With dental surgery comes pain, swelling and bleeding. These are almost inevitable complications; you just have to learn to manage and control them. However, they are not the only complications you can experience after a dental operation. Other less common impediments to dental healing include:
Dry Socket
You know you have a dry socket condition if blood fails to clot at the site of your surgery and exposes the bone underneath. This condition, which is common with difficult teeth extractions, leads to delayed healing.
Dry socket risk factors include:
Prevention includes maintaining a high level of oral hygiene and avoiding cigarettes a few days before and after your surgery. Contact your dentist for the right intervention if the site of your surgery does not heal as expected.
Osteomyelitis
This is a bacterial infection of the bone that tends to affect the lower jaw although it can affect any part of your body. You can develop osteomyelitis if bacteria enter your bone tissues, for example, via a fractured bone during an impacted tooth extraction or bone graft procedure. This also means that your risk of developing the condition is high if you have a dental infection such as gingivitis during your surgical procedure.
Apart from oral infections, other risk factors for osteomyelitis include:
If you have recently had an oral surgery, then you should suspect the infection if you:
The infection is treatable with antibiotics; contact your dentist for further directions.
Osteonecrosis of the Jaw
This is a condition in which your jawbone becomes exposed through your gum tissues. It is characterized by severe pain, pus discharge and loosening of the teeth. Risk factors for the condition include herpes zoster virus, radiation therapy and those who have bone infections such as osteomyelitis. Scientists speculate that a decrease in blood vessel formation and the inability of the bone tissues to rejuvenate are some of the factors that may lead to this form of osteonecrosis.
Prevent this condition by maintaining a high level of oral hygiene to reduce your risk of oral infections. It's also necessary to tell your dentist about your risk factors, for example if you are undergoing radiation therapy. Treatment involves antibiotics and analgesics.
To learn more, contact a dental office like Olympia Dental and Implant Center.
I have never liked my teeth. I had a lot of dental problems, including deep staining and oddly shaped teeth. Every tooth did not have the same shape, and some were rounded while others were more square. Not surprisingly, I never smiled in pictures and not even much in real life. This left people thinking I was mean before they even met me. My dentist told me my best bet to improve the look of my smile was a set of porcelain dental veneers. He said they could make all my teeth white and the same shape. I said I wanted them without any hesitation, and we scheduled my procedures. I love my new teeth, and they really did change my life. I created this blog to help other people living with teeth they don't like realize that they do have options that can improve their smiles and their lives.