Duration of gum healing after tooth extraction
One of the most common procedures in the dental office is the extraction of teeth. Such a procedure is relatively painful, and the recovery period can drag on for several weeks. It is possible to reduce recovery after surgery if proper oral care is observed and all the prescriptions of the attending physician are observed. It depends on the individual characteristics of the man and the specific case, how much the gum will heal.
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Features of rehabilitation
The duration of the healing process after surgery is determined by various factors affecting the body:
- Manipulation method. With the usual extraction of a tooth after such a manipulation, the formation of a blood clot is not observed in the resulting wound.
- The presence of a primary infectious disease in a patient. Recovery can be complicated by the removal of a tooth during a pathological process with the formation of pus, since their socket is already seeded with microflora.
- The age of the patient and the functioning of the immune system. In elderly patients, the recovery period is much longer and this is due to delayed regeneration.
- Problems with metabolism in the body. The rehabilitation period may be delayed in the presence of pathologies that are caused by a change in the normal nutrition in the tissues due to poor blood flow in the capillaries.
When exposed to the body of such factors, the speed of tissue healing is much longer. This is due to the fact that the supply of nutrients to this area is disrupted. The healing of the hole after tooth extraction can be delayed by days if the patient violates the recommendations of the specialist. This often provokes the occurrence of secondary bleeding from the gums and the penetration of infection into it. Only after studying all the factors, it is possible to determine the duration of gum recovery after surgery. Quite often, this process continues for several weeks in the absence of any complications in the patient.
Healing stages
The duration of the rehabilitation period is influenced by many processes occurring in the gums. During manipulation, various gum tissues and bone jaw structures are damaged. Specialists distinguish certain stages of healing in a patient.
Infection of the gums
On the first day after surgery, active healing of the gums begins and a blood clot forms. It closes the hole and thereby prevents the penetration of infectious agents into the wound, and also helps to avoid bleeding.
Up to about 3-4 days, the patient can observe an open wound, inside which a blood clot accumulates. It is strictly forbidden to try to remove the formed clot from the wound on your own, since there is a high probability of bleeding or an inflammatory process.
A good sign of successful rehabilitation after removal is the appearance of white plaque on the surface of the gums a few days after the intervention. It is not allowed to remove the films yourself, as they must fall off by themselves. After a few weeks, the damaged tissue in the patient is completely healed. The characteristic signs of such a process are the disappearance of the wound, the staining of tissues in a pale pink color and the disappearance of uncomfortable sensations in the area of the operation.
Sometimes the patient's gum healing process may be delayed in the following cases:
- The presence of a patient's wisdom tooth with a large number of twisted roots, which are problematic to extract from the alveoli. In this case, rehabilitation may take 3-4 weeks.
- Penetration into the wound of infectious agents and the development of the inflammatory process. In addition, the recovery period may be delayed if a blood clot does not form in the hole or if the patient tries to remove it on his own. In this case, the rehabilitation period may be delayed for another few weeks.
- Bone density in the area of the extracted tooth. Wisdom teeth located on the upper jaw are characterized by a thinner outer layer of bone, and therefore the rehabilitation process proceeds much faster.
Primary bone formation
After surgery and healing of the gums, accumulation of deep fibrous bone tissue in the area of the hole is noted. This process usually takes several months, and leads to the formation of a bone with an incorrect arrangement of solid cells of bone tissue in it. It serves as a replacement for scar tissue that has formed in the deep layers of the gums. In addition, such a bone plays the role of a peculiar frame.
Formation of secondary bone tissue
Over time, the callus is replaced by mature tissue with an ordered arrangement of beams. In the bone of the upper jaw, the cells are rather small in size and are localized mainly vertically. The process of bone formation can take up to several months.
Fusion of gums with periosteum
In the extraction area, there is a fixed fusion of the gums with the periosteum of the jaw. Only a month after the extraction of the tooth, the process of attaching the gum to the regenerated bone begins. However, the process of tissue healing can be delayed for a longer time if the patient develops complications of a different nature.
Rehabilitation after wisdom tooth removal
It is important for patients to understand how to speed up the healing of the hole. The doctor selects the method of surgical intervention taking into account the current situation and the general condition of the patient. Before surgery, it is recommended to perform an orthopantomogram or x-ray of the tooth that will be removed. This will allow the specialist to study the size, length and degree of curvature of the roots of the tooth.
With the help of an x-ray, the position of the tooth as a whole and in relation to adjacent molars is determined. After conducting a diagnostic examination, the specialist selects the most effective method of surgical intervention and determines how to accelerate the healing of the gums.
