The process of tooth extraction is quite unpleasant, because it always causes severe pain and discomfort. But the torment does not end there, because a hole remains in the place of the extracted tooth, which can hurt and even bleed for several days after the procedure. But this does not cause any concern until the moment when a white coating appears in the hole. What should be the treatment after tooth extraction? What is the norm, and what should alert? About all the details of the ongoing processes after tooth extraction in the article.
The reasons for the formation of white plaque in the hole
If there is something white in the hole of the extracted tooth, you should not immediately panic, because this can be a simple protective reaction of the body. Quite often, a white plaque in the gum area is created from the protein of the coagulating blood system and is a natural dressing that blocks the access of various harmful microorganisms and protects the area affected after tooth extraction from injury.
But this does not always happen, and in the hole of the extracted tooth, a white coating may form as a result of a violation of the healing process. In the first and second cases, the raids, although white, are quite different from each other. Unfortunately, it will be quite difficult for an ordinary person to identify this difference. Therefore, elementary knowledge about the healing process will help to timely identify pathology if it exists.
As a result, it can be noted that the formation of white plaque in the hole can be triggered by the following factors:
- normal healing process;
- alveolitis - the inflammatory process;
- the presence of sharp edges near the hole;
- defective tooth extraction.
Features of proper healing of the hole
Retention of the tooth root in the hole occurs due to the periodontal ligament, and blood vessels and nerve penetrate through the apical opening into the tooth cavity. After tooth extraction, blood clots form in its place, which protects the bone walls from various infections and are sources for the formation of a new bone.
Around the tooth neck at this time there is a circular ligament, during the process of contraction of which the inlet in the hole narrows.
At the same time, saliva plays an important role, since it contains such a stabilizing element as fibrin. It is a protein that is formed during blood coagulation. During the occurrence of a blood clot, a partial release of fibrin to the surface occurs, therefore, after the tooth extraction procedure, a white coating appears on the mouth of the hole. In other words, this plaque is a natural dressing that prevents contact of a blood clot with an infected oral cavity. About a week after the tooth extraction procedure, an epithelial barrier forms, and a white coating gradually dissolves.
Many believe that after the formation of the epithelial barrier, the process of complete healing has already taken place, but this is not entirely correct. The fallacy of opinion is due to the fact that, in addition to the appearance of the epithelial barrier, regenerative processes must end, and they last from three to six months. You can see the photo after tooth extraction in the article. As you can understand, the healing went without any complications.
Norm of appearance of the hole
How long does a tooth heal after extraction? On the first day, the hole may swell slightly, points on the surface of the needle from which the anesthetic is injected are visible. The blood clot has a maroon color, in its consistency resembles jelly. The clot is completely located in the hole or even rises a little above it.
After a day, a white coating forms on the hole, and its mouth narrows slightly. Puffiness, as a rule, persists or even slightly increases.
And then how does the tooth heal after extraction? In the period from three to seven days after the procedure, a white coating is still on the hole, while swelling decreases, and the mucous membrane of the oral cavity becomes normal again. Due to the release of fibrin from the saliva and the formation of new epithelial tissue, the hole is almost invisible. And after ten to fourteen days, complete healing occurs after tooth extraction.
Features of the development of alveolitis
They removed a tooth, is there something white in the hole? This may be a signal that the alveolitis is progressing. The development of the inflammatory process in the hole can be triggered by the following reasons:
- In case of poor oral hygiene or in the presence of an inflammatory process in the oral cavity or ENT organs.
- If tooth extraction was performed during the acute course of periodontitis, the occurrence of harmful microorganisms from the periodontal focus may occur.
- Due to the lack of blood flow from the hole during the use of anesthetics containing adrenaline. As a result of this, a blood clot does not form, and the hole remains open for bacteria to enter.
- Wash or detach a blood clot with food.
