How soon will the hole heal after tooth extraction?

How long does it take for gums to heal after tooth extraction?

Tooth extraction can be emergency or planned, but in each case healing occurs the same way.
Extraction of the organ is carried out when it is not possible to preserve the crown, in case of severe inflammation, or in advanced periodontal disease. The operation is performed under anesthesia, so there is no pain during removal. Unpleasant symptoms appear after the end of the dentist’s visit. The gums in the area of the removed organ hurt, but normally this goes away after seven days.

When the gums still hurt seven days after the tooth extraction is completed, and the inflammation does not subside for a long time, this indicates a complication. The most common consequences of organ extraction are alveolitis, bleeding, fracture, and injury to the socket.

Content:

Why do my gums hurt after tooth extraction?
Self-medication during the recovery period as the main cause of pain
How to treat gums at home
Diseases that cause gum pain after tooth extraction
How long does gum pain normally last after tooth extraction?
When you need urgent dental care

Removal of an incisor, canine, or molar is a surgical operation during which a unit is removed from the alveolus.
It has to be done for various reasons. The complexity of the procedure depends not only on the anatomical structure of the roots, but also on the location of the operated area and the type of dental disease that has arisen. As a rule, the more the tooth hurts and the more extensive the swelling, the more difficult it is for the doctor to work. This is due to the accumulation of exudate in soft tissues. But postponing extraction until later due to fear or other far-fetched reasons is unacceptable. Delay is fraught with periostitis, alveolitis and other dangerous complications.

How many days does it take for the socket and gums to heal?

During a complex operation, the dentist may damage the jaw or push the tooth root into the maxillary sinus. If you do not seek help from a dentist for a long time with such complications, even more terrible conditions appear - gumboil, cyst, osteomyelitis.

Complete healing of the gums after tooth extraction occurs within several weeks. All this time, the mucous membrane hurts a little, but is simply anesthetized with local drugs.

The healing time of the hole is personal for each patient. Recovery takes a long time if care recommendations are not followed. The gums after tooth extraction do not heal even after a couple of weeks, if an infection was introduced during the operation or after the end.

The gum heals in 14 days, and complete restoration of the socket occurs in six months.

Why does the hole take a long time to heal?

Epithelization of the gums after the operation begins after a couple of days, and a white coating appears on it. Now it doesn’t hurt so much anymore, and there are no signs of inflammation. At this time, it is better not to touch the mucous membrane, but just continue to properly take care of the hole. It may not heal for a long time due to the patient’s personal quirks, at a time when there are diseases of the circulatory system or chronic inflammatory processes in the body.

If your gums hurt very badly after seven days, this is possible:

Dry socket or alveolitis - this complication often appears when the rules for organ removal are not followed, while part of the crown or root remains in the socket. Under such conditions, the blood clot, which should protect against infection, falls out. This complication much more often begins on the 5th day after the end of the operation. Common symptoms are gum discoloration, unpleasant odor, halitosis, soreness, slight bleeding;
Chronic bleeding - this complication is observed in people with hypertension and in the case of blood diseases. This may result in alveolitis. Before sending the patient home, the dentist stops the bleeding and places a hemostatic sponge on the hole;
A fracture or dislocation of the lower jaw is a rare complication that occurs more often during the removal of a wisdom tooth; the risk increases if there is a cystic formation or acute inflammatory process in the root area;
Perforation of the maxillary sinus is possible as a result of complex removal of chewing teeth in the upper jaw.

If the hole hurts for a long time, and it does not go away after seven days, you should immediately consult a doctor. It is forbidden to cope with complications that appeared during the removal on your own. Apart from this, there is no way to prevent them, so first aid is provided immediately after the procedure is completed.

Complications due to improper care, which slow down gum healing, can be prevented on your own.

Why does the hole become dry?

After a tooth is removed, a hole is formed, which should normally be closed by a blood clot. In this situation, it is a barrier to the penetration of infection into the soft periodontal tissues and jaw bone. Considering that the clot is not attached to anything, it is relatively mobile in the alveolus. Chewing on the removal side, brushing teeth or vigorously rinsing the mouth can cause it to fall out, leaving the wound surface exposed to pathogens. Getting inside the wound, they contribute to the development of inflammation. This is manifested by pain of varying degrees of intensity, a disturbance in general well-being, an increase in temperature to subfebrile levels, and in some cases, an enlargement of the submandibular lymph nodes and facial asymmetry.

