White plaque on the socket after tooth extraction: pathology or normal

Alveolitis is an inflammation of the socket (alveoli) left after tooth extraction. This pathology does not always develop; its development depends on many factors. The disease is characterized by severe pain in the area of the hole formed after surgery, general weakness, fever, headache, enlarged submandibular lymph nodes, bad breath and other unpleasant symptoms.

Alveolitis is not only physically painful, but also a dangerous disease. In the absence of proper treatment for several days, the inflammatory process can result in limited osteomyelitis, purulent melting of the jaw bone, and then surgical intervention will be required again.

With timely diagnosis of pathology and proper sanitation of the socket, the treatment prognosis is favorable. The main thing is to detect the symptoms of the disease in time and begin to treat it.

Content:

When white plaque is the norm
When white plaque is a harbinger of disease
Why do complications occur after tooth extraction?
How to recognize the problem
Diagnostic measures
Treatment of alveolitis

After tooth extraction, it is important to monitor the condition of the mucous membrane.
Very often a white coating appears in the extraction area. It frightens patients because it seems something strange to them, and to some it resembles an accumulation of purulent masses. It should be noted that white plaque in the socket after tooth extraction can be either normal or a complication. In the first case we are talking about natural regeneration, in the second - about alveolitis.

Prices

Name of service	Price, rub.) *
Initial consultation with a dentist-therapist	1,500 rub.
Repeated consultation with a dentist-therapist	800 rub.
Treatment of caries (imaging, anesthesia, isolation of the oral cavity, installation of an insulating lining and filling made of composite light-curing imported material)	from 4,350 rub.
Treatment of alveolitis with socket revision	3,000 rub.

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When white plaque is the norm

Nature intended it so that damaged tissues should be protected from the penetration of infectious agents. This is why, after a tooth is removed, a clot and white plaque forms in the socket. The latter is nothing more than fibrin, a protein needed for blood clotting. It protects the wound surface from infection and does not allow the inflammatory process to spread.

At first, the white film seems very thin, but gradually it turns into bone tissue. Some even mistake plaque for food debris and try to remove it with their tongue or using foreign objects. Under no circumstances should this be done. If the wound heals according to plan, there are no severe pain symptoms, there is no need to worry or touch it. This can lead to complications.

So, fibrin in the form of a whitish coating is needed to:

the wound healed quickly;
no infection penetrated into the socket;
soft tissues were not inflamed.

If the patient has questions regarding the white clot on the surface of the damaged gum, he should consult with his dentist. You don't need to do anything yourself.

How to speed up the healing of a hole

Fast recovery processes are facilitated by suturing during tooth extraction. The sutures tighten the edges of the gum mucosa, which guarantees:

stable position of the blood clot in the socket;
reducing the risk of developing inflammatory processes;
rapid wound healing.

Surgeons practice suturing for complex removals, but the patient can always independently request such a service.

When white plaque is a harbinger of disease

It also happens that a whitish coating indicates the development of alveolitis after tooth extraction. This means that the tooth socket has become infected. In this condition, the patient is concerned about:

severe pain in the area of the removed unit;
increased body temperature;
weakness, decreased performance;
enlargement of the submandibular lymph nodes;
headache;
unpleasant putrid odor from the mouth and the same taste in the mouth.

If you experience these symptoms, you should make an appointment at the dental clinic as soon as possible.

How to rinse your mouth after surgery

Ready-made pharmacy antiseptics and solutions made independently at home are applicable. Let's consider how to rinse your mouth after gum surgery or tooth extraction.

Your doctor may recommend not rinsing the wound on the day of surgery. Every other day, you can make oral baths with decoctions of chamomile, sage, or solutions of furatsilin, 0.05% chlorhexidine.

There are quite a few such drugs, and your doctor will give specific recommendations on what to rinse your mouth after gum or tooth removal. The choice of a suitable drug depends on the condition of the hole, the complexity of removal, the age of the patient, whether he has allergies or sensitivity to some components of the products.

Carefully! It is not recommended to use ethyl alcohol, hydrogen peroxide solution, brilliant green or iodine for rinsing. They can cause pain, burn the mucous membrane and lead to the detachment of a fresh clot.

Why do complications occur after tooth extraction?

The most common reason for the development of complications is the patient’s failure to comply with medical prescriptions. Normally, the hole should heal within a few days. She shouldn't be sick for a long time. As a result of the fact that the blood clot closes it, it is reliably protected from viruses and food debris.

It happens that a person actively rinses the wound or constantly touches it with his tongue, fingers, and tries to remove the light coating. Then the clot displaces or does not form completely, the tissue becomes infected and alveolitis develops.

Untreated neighboring teeth can also lead to disease (which is why all carious “cavities” need to be treated before removal), and failure to comply with the rules of oral hygiene. If you properly prepare for extraction and follow all the doctor’s instructions, the risk of developing alveolitis after removal will be minimal.