As a rule, the development of the inflammation process begins on the third or fourth day after the tooth extraction procedure. Manifestations of inflammation begin with swelling of the gums, while touching it there are painful sensations. It is worth noting that the pain does not disappear anywhere, it is present constantly, and may even intensify in the process of eating. The formation of plaque occurs, its color, in contrast to plaque during normal healing of the hole, is not so white, it can more likely be called yellow or grayish. There is an unpleasant aroma, a person can feel the taste of pus in his mouth.
If a blood clot was washed out or dropped, then everything looks a little different here. Painful sensations appear on the third or fourth day, there is swelling and redness in the gum. The hole looks like a recess in a circle, which is the gum of white color. Inside the hole, you can notice the remaining particles of a blood clot and a gray coating.
Alveolitis Treatment
If the above symptoms appear, you should immediately consult a dentist, preferably it is the doctor who performed the tooth extraction, since he already knows the clinical picture.
After examining the hole, the dentist will choose one of the following methods of treatment:
- Conservative type. It consists of treating the hole with an antiseptic and applying dressings to the affected area. For oral administration, drugs that suppress the process of inflammation and antibiotics are prescribed. In the role of local therapy, the treatment of the well with a mixture of potassium permanganate and hydrogen peroxide is quite often used. When these agents are combined, a chemical reaction occurs, during which a foam forms, which carries out the remaining particles of tissue affected by the infection from the well.
- Surgical type. From the hole, all infected tissues are removed mechanically, then this area is treated with an antiseptic, and in its place a new blood clot forms. In addition, the use of antibiotics is essential.
The presence of sharp edges in the hole
They removed the tooth, is there something white in the hole for a rather long period? During the healing of the hole, the following processes occur - bone formation and the appearance of the mucous membrane. At the same time, a blood clot or gum should protect the bone from the very beginning. In the case of the development of a situation in which one of the walls of the hole rises above the others or has a sharp edge, it cuts through the forming mucous membrane and protrudes in the oral cavity. This makes her unprotected.
In turn, unprotected walls of the hole can provoke the appearance of a sharp edge or alveolitis.
Such a pathology can be detected a few weeks after the tooth extraction procedure, if at the end of this period a white, dense and sharp to the touch point is still visible in the hole, then this is not normal.
How to get rid of the sharp edge of the hole?
If the portion of the wall of the hole that stands out in the oral cavity is small, then you can try to remove it with your own efforts. In others, the situation will require a fairly simple operation.
Injecting the patient with local anesthesia, the doctor will move the gums in the area of the prominent fragment of the wall and remove it using forceps or a drill, possibly stitching.
Manifestations of incomplete tooth extraction
Inadequate tooth extraction often provokes the occurrence of alveolitis, but in the case of a strong immune system and good oral care, the inflammatory process may not occur.
It is worth noting that you can see the rest of the tooth only 2-4 days after the procedure to remove it, since the retreat of the gums occurs only after the formation of white plaque.
What to do in case of defective tooth extraction?
First of all, it is necessary to visit the dentist so that he completes the tooth extraction procedure. For complete confidence in the success of the procedure, it is recommended to ask the doctor for a referral to an X-ray, where it will be finally visible whether the tooth has been completely removed or not.
Features of behavior after the tooth extraction procedure
It is worthwhile to understand that if all the rules of behavior are observed after tooth extraction in the hole, something white will be the norm for only a few days and the likelihood of developing an inflammatory process is significantly reduced.
Among the basic rules of behavior after tooth extraction are the following:
- If at the end of the procedure the doctor gave a swab soaked in anesthetic or antiseptic, then it should be kept in the oral cavity for about half an hour.
- The day after tooth extraction should not be attempted to remove the blood clot in any way.
- You should not try to feel the hole with your tongue.
- During the day after the procedure it is forbidden to draw in any liquids, for example, a drink through a straw.
- It is advisable not to eat for 2-3 hours after tooth extraction.
These basic rules are the key to a normal healing process if you have a tooth removed. Something white in the hole will not bother you!