Other reasons may contribute to the formation of dry socket syndrome:

Excessive bleeding immediately after extraction. It prevents a clot from forming.
Resorption of the clot due to the entry of food debris or microorganisms from dental plaque into the socket.
Incomplete clot formation, which occurs when smoking or taking birth control pills.

A dry socket after tooth extraction usually makes itself felt a few days after the extraction. At the first symptoms - usually a periodic aching pain that intensifies during or immediately after eating - you should come to see the surgeon who performed the removal.

What to do after the extraction is complete

It is possible to realize that the hole is healing correctly on the 3rd day. The gums hurt moderately, and a white coating appears on it. It is extremely important not to remove it, since it is new epithelium. After 2 weeks, the onion should be completely covered with granulation tissue. After a month, bone tissue begins to regenerate in the entire socket. After 50 days, bone tissue fills the entire hole. And only after five to six months the hole is completely healed and does not differ from other bone tissue.

The gums will recover faster after tooth extraction is completed if you follow easy recommendations.

In the first days after surgery, minor bleeding may occur. Under such conditions, you need to take a small piece of cotton wool or gauze, soak it in hydrogen peroxide, and apply it to the hole. It is much better to go to the pharmacy immediately after removal and buy a hemostatic sponge. A small piece must be applied to the hole; it will dissolve on its own.

How long does it take for a hole to heal after removal?

After the tooth has been removed from the socket, the healing process begins. The circular ligament, which is located near the tooth, contracts and the edges of the gums move closer together.

Several hours should pass. During this period of time, a blood clot is formed, which protects the open wound from harmful substances entering the hole. During the healing process, the blood clot cannot be removed from the socket. You should avoid rinsing your mouth; you should not pick with a toothpick or touch the healing gum with your finger.

There are several stages of healing:

The stage of formation of granulation tissue 2-3 days after the intervention. This tissue is the basis for the growth of new epithelium.
The formation of the epithelium begins on days 7-14 after the intervention.
Formation of the bone tissue of the socket from the edges to the center - 2-3 weeks.
Mineralization of osteoid – 21 days from the moment of surgery.
Calcification of bone trabeculae – after 2-3 months.

For quick healing, you need to follow the rules of hygiene. Brushing your teeth should be done at least twice a day, but you should not touch the area of the extracted tooth with a brush. You can start rinsing your mouth after eating, but not too intensely. Around day 2-3, epithelization begins, which is accompanied by the formation of granulation tissue.

The soreness of the face goes away, and the swelling and redness of the gums should already disappear. At the next stage, the hole is covered with a white coating.

Do not rinse your mouth for the first 24 hours.

It is necessary to avoid warm foods and drinks, and not to take alcohol or blood thinners. It is possible to numb the wound with drugs such as Nimesil, Ibuprofen, Paracetamol. While brushing your teeth, you must avoid moving the bristles near the removed organ. If bleeding starts unexpectedly after a couple of days, you should immediately go to the doctor. This also applies to those cases when the pain is not relieved by simple analgesic and anti-inflammatory drugs.

On the third day, it is already possible to start rinsing the oral cavity with warm antiseptic solutions and herbal decoctions. This will speed up the healing of the hole and prevent inflammation and infection of the wound. For a couple more days you need to refrain from heat, sports, saunas, baths.

Some medications can have the opposite effect, leading to bleeding, so the medication must be coordinated with the dentist. Before removing the doctor, it is imperative to give a warning about concomitant and previous diseases. Tooth extraction has contraindications, and if they are missed, complications cannot be avoided.

How is dry socket treated?

As a rule, treatment of a dry tooth socket consists of cleansing the alveoli from the remains of a blood clot (if it is partially left) and food, washing the wound with antiseptics and applying antibacterial and anti-inflammatory dressings to the wound surface. In severe cases, antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed for oral administration.

If a dry socket has formed after the removal of a wisdom tooth , the treatment is similar, but antibacterial drugs are prescribed even for moderate cases of the disease.

In the absence of complications, treatment of a dry socket after tooth extraction lasts no more than 10-14 days. If you consult a doctor in a timely manner and strictly follow his recommendations, the alveolus gradually fills with epithelial tissue and heals. With the development of complications - alveolitis, abscess, phlegmon or osteomyelitis of the jaw, the process can last up to three weeks or even a month.