Causes of inflammation

The disease can develop only after tooth extraction. Most often, the hole formed after removal heals within a day after the operation, and the patient feels better. But if the blood clot that covers the open wound moves or becomes deformed, an infection can penetrate into the hole, in which case alveolitis of the gums develops. As a result, the surface of the wound heals for a long time, and the patient suffers from complex discomfort.

Predisposing factors for the development of inflammation:

Surgical injuries during complex removal. The more complex the operation, the more pronounced the postoperative inflammation of the bone tissue will be, and the more likely the release of direct plasminogen activators.
Complex extractions associated with tooth segmentation, osteotomy, detachment of the mucoperiosteal flap. Complex operations increase the chance of developing alveolitis 10 times.
Removal of wisdom teeth. The denser, less vascularized bone tissue adjacent to the figure eights is prone to the formation of dry sockets.
General diseases of the patient. Alveolitis often occurs against the background of concomitant diseases. For example, patients with diabetes mellitus or immunocompromised patients are more susceptible to alveolitis due to impaired healing processes in the tissues.
Taking oral contraceptives. The estrogen contained in these drugs may indirectly enhance the fibrinolytic process, causing the breakdown of the blood clot.
Smoking. The direct connection between smoking and alveolitis has been repeatedly proven clinically. According to studies, the risk of socket inflammation in smokers increased 4-5 times compared to non-smokers. The incidence increased by more than 20% in patients who smoked 1 pack per day and by 40% in patients who smoked immediately before and after surgery.
Dislocation of a bunch. If the socket is handled carelessly and there is negative pressure (for example, due to drinking through a straw), alveolitis may develop.
Bacterial infections. Dentists agree that bacterial infections are the main risk factor for dry socket.
Poor oral hygiene. The incidence of alveolitis increases significantly with poor oral hygiene.
Excessive use of local anesthetics. According to some studies, excessive use of an anesthetic with a high concentration of a vasoconstrictor can provoke ischemia and make it difficult for the socket to fill with blood. This condition also increases the risk of alveolitis.

In fact, alveolitis is a fairly rare disease. According to statistics, it affects approximately 3% of patients who have undergone tooth extraction surgery. More often than not, the socket is not formed properly when lower incisors and molars are removed.

But alveolitis is especially common when removing lower wisdom teeth: according to experts, in approximately 20% of cases, the removal of “eights” with difficult eruption is complicated by alveolitis. In addition, it is believed that the risk of developing the disease is inextricably linked with age. This is explained by the fact that metabolism slows down, immunity is weakened, and the regenerative abilities of the body deteriorate.

How to recognize the problem

How to understand that white plaque signals a problem?
If the gums heal well, then within 2-3 days after surgery the pain becomes very weak and barely noticeable. The wound closes with a dense clot and practically does not bother the person. With the development of alveolitis on days 3-5, the pain, on the contrary, intensifies. It's pulsating. It can become unbearable. Sometimes it radiates to the entire half of the face. Body temperature rises, lymph nodes enlarge, appetite decreases, salivation becomes stronger. The face may also become swollen.

In such a situation, staying at home is dangerous - inflammation can spread to the deep tissues of the jaw. You need to immediately go to the dental clinic.

Treatment of alveolitis

If alveolitis occurs after tooth extraction, you need to undergo dental treatment aimed at:

elimination of the infectious focus;
preventing possible complications;
maintaining the integrity of the rest of the dentition.

First, the dentist cleans the socket and rinses it. It is important to wash away all purulent masses and dead tissue from it. Antiseptics and hydrogen peroxide work well for this purpose.

To reduce painful symptoms, which deprive the patient of the opportunity to fully rest and work, analgesics are used. It is better to use them by applying applications. Compresses are changed every half hour. It is also possible to take drugs orally, that is, in the form of painkillers and anti-inflammatory tablets.

If the patient has concomitant diseases or reduced immunity, the doctor may decide to prescribe antibiotics. They quickly relieve inflammation and speed up the healing of damaged tissue.

If you seek qualified dental care in a timely manner, the prognosis for alveolitis is favorable. After 3-5 days, the symptoms begin to subside, and the person’s well-being improves. Residual socket pain may persist for another 2-3 weeks, but it does not pose a threat.

Prevention of alveolitis at SM-Dentistry

If the operation is not an emergency, then dentists first treat caries and other inflammatory diseases in the oral cavity, which can become a source of infection.

After the operation, you will receive detailed recommendations for caring for the socket so that the blood clot forms correctly and does not break down prematurely. To do this, you must follow a diet (do not eat hard or hot foods), do not use intensive rinsing and cleaning in the area of the injured hole, and use antiseptic and painkillers.

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