction. In addition, by following our patients closely after the operation, we intervene immediately even with the smallest negative.
Conclusion and Expert Advice
Although tooth extraction may seem like a simple routine procedure, expertise and experience save lives, especially in cases that are difficult and require surgical intervention.
Inflammation after tooth extraction, if not treated correctly, can lead to complications such as severe pain, healing delays, and even a jaw bone infection. For this reason, it is essential to take care of oral care in the period after tooth extraction and to get professional support without wasting time on possible symptoms.
If you are also concerned about inflammation, alveolitis or other complications after tooth extraction, I recommend that you contact your specialists, dentists, specialist dentists or maxillofacial surgeon without wasting time. Remember, early intervention brings the best results, and reliable physician support is essential for a healthy mouth.
For a healthier mouth and a smooth healing process, specialist physician control and the right treatment plan are essential. Contact us and we will protect your healthy smile! If you want to minimize the risk of inflammation after tooth extraction and have a healthy and smooth recovery process, please do not forget to make an appointment at our clinic in Mersin Yenişehir.