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Pain and swelling:
Swelling is normal after oral surgery and is proportional to the degree of manipulation and trauma. 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 po q 6 h until 72 h after symptoms subside).
Postoperative pain varies from moderate to severe and is treated with analgesics (see Pain: Treatment of Pain).
Alveolitis
and osteomyelitis:
Postextraction alveolitis (dry socket) is pain emanating from bare bone if the socket's clot lyses. Although assumed to be due to bacterial action, it is much more common among smokers and oral contraceptive users. It is peculiar to the 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. Alveolitis is best treated with topical analgesics: a 1- to 2-in iodoform gauze strip saturated in eugenol or coated with an anesthetic ointment, such as lidocaine 2.5% or tetracaine 0.5%, is 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. This procedure eliminates the need for systemic analgesics.
Osteomyelitis, which in rare cases is confused with alveolitis, is differentiated by fever, local tenderness, and swelling. If symptoms last a month, a sequestrum, 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):
ONJ (see also Osteonecrosis: Osteonecrosis of the Jaw ) is an oral lesion involving persistent exposure of mandibular or maxillary bone, which usually manifests with pain, loosening of teeth, and purulent discharge. ONJ may occur after dental extraction but also may develop after trauma or radiation therapy to the head and neck. Recently, an association has been discovered between IV bisphosphonate (BP) use and ONJ. However, oral BP therapy seems to pose very low risk of ONJ. Stopping oral BP therapy is unlikely to reduce this already low rate of ONJ, and maintaining good oral hygiene is a more effective preventative measure than stopping oral BP before dental procedures. Management of ONJ is challenging and typically involves 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-in gauze pad (folded) or a tea bag is placed over the socket. Then the patient is instructed to apply continuous pressure by biting for 1 h. The procedure may have to be repeated 2 or 3 times. Patients are told to wait at least 1 h 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.
If possible, patients taking low-dose anticoagulants (eg, aspirin , clopedigrol, warfarin ) should stop therapy 3 to 4 days before surgery. Therapy can be reinstated that evening. If these measures fail, a systemic cause (eg, bleeding diathesis) is sought.
Last full review/revision March 2009 by David F. Murchison, DDS, MMS
Content last modified March 2009
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