To prevent the development of dry socket, it is recommended to reduce the number of cigarettes smoked immediately on the day of removal, as well as during the next 3 days after it.
It is also necessary to warn about taking oral contraceptives - this will allow the doctor to choose the day when the concentration of estrogens in the blood is lowest and the likelihood of bleeding from the socket is minimal. In addition, for 3-4 days after extraction, it is advisable to drink liquid without using a straw, and brush your teeth very carefully. To the list of posts

When to see a dentist

A visit to the doctor should not be delayed in the following cases:

Initially or after a couple of days, a blood clot falls out;
A purulent lump appears in the area of the hole;
The pain does not go away for a long time and inflammation appears;
The entire jaw begins to ache, radiating to the temple and eye areas;
There is a constant iron taste of blood in the mouth;
Pain appears in the area of the adjacent tooth;
Within 5 days the gums are not covered with white plaque.

If you are worried about your teeth, you will be helped at the Doctor-RAF Dental Clinic (Almaty, Muratbayev St., 101). Our highly qualified specialists will help you solve all your dental problems.

During the operation, a neighboring organ may be damaged. This will manifest itself as symptoms of pain, and perhaps the tooth will begin to loosen.

Complex removal will require additional care and the use of bactericidal drugs, but only those prescribed by the dentist. Self-prescribing antibiotics is prohibited. An exception would be local gels and ointments, which are available without a prescription and have an anti-inflammatory effect.

8 reasons why the hole does not heal after tooth extraction, ways to speed it up.

After tooth extraction, it seems that the worst is over. However, this is a surgical operation that does not exclude the possibility of complications, especially if you do not follow the doctor’s recommendations. What to do when the hole does not heal?

Why can’t you smoke after tooth extraction and after what time can you?

As for smoking, you can't smoke. This is an absolute health hazard. A smoker's blood vessels are in a state of spasm all the time. Normally, after a tooth is removed, the hole should be completely filled with blood, which within 5-15 minutes. turns into a dense clot, and then into a blood clot, which will serve as a protective barrier between the oral cavity with bacteria and the socket of the extracted tooth. It is difficult to achieve this effect in smokers. The socket after removal often remains “dry”, i.e. not filled with blood or partially filled, and the clot itself will be unstable and easily washed out by saliva, which again will lead to the opening of the wound and its infection. And again we hear: “The doctor brought an infection.” Therefore, we cannot say when you can smoke, but we can only give advice: tooth extraction is a reason to quit smoking.

On average, the hole after tooth extraction heals in about 7-14 days. And it heals completely in 2-6 months. Such terms are valid for a completely healthy person without bad habits, without diseases of the circulatory system, bone tissue, and who does not have dental plaque.

Healing process

The stages of wound healing are as follows:

The first day: the hole fills with blood, which turns into a clot due to coagulation. It becomes the basis for bone formation in place of the void, and also protects against infection.
3-4 days: the clot is replaced by granulation tissue. By this time, the severity of pain decreases, and sometimes the area of surgery stops hurting completely.
Week: a clot remains inside the socket, but most of it has already been replaced by granulation tissue.
Two weeks: the wound is filled with granulation tissue, turning into bone along the edges and bottom.
2-3 months: the hole completely turns into bone.

In order for recovery to occur correctly, you must follow all the doctor’s recommendations.

Diseases that cause gum pain

Unfortunately, no one is immune from unpleasant consequences after tearing out a root unit. Much depends on metabolism (metabolism), existing chronic pathologies, age, the functioning of the immune system, the tendency to develop allergies - a huge number of factors influence the regeneration processes.

It is necessary to consider whether the person is taking any medications. After all, there are medications that inhibit the formation of a blood clot, prevent blood from clotting quickly, or increase blood pressure. All of these effects are unacceptable during recovery from extraction.

Among the main diseases causing complications after extraction:

Periostitis. Inflammatory lesion of the periosteum. Most often it occurs due to immunodeficiency or advanced chronic pathologies of the oral cavity. It can also be triggered by hidden infections localized in the maxillofacial area. Periostitis causes inflammation of the soft tissues after the root unit is pulled out. A person’s body temperature rises and their general health worsens. He becomes lethargic and weak. At the same time, the cheek swells. To slow down the inflammatory process and reverse it as soon as possible, combined anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial therapy and oral sanitation are carried out. If the disease has spread to deep-lying tissues, the patient is most often hospitalized in a hospital to avoid abscess and phlegmon of the jaw.
Alveolitis. Inflammation of the walls of the alveoli after surgery. The disease occurs when tissue healing is slow, there are necrotic areas, or an “empty” socket. First there is pain, then it is accompanied by bad breath. In the area of the torn unit, a light gray coating characteristic of pathology appears. It is difficult to remove. Therapy includes frequent washing of the wound with an antiseptic solution and oral administration of anti-inflammatory drugs selected by a specialist.

