Dentistry >>>> Alveolitis - what is it?

Alveolitis - what is it?

Alveolitis is a derivative of the word "alveolus", a hole in the alveolar ridge - that part of the jaw in which the teeth are held with the help of ligaments.

When a tooth is removed, a space (hole) remains in the alveolar process, which, under normal conditions, should heal completely. Bone tissue is filled with dividing cells, the mucous membrane regenerates.

But with violations of hygiene or when an infection is introduced at the time of removal into the area of the hole, the healing processes of the bone and mucous tissue of the alveolar process are disrupted, and alveolitis develops - inflammation of the hole.

It is quite difficult to notice the signs of alveolitis, since the pathological process begins to develop in conditions of a previous injury (removal) that has not yet healed, and the pain symptoms remaining after surgery do not allow distinguishing the onset of the disease.

Attention to the development of alveolitis can attract a pain symptom that lasts a longer period than it should be during healing.

Examination of the wound can also tell about the onset of the pathological process. In the area of the wound, blood clots are noticeable (which means that the bleeding continues), the mucous membrane in the area of the wound has a burgundy-red color, plaque can be observed, the temperature rises, the pain becomes aching. All these symptoms of alveolitis should suggest that the socket is not healing well after tooth extraction.

Until the moment of contacting a doctor, you can independently carry out preliminary treatment: rinsing with antiseptic solutions, changing the side of chewing to the opposite, careful care of the oral cavity after eating.

Treatment of alveolitis is fully carried out by a dentist - surgeon. He will clean the hole from trapped food debris, check if there are any debris left in the hole from the tooth that interfere with healing, suture if the wound is too large to accelerate the healing process, prescribe antibacterial agents if necessary, and treat the wound with local antibacterial drugs. He will treat with reparative agents that accelerate regeneration (proteolytic enzymes, applications with reparants).