How To Prevent Dry Socket and Bone Infections After Tooth Removal
by Gary Adams DDS Oral Surgery in North Bethesda Maryland
The Best Treatment to Prevent Dry Socket is Platelet Rich Fibrin Therapy (PRF). The therapy involves simply drawing one small vial of blood from the patient. The blood sample is processed in a centrifuge in minutes while a tooth is extracted. The “processing” involves isolation of the blood fibrin and white blood cells from the patients own blood. After extraction, the extraction socket is thoroughly cleaned to remove any infectious cysts and the tooth periodontal ligament (PDL). The cleaned extraction socket is then treated with ozone and oxygen gas followed by placement of the PRF preparation of Fibrin and White Blood Cells.
Benefits of PRF Treatment in Tooth Extraction Sites:
- Faster Bone Healing
- Less Pain after Tooth Extractions
- Decreased Swelling During Healing
- Decreased Chance of Dry Socket and Bone Infection
- Increased early blood supply to Tooth Extraction Socket
Tooth removal is necessary when tooth infection becomes untreatable or a tooth cannot be repaired. Removal of diseased teeth can lead to serious post-tooth extraction complications and consequences if not managed properly. Complete evaluation and comprehensive treatment planning is necessary to prevent post-extraction jaw bone or tooth extraction socket infections. An assessment of the pre-extraction infections involving the area surrounding diseased teeth should be carefully performed. In addition to localized infections and conditions, systemic and medical health status must be kept in mind. History taking must involve complete medical history and systemic abnormalities must be taken into consideration.
The most common post-extraction complications are pain, discomfort, swelling and development of Dry socket. Dry socket develops when the blood clot in a healing tooth extraction site dislodges from the tooth extraction socket soon after extraction of teeth. Clot displacement is associated with lysis of fibrin and delayed wound healing. You will feel severe pain and discomfort 2-3 days after tooth removal.
What Causes Dry Socket?
- tooth extractions without the use of Platelet Rich Fibrin / PRF
- Individuals who do not follow tooth extraction care instructions
- individuals in poor medical health (i.e. diabetes, autoimmune disease, cardiac disease)
- individuals who smoke cigerettes
- Poor oral hygiene conditions
- difficult extractions
- extraction of teeth with root canals
- Age range greater than 25 years
How to Prevent Dry Socket and Bone Infections
- Use of PRF Therapy with Tooth Removal
- Avoid Smoking cigarettes before and soon after tooth removal,
- Follow All instructions given by the dentist
- Avoid eating especially hot and spicy foods following tooth extractions,
- Avoid using straws, and forceful swishing of fluids and spitting
- Avoid use of acidic drinks and beverages soon after tooth extractions,
- Maintain good quality oral health care,
- Do not repeatedly touch your extraction wound site with fingers and tongue,
- Use of ice packs: alternate 20 minutes off and on periods,
- Take prescribed medications as directed by your dentist
- For the relief of pain and swelling episodes, you must use ice packs.