An operation to extract a tooth is a trauma for the body, as a result of which alveolitis may develop in the formed hole - an inflammatory process in the hole (alveolus) formed, often accompanied by a purulent formation. The disease complicates the process of tissue repair, and therefore requires timely treatment.
Complications
The consequence of alveolitis in a neglected state can be:
- limited osteomyelitis (inflammatory process in bone tissues with high temperature, weakness of the body, severe swelling of the gums and cheeks), which leads to purulent formations and blood poisoning (sepsis);
- damage to healthy teeth and gums;
- the rapid spread of infection deep into the jaw, which threatens blood poisoning.
Causes
The occurrence of alveolitis is caused by factors such as:
- insufficient blood clotting, which makes it difficult for a protective blood clot to form in the tooth socket;
- direct trauma during surgery, after which the formation of a dry socket is possible;
- bone damage during complex tooth extraction (curved roots, destruction of the tooth to the base, increased fragility or incomplete development of the tooth);
- poor-quality tooth extraction (for example, with diseased tissues remaining in the alveolus or improper treatment with an antiseptic);
- chronic gum disease (gingivitis, periodontal disease, periodontitis);
- caries of neighboring teeth, which is a powerful source of infection for the alveoli;
- weak immunity;
- violation by the patient of the recommendations of the dentist, including hygiene.
According to statistics, alveolitis occurs mainly in the lower jaw, which has a more powerful structure, which makes it difficult to extract incompletely erupted wisdom teeth or molars. In order not to damage the blood clot, the patient should not eat hot, very hard food, spices for several days. Brushing your teeth is done with care. Rinses of the oral cavity with medicinal solutions should be carried out no more often than prescribed, which is also associated with the preservation of a lump of blood in the hole, which performs a protective function.
Symptoms
Pain
While eating, the painful feeling gradually increases from unobtrusively aching to regularly “shooting”, extending beyond the hole to the jaw (it becomes painful to open the mouth), ear, temple, and sometimes to the neck. It hurts to touch the gums.
Temperature
This indicator is initially normal, but as the alveolitis progresses, the temperature reaches 38-39 degrees.
Edema
A slight swelling of the gums extends to the face area.
Redness of the gums
Reddening of the gum edge at the site of the extracted tooth may turn blue with stagnation of the blood supply. At the most advanced stages, necrosis (tissue death) is observed.
Well condition
The surface of the alveoli is covered with a gray coating, there is no blood clot or its volume is insufficient. Instead of a clot, the cavity in the gum is filled with food debris, which aggravates the infection and spreads bad breath.
Deterioration in general well-being
It manifests itself in malaise, chills, as well as headache, muscle, joint pain.
Condition of the lymph nodes
On palpation of the lymph nodes in the jaw area, their increase and soreness are felt.
Osteomyelitis
It is accompanied by the release of purulent formations from the hole, the focus of which occurs in the bone tissue, and a fistula is formed.
So, the initial stage of alveolitis is characterized by the following features:
- pain in the hole while eating;
- the absence of a blood clot;
- reddened and inflamed part of the gum near the hole.
Symptoms of the progressive stage of the disease:
- feeling of severe pain in the hole and gum;
- the spread of pain in the ear, temple, head;
- malaise, chills;
- temperature elevated to 38-39 degrees;
- difficulty chewing food due to jaw pain;
- in the alveolus there is a gray coating, purulent formations and, as a result, a putrid odor;
- swelling around the hole, swelling of the cheek;
- enlargement of the submandibular lymph nodes.
If at least one sign of the development of alveolitis occurs, an urgent visit to the dentist is necessary so that the infection does not penetrate deep into the bone.
Forms of alveolitis
Varieties of the disease have names: serous, purulent, chronic purulent alveolitis.
In the serous form, symptoms are observed: pain during meals, as well as the absence or partial absence of a blood clot. At the same time, the state of the body is satisfactory, the lymph nodes are normal. Serous alveolitis develops for three days, and after 7 days, if no action is taken, it turns into purulent alveolitis.
This stage is characterized by persistent pain symptoms, weakness of the body, fever, swelling of the gums and the corresponding part of the face, bad breath, and pale skin. Pain in the mouth interferes with eating. The lymph nodes are enlarged and inflamed.
When the purulent form becomes chronic, all symptoms are leveled, the patient becomes noticeably better. Purulent formations stand out from the inflamed hole. In patients with diabetes, the signs of alveolitis are more pronounced, the disease lasts longer than usual.
Diagnostics
The disease can be diagnosed using x-rays, which will reveal the presence of bone particles in the alveolus, a decomposed blood clot, or food debris.
Treatment
Getting rid of the disease will be more effective if you consult a doctor at the earliest stages.
A mini-surgery to prevent the development of alveolitis consists of the following steps:
- local anesthesia;
- washing the wound with a solution of an antiseptic drug: hexoral, potassium permanganate, iodinol, miramistin or hexamidine, which are also recommended for rinsing the mouth;
- wound treatment: blotting with a swab and sprinkling with anesthetic powder;
- applying a tampon with an anti-inflammatory and analgesic drug: karithromycin, levofloxacin, clindamycin, diclofenac, nurofen or ketorol.
For the final fixation of the well, special biological hemostatic tampons with an antiseptic, made on the basis of human blood plasma with the addition of gelatin or calcium chloride, are also used. A similar effect is produced by a hemostatic sponge with kanamycin.
Medical recommendations include taking complex vitamins, painkillers (gels or ointments), antibiotics, disinfecting rinses.
In the early stages
If the disease is not started, then the extraction of foreign bodies from the hole and its further processing is performed according to the above algorithm. In case of inflammation of the gums, gel applications are applied. Two or three days are enough for recovery.
At a later stage
When the alveolitis has developed into a pronounced form, then after cleansing the hole, bandages are changed daily, anesthetic blockades are carried out (imposition of impregnating tampons, injections): anesthetic with lincomycin, Traumeel's solution, chymotrypsin.
Acceleration of recovery at this stage is also facilitated by rinsing with herbal infusions, potassium permanganate, sodium bicarbonate. As an auxiliary method for relieving inflammation and pain, physiotherapy is prescribed:
- microwave procedures;
- fluctuorization based on the use of the properties of low voltage currents. It is used in combination with other physiotherapeutic methods;
- irradiation of the wound with ultraviolet - a spectrum of rays of long or short action;
- a laser technique that uses the photochemical properties of light for a therapeutic effect.
At home
If it is not possible to get to the doctor, then pentalgin, ketorol, nise, baralgin are used to alleviate the condition. Antiseptic effect is exerted by: stomatidine, hexicon, chlorhexidine, decoctions of chamomile and sage. When rinsing, you need to hold the solution in your mouth for about 2-3 minutes. Gel "Metrogyl Denta" is applied to the gum.
However, you should be careful, as the following procedures can aggravate the disease:
- rinsing with soda and hydrogen peroxide, which wash out the protective blood clot;
- excessive rinsing with useful preparations;
- removing the remnants of the clot from the wound.
About the consequences of self-medication
The removal of the symptoms of the disease does not mean the disappearance of the problem, since the infection lurking inside the body continues its destructive work, which will subsequently complicate the treatment process. Often, self-medication threatens with the transition of alveolitis into a chronic form.
A visit to the dental clinic will save you from possible problems, and following the recommendations of a specialist will help you recover without harm to your health.