Considering the seriousness of these diseases, it is important to treat extraction responsibly. During the preparation period, you should undergo treatment of all existing pathologies of the oral cavity and high-quality sanitation and professional hygiene.

Why doesn't the hole heal?

The timing of wound healing is an individual question. It is determined by several factors - the traumatic nature of the removal, the presence of postoperative sutures, and the age of the patient. It is believed that partial epithelization takes about 2 weeks, complete - up to two months. These deadlines may increase for the following reasons:

The bone was severely damaged. This happens, for example, during a complex extraction, when the tissue around the tooth has to be cut out with a drill.
The clot has fallen out, so there is no basis for the formation of granulation tissue.
Due to the doctor's fault, bone fragments remained in the wound.
The patient ignores the recommendations received. The most common mistake is rinsing out the clot, after which an infection from the oral cavity gets into the wound.
The mucous membrane around the wound is mobile, and no stitches were applied.
Carious remains entered the cavity and inflammation began.
The surgeon did not take into account individual characteristics. For example, with arterial hypertension, heavy bleeding begins, so drugs that lower blood pressure are additionally prescribed.
Old age of the patient.

Why Dry Socket Syndrome May Occur

Some possible causes contributing to the occurrence of pathology are identified. This may happen due to the fault of the dental surgeon if pieces of the root remain in the wound and he did not notice it. This also happens in cases where the gums are severely injured during surgery - this is a direct threat of complications.

The doctor may leave pieces of the tooth root in the socket or injure the gums

This also happens when the patient violates the doctor’s recommendations: for example, he rushed to eat after removal. The clot has not yet formed, and the person has already eaten solid, rough food. Or, for example, contrary to the doctor’s prohibition, the patient rinsed his mouth, simply washing out the clot.

Dry socket syndrome may occur if the rules for caring for the socket after tooth extraction are not followed.

This pathology is also observed in those who have had teeth treated/removed against the background of decreased immunity, after a long illness, etc. The patient's addiction to alcohol and smoking increases the risk of complications.

Smoking and alcohol cause dry socket

Women taking birth control pills are also at risk - such drugs have a negative effect on blood clotting.

Ways to speed up healing

The best thing a patient can do to speed up epithelialization is to create conditions in the oral cavity that are close to sterile. To do this, you must follow some rules:

Squeeze the cotton swab applied after surgery tightly with your teeth for 15-20 minutes.
Do not eat for 3 hours so as not to interfere with the clot formation process.
In the first days, do not smoke, give up alcohol and solid food.
Avoid heavy physical activity, temperature effects (hot drinks and dishes, trips to the bathhouse, sauna).
Do not chew on the injured side for two days.
Avoid rinsing and use chlorhexidine baths instead.
Take prescribed medications - for example, antibiotics, which are prescribed after a complex removal, in the presence of purulent processes.
After consulting with your doctor, use Solcoseryl, a gel that helps accelerate epithelization.

It is important to remember that the area where the deletion took place is a very vulnerable place. The mouth is home to a large number of opportunistic microorganisms, which, in the presence of a source of bleeding, become pathogenic, triggering the inflammatory process. To perform the operation, you should choose an experienced surgeon and strictly follow his recommendations after the procedure.

What recommendations should be followed after tooth extraction?

Do not eat food for two hours after surgery.
Do not spit out blood clots during the day, as their absence can lead to exposure of the wound, which will negatively affect the healing process. Experts recommend swallowing saliva, even if it contains a small percentage of blood.
To make the swelling go away faster, the patient can apply cold compresses to the site of the extracted tooth, but with caution so as not to get frostbite. The use of any warming compresses and scarves is prohibited!
Refuse hot food and give preference to warm food, including drinks. You should also avoid spicy, sour and fatty foods for 1 week.
Under no circumstances should you chew food at the site of the extracted tooth .
Avoid drinking alcohol and smoking for the first two days.
Do not apply medications to the wound or rinse the mouth with tinctures containing alcohol.
Avoid any physical activity for two weeks.
Do not touch the hole with your hands or foreign objects!
Do not visit saunas and steam baths for a week.