Signs of Infection After Oral Surgery
Most oral surgeries are standard procedures, and with advances in medical care being made every day, infection control practices are the best they’ve ever been. Still, infections do occur once in a while, and as the patient, it is your job to know what to look for so that you can seek follow-up care when needed. Following your oral surgeon’s instructions, and being aware of the signs of an infection, are the best ways to ensure that your recovery will go as smoothly as possible.
Why Would You Need Oral Surgery?
Oral surgery is incredibly common and is performed for a variety of reasons. Mouth pain can be debilitating, so oral surgery is often used to address common causes of pain and discomfort. Tooth extractions are the most recognized form of oral surgery, and include removing teeth that are damaged, decayed, or impacted (such as wisdom teeth). Oral surgery can correct jaw-joint issues (like TMJ), overbites or underbites, and sleep and breathing issues, as well as replace missing teeth via dental implants. Facial trauma can also be addressed through oral surgery and the damaged area can be reconstructed. Positive oral health promotes positive overall health, so seeking care when you are experiencing an oral issue is essential.
What to Expect After Oral Surgery
Immediately after your oral surgery, your mouth will probably be numb for a couple of hours, so be sure to use caution when eating or drinking. Pain medication should help you stay comfortable. You should also follow your oral surgeon’s instructions for oral care and may want to gargle with a warm saltwater solution to keep your mouth clean and avoid infection. It is also advised to rest after your surgery, avoiding physical activity for at least two days. Resting is essential to recovery after any type of surgery, and with oral surgery, resting and keeping your head propped up will help reduce swelling and bleeding.
Infections after oral surgery are rare, and when they do occur, they are most commonly seen among people with compromised immune systems or diabetes. The concern about an infection is that it could spread to other parts of your body, causing significant health problems, so if an infection occurs, it needs to be addressed and treated as early as possible.
Symptoms of an Infection After Oral Surgery
Some bleeding, swelling, and numbness are normal following oral surgery, but certain symptoms are clear indicators that you may have an infection. If you experience any of the following symptoms after oral surgery, be sure to contact your doctor as soon as possible.
- Bleeding that is present for 24 hours or more
- Throbbing pain that is not relieved with pain medication
- Increased swelling of the face, jaw, or gums
- Oozing discharge, especially pus
- Difficulty opening the mouth
- A fever, especially a low-grade fever that either persists or increases
How Can You Prevent an Infection After Oral Surgery?
There are a number of steps that you can take to prevent infection after your oral surgery. The most basic prevention method is to follow the instructions given to you by your oral surgeon. They will tell you how to care for and clean the affected area, what you can eat or drink, what antibiotics to take, and anything else that is relevant to your specific case. The use of antibiotics will manage bacteria present in the mouth and help prevent an infection from occurring. To control normal amounts of bleeding following surgery, you will need to bite down lightly on a gauze pad for an hour. Swelling can be minimized with the use of ice packs, and rinsing gently with warm salt water will help keep the area clean. If you are experiencing signs of infection after oral surgery, be sure to contact us at St. Luke’s OMS immediately. We will work with you to address the issue while providing state of the art care, and ensure that your mouth heals fully and properly.
tbsmo2018-11-12T19:52:23+00:00The Signs of an Infection after a Tooth Extraction
A bone infection after tooth extraction is a dangerous ailment. If not treated, a patient can go into sepsis. Sepsis is an infection caused by anything (virus, bacterial, fungal) that enters the bloodstream and can impair flow to the vital organs in your system. As the sepsis infection worsens, it can impact your breathing, affect the oxygen levels throughout your body, can cause dehydration, and can even lead to mental and emotional distress. If you are worried that you have signs of infection after oral surgery, please call your dentist for an appointment.
If you suspect that you could have a bone infection after a tooth extraction, it is best to see your dentist immediately. The risk for sepsis increases the longer a bone infection is left untreated, as such several dentists offer same day, urgent care treatment of this serious condition. Saltwater rinses can help with pain while you’re waiting for an appointment. Your dentist will drain the infection, if possible, to speed up the healing process and then prescribe an antibiotic.
An infected socket after tooth extraction is commonly mistaken for a dry socket, which is the result of your tooth socket being empty and having raw bone exposed. There’s no infection, swelling, or redness. However,, it’s a painful condition that takes a long time to heal. Once a tooth is extracted, and if the blood clot gets dislodged, it is basically raw bone on all sides. That is why dry socket can be so painful and why people think they have an infection when they don’t.
An infected socket after tooth extraction is a different story. It is caused by the bacteria infecting the gumline around the exposed socket within one or two days of the extraction, causing swelling and redness. An infected socket can be just as serious as a bone infection after tooth extraction, so it’s best to call your dentist right away. An infected socket after tooth extraction can lead to sepsis if not taken care of quickly
Signs of infection after wisdom tooth extraction
These are signs and symptoms that you may have a bone or socket infection after tooth extraction.
– Bad breath that doesn’t go away after brushing
– Bitter taste that doesn’t go away after salt water rinses
– Fever over 101
– Pain that
doesn’t respond to prescribed painkillers
– Swelling of gums
– Temperature sensitivity on teeth
– Swollen glands of the neck
– Swelling of the jaw
– Pain at extraction point or socket
– Radiating pain down jaw line
The signs of infection after oral surgery are the same as those of an infection of the bone or an infection of the socket and both should be taken seriously. Sepsis can be fatal if left untreated. Call your dentist if you experience any of the following;
– Difficulty swallowing or breathing
– Excessive bleeding
– Persistent numbness or loss of feeling
– Blood or pus in nasal discharge
– Pus or ooze coming out of the socket
Maiden Lane Dental located at 80 Maiden Lane, New York, NY is ready to help you. Our patients come from all areas of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and beyond. Do not let the signs of infection after a tooth extraction or oral surgery get worse. Contact Maiden Lane Dental Now!