Dental alveolitis: symptoms

Dental alveolitis generally resolves on its own, but treatment may be necessary to relieve the pain. Smoking, taking estrogen-based oral contraceptives, and the use of corticosteroids are some of the factors that can increase the likelihood of developing this inflammation. Moreover, one of the most common consequences of tooth extraction procedures is dry socket. This is caused by the early dissolution or complete dislodgement of the blood clot that covers the alveolar socket left after extraction, resulting in the bone being exposed to bacteria. Three or four days after the extraction, infection, pain, and inflammation may occur. Some people are more at risk of this post-operative complication. For this reason, before proceeding with a tooth extraction, it is important to have a thorough consultation with the dentist and undergo detailed preliminary examinations.

CONTENTS

1. Alveolitis, common symptoms
2. Post-extraction alveolitis
3. Treatment of dental alveolitis
4. Post-extraction alveolitis: how to prevent it

1. Alveolitis, common symptoms⇧

How can you tell if you have alveolitis? The most common symptoms are:

• pain spreading along one side of the face;
• a “hollow” appearance of the site where the tooth extraction took place;
• bone visible from the open wound on the gum;
• swelling of the cheek;
• swollen lymph nodes in the jaw and neck;
• unpleasant odor and taste in the mouth;
• fever.

2. Post-extraction alveolitis⇧

If pain and the symptoms described persist after an extraction, you should not proceed with improvised or “do-it-yourself” remedies. It is essential to contact your dentist immediately or go to the emergency room to verify the diagnosis and receive the appropriate treatment. The doctor will need to check with an intraoral or panoramic X-ray that it is not an odontogenic abscess. The latter could be caused by a small piece of dental root left in the socket. An X-ray can also rule out osteomyelitis, which is usually more extensive and accompanied by fever.

How does dry socket form?

Following a tooth extraction, the dentist usually applies a sterile cotton gauze pad to the residual socket and asks the patient to bite down on it for about half an hour. This procedure helps promote hemostasis and clot formation. The clot stops the bleeding and protects the underlying tissues, while also serving as the basis for the formation of granulation tissue. This tissue is necessary for the development of new bone tissue in the alveolar cavity. In the presence of dry socket, however, the blood clot formed after the extraction breaks down, leaving the tissues exposed and inflamed. The dissolution of the fibrin present in the clot, as well as the bacteria contained in saliva, are some of the causes of post-extraction alveolitis.

3. Treatment of dental alveolitis⇧

How do you recover from alveolitis? Treatment must be prescribed by a doctor. Painkillers are often recommended to relieve the pain. Applying ice externally to the painful side of the face for 15 minutes several times a day may help make the discomfort more tolerable. A natural remedy to cleanse and soothe the area is rinsing with salt water or saline solution after every meal. Using a clean plastic syringe with a curved tip may help wash the site of dental alveolitis from different angles. A few drops of clove oil applied with a clean cotton swab to the wound may relieve the pain. In some cases, the dentist prescribes an antibiotic, generally based on metronidazole, clindamycin, or lincomycin, to shorten the healing time.

The most extreme solution, if post-extraction alveolitis does not resolve, is curettage, which consists of scraping the injured area to allow a new clot to form.

How long does alveolitis last?

Tooth pain is unfortunately one of the least tolerable types of pain. The patient’s main concern, when faced with inflammation of the post-extraction socket that does not resolve spontaneously, is healing time. Recovery may vary from person to person. An experienced dentist will clean the socket or perform a curettage. After that, it may take one or two weeks for a new clot to form. The patient will need some patience and great caution when eating and carrying out proper oral hygiene every day. This will help avoid new complications that could further prolong healing time.

4. Post-extraction alveolitis: how to prevent it⇧

Performing “clean” surgery is the first important factor in avoiding dental alveolitis. At the end of the procedure, careful irrigation and cleansing of the socket are necessary. Daily dental hygiene carried out by the patient also plays an important role, and having a scale and polish about 10 days before the extraction can be useful. To promote proper healing after tooth extraction and prevent dry socket, it is important to follow a few recommendations:

• avoid hard foods that require a lot of chewing, as well as dry foods that could scratch the mucous membranes. It is better to choose liquid foods, especially during the first 24 hours after the extraction;
• avoid chewing gum and eating hard, chewy, or spicy foods for a few days, in order to prevent irritation and inflammation;
• avoid drinking alcohol;
• avoid smoking;
• hydration is very important after a procedure, so it is necessary to drink plenty of water;
• avoid drinking very hot or very cold liquids.