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Postextraction Problems

By

Michael N. Wajdowicz

, DDS, Veterans Administration

Reviewed/Revised Oct 2022
View PATIENT EDUCATION
Topic Resources
  • Swelling and pain

  • Postextraction alveolitis

  • Osteomyelitis

  • Osteonecrosis of the jaw

  • Bleeding

Swelling and pain

Swelling is normal after oral surgery and is proportional to the degree of manipulation and trauma. An ice pack (or a plastic bag of frozen peas or corn, which adapts to facial contours) should be used for the first day. Cold is applied for 25-minute periods every hour or 2. If swelling does not begin to subside by the 3rd postoperative day, infection is likely and an antibiotic may be given (eg, penicillin VK 500 mg orally every 6 hours or clindamycin 300 mg orally every 6 hours) until 72 hours after symptoms subside.

Postextraction alveolitis (dry socket)

Postextraction alveolitis is pain emanating from bare bone if the socket’s clot lyses. Although this condition is self-limited, it is quite painful and usually requires some type of intervention. It is much more common among people who smoke or use oral contraceptives and occurs mainly after removal of mandibular molars, usually wisdom teeth. Typically, the pain begins on the 2nd or 3rd postoperative day, is referred to the ear, and lasts from a few days to many weeks.

The socket should be rinsed with saline or 0.12% chlorhexidine and some type of palliative material placed. A longstanding option has been a 1- to 2-inch iodoform gauze strip saturated in eugenol (an analgesic) or coated with an anesthetic ointment, such as lidocaine 2.5% or tetracaine 0.5%, placed in the socket. The gauze is changed every 1 to 3 days until symptoms do not return after the gauze is left out for a few hours. More recently, a commercially available mixture of butamben (an anesthetic), eugenol, and iodoform (antimicrobial) has become more commonly used. Although not resorbable, this mixture washes out of the socket spontaneously after a few days. These procedures typically eliminate the need for systemic analgesics, although nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may be given if additional pain relief is needed. Patients should follow up with a dentist in 24 hours.

Osteomyelitis

Osteomyelitis, which in rare cases is confused with alveolitis, is differentiated by fever, local tenderness, and swelling. If symptoms last a month, a sequestrum (ie, localized area of necrotic bone), which is diagnostic of osteomyelitis, should be sought by x-ray. Osteomyelitis requires long-term treatment with antibiotics effective against both gram-positive and gram-negative organisms and referral for definitive care.

Osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ)

Medication-related ONJ (MRONJ) refers to the association discovered between use of antiresorptive agents and ONJ. These agents include bisphosphonates, osteoclast-inhibiting drugs, and cathepsin K inhibitors. Cancer patients receiving IV bisphosphonates have a 4-fold increased risk of ONJ, perhaps due to greater bioavailability of IV bisphosphonates (2 References Postextraction problems are a subset of dental emergencies that require immediate treatment. These problems include Swelling and pain Postextraction alveolitis Osteomyelitis Osteonecrosis of the jaw read more References ). However, oral bisphosphonate therapy for noncancer patients seems to pose very low risk of ONJ; the prevalence in this population is about 0.1% according to a recent estimate. Stopping oral bisphosphonate therapy is unlikely to reduce this already low rate of ONJ, and maintaining good oral hygiene is a more effective preventive measure than stopping oral bisphosphonates before dental procedures. Higher doses and longer duration (therapy > 2 years) of antiresorptive therapies are associated with a higher incidence of ONJ. Other drugs associated with an increase in the incidence of ONJ include the osteoclast inhibitor denosumab and some targeted anticancer agents, such as bevacizumab and sunitinib.

Management of osteonecrosis of the jaw is challenging and typically involves palliation, limited debridement, antibiotics, and oral rinses.

Bleeding

Postextraction bleeding usually occurs in the small vessels. Any clots extending out of the socket are removed with gauze, and a 4-inch gauze pad (folded) or a tea bag (which contains tannic acid) is placed over the socket. Then the patient is instructed to apply continuous pressure by biting for 1 hour. The procedure may have to be repeated 2 or 3 times. Patients are told to wait at least 1 hour before checking the site so as not to disrupt clot formation. They also are informed that a few drops of blood diluted in a mouth full of saliva appear to be more blood than is actually present.