The removal of a wisdom tooth is a rather complicated procedure that requires a whole range of measures to restore the patient and return him to his usual way of life. To speed up the healing process, most doctors recommend suturing the edges of the hole. The main symptoms that are noted during the healing of the hole after the removal of the wisdom tooth are pain and swelling of the tissues.
After the operation, a blood clot forms in the patient, and after 2-3 days the edema disappears. On the 7th day after surgery, the patient's sutures are removed, and not on the 7-10th day, the pain disappears. After 2 weeks, the patient can already fully open his mouth and discomfort disappears, and in the area of the extracted tooth, the formation of a mucous hood begins.
Hole care features
How long the wisdom tooth heals after removal depends on the general behavior of the patient and compliance with all doctor's prescriptions. In order to prevent the development of any complications after the operation, it is necessary to follow the rules of oral hygiene. There are a large number of microorganisms on the mucosa, which, under certain conditions, can become the cause of the development of the pathological process.
The process of healing the hole after the removal of a wisdom tooth involves following the recommendations of doctors:
- It is necessary to brush your teeth in compliance with certain rules, and rinse your mouth with antiseptic solutions, which will minimize the risk of infection.
- Often, after tooth extraction, the recovery period is quite difficult and the pain syndrome can be disturbing for a long time. It is possible to alleviate the condition and accelerate the healing of the gums with the help of local and general anesthetics.
- Sleeping in a semi-sitting position helps to cope with the pain syndrome, thanks to which the patient's condition is noticeably relieved.
For the speedy healing of the gums, you need to talk and sing as much as possible. In addition, it is important to try to return to your usual life even if pain persists. In some cases, full-fledged hygienic care can be supplemented by minor pain, but it is strictly forbidden to weaken it. To clarify how long the gum heals after such an operation, you should contact your doctor.
Doctors' recommendations
How long the gum heals after the removal of a wisdom tooth is determined by many factors. After the procedure, an open wound is formed in the oral cavity, which closes with a blood clot in a short time. Its main purpose is to stop bleeding and prevent infectious agents from entering the jaw. It is in view of this feature that doctors advise to treat this substance with particular care.
During the rehabilitation period in the treatment after tooth extraction, the following rules are required:
- It is strictly forbidden to climb from the hole with your tongue and try to pull out a blood clot.
- When brushing your teeth, avoid the area of the extracted tooth. It is necessary to carry out the procedure in such a way that the toothbrush does not injure the clot.
- It is not allowed to rinse the mouth during the first 48 hours after visiting a doctor. In a situation where such a procedure is essential, you should seek advice from a doctor.
In addition, for the first few days after visiting the dentist, you need to adhere to a special diet. It is recommended to eat food warm, but not hot. Doctors are allowed to eat ice cream during wound healing after manipulation, but within reason. Dishes that irritate the mucous membrane should be excluded from the patient's menu, as well as for a while to stop eating sweets. How long the gum heals usually depends on the patient's compliance with all the doctor's recommendations.
It is strictly forbidden to drink alcoholic beverages during the day when healing after removal. In addition, it is recommended to smoke as little as possible and give up hookah. The fact is that strong retracting movements cause an increase in pressure in the oral cavity, which can provoke damage to the blood clot.
In order to cope with pain and eliminate discomfort in the oral cavity, experts recommend drinking painkillers. In addition, a good effect in the treatment of gums is the application of cold to the cheek according to a certain pattern.
Possible Complications
One of the frequent complications that can occur during treatment after the removal of a wisdom tooth is alveolitis. With such a pathological condition, the hole in the area of the extracted tooth becomes very inflamed. The cause of alveolitis is the penetration of pathogenic microorganisms into the wound or a purulent-inflammatory process. The main symptom of the disease is a pronounced pain syndrome in the alveolus after manipulation and a change in the state of the mucous membrane near the tooth.
Catarrhal alveolitis most often progresses in case of violation of the dentist's prescriptions after surgery and the use of anesthetics with an increased amount of vasoconstrictor. In addition, such a complication may appear during healing in a patient suffering from various forms of diabetes and trophic disorders. Purulent alveolitis most often progresses with fluxes and suppuration of cystic formations while maintaining infected tissues at the bottom of the hole.
Tooth extraction in the dentist's office is a complex process that can be accompanied by the development of various complications. However, in most cases, extraction gives a positive result, and after its implementation, there is an improvement in overall well-being. Subject to all appointments, the healing of the hole is completed quickly enough and it is possible to prevent the development of alveolitis.