If bleeding continues, the site may be anesthetized by nerve block or local infiltration with 2% lidocaine containing 1:100,000 epinephrine. The socket is then curetted to remove the existing clot and to freshen the bone and is irrigated with normal saline. Then the area is sutured under gentle tension. Local hemostatic agents, such as oxidized cellulose, topical thrombin on a gelatin sponge, or microfibrillar collagen, may be placed in the socket before suturing.

In most cases, patients taking anticoagulants (eg, aspirin, clopidogrel, warfarin, direct-acting oral anticoagulants) need not stop therapy before dental surgery (3 References Postextraction problems are a subset of dental emergencies that require immediate treatment. These problems include Swelling and pain Postextraction alveolitis Osteomyelitis Osteonecrosis of the jaw read more References ). In those who are at increased risk of bleeding due to comorbid disease or in those undergoing more extensive procedures, consulting with their patient's physician about timing of antiplatelet or anticoagulant dosing or a brief 24- to 48-hour interruption in therapy is indicated

References

Drugs Mentioned In This Article

Drug Name Select Trade
Cleocin, Cleocin Ovules, Cleocin Pediatric, Cleocin T, CLIN, Clindacin ETZ, Clindacin-P, Clinda-Derm , Clindagel, ClindaMax, ClindaReach, Clindesse, Clindets, Evoclin, PledgaClin, XACIATO
Betasept, Chlorostat, DYNA-HEX, Hibiclens, Oro Clense , Peridex, Periogard, PerioRx , Perisol
7T Lido, Akten , ALOCANE, ANASTIA, AneCream, Anestacon, Aspercreme with Lidocaine, AsperFlex, Astero , BenGay, Blue Tube, Blue-Emu, CidalEaze, DermacinRx Lidocan III, DermacinRx Lidogel, DermacinRx Lidorex, DERMALID, Dologesic, Ela-Max, GEN7T, Glydo, Gold Bond, LidaFlex, LidaMantle, Lido King Maximum Strength, Lidocan, Lidocare, Lidoderm, LidoDose, LidoDose Pediatric, Lidofore, LidoHeal-90, LIDO-K , LidoLite, Lidomar , Lidomark, LidoPure, LidoReal-30, LidoRx, Lidosense 4 , Lidosense 5, Lidosol, Lidosol-50, LIDO-SORB, Lidotral, Lidovix L, LIDOZION, Lidozo, LMX 4, LMX 4 with Tegaderm, LMX 5, LTA, Lubricaine For Her, Lydexa, Moxicaine, Numbonex, ReadySharp Lidocaine, RectaSmoothe, RectiCare, Salonpas Lidocaine, Senatec, Solarcaine, SUN BURNT PLUS, Tranzarel, Xyliderm, Xylocaine, Xylocaine Dental, Xylocaine in Dextrose, Xylocaine MPF, Xylocaine Topical, Xylocaine Topical Jelly, Xylocaine Topical Solution, Xylocaine Viscous, Zilactin-L, Zingo, Zionodi, ZTlido
AK-T Caine, Pontocaine, Pontocaine in Dextrose, Pontocaine Niphanoid, Tetcaine, TetraVisc, TetraVisc Forte, Viractin
Prolia, XGEVA
Alymsys, Avastin, MVASI, Zirabev
Sutent
Adrenaclick, Adrenalin, Auvi-Q, Epifrin, EpiPen, Epipen Jr , Primatene Mist, SYMJEPI, Twinject
Recothrom, Thrombi-Gel , Thrombin-JMI, Thrombin-JMI Epistaxis, Thrombi-Pad, Thrombogen
Anacin Adult Low Strength, Aspergum, Aspir-Low, Aspirtab , Aspir-Trin , Bayer Advanced Aspirin, Bayer Aspirin, Bayer Aspirin Extra Strength, Bayer Aspirin Plus, Bayer Aspirin Regimen, Bayer Children's Aspirin, Bayer Extra Strength, Bayer Extra Strength Plus, Bayer Genuine Aspirin, Bayer Low Dose Aspirin Regimen, Bayer Womens Aspirin , BeneHealth Aspirin, Bufferin, Bufferin Extra Strength, Bufferin Low Dose, DURLAZA, Easprin , Ecotrin, Ecotrin Low Strength, Genacote, Halfprin, MiniPrin, St. Joseph Adult Low Strength, St. Joseph Aspirin, VAZALORE, Zero Order Release Aspirin, ZORprin
Plavix
Coumadin, Jantoven
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NOTE: This is the Professional Version. CONSUMERS: View Consumer Version
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