How to quickly recover after wisdom tooth removal. Wisdom tooth removed - how long will it take to heal? What is better to use for rinsing

Periodically, a procedure such as wisdom tooth removal is required. The patient is more interested in how long it takes for the gums to heal on the lower and upper jaw at the same time, as well as what to expect in postoperative period.

Such an intervention may be associated with pathology in the growth of figure eights, carious lesions of bone tissue, the formation of cysts or other problems. But if you compare this procedure with the removal of any other units in the series, then it refers to complex surgical procedures.

About the traumatic nature of removing the figure eight

The wisdom tooth below has a number of growth problems. Often its eruption is associated with gum growth, so doctors have to excise the hood to reduce the traumatic nature of this process. But when its growth is accompanied by more serious pathologies, experts prefer to completely remove the unit.

Regardless of the doctor’s skills and the method of wisdom tooth extraction, this process is quite traumatic for the surrounding tissues. In this case, not only a wound is formed on the surface of the mucous membrane, but also the integrity of the bone, ligaments, blood and nerve vessels is disrupted.

After a wisdom tooth is pulled out, a hole remains in this area. soft tissues. This is the place where the root was located; doctors call it a hole. The danger of such a wound is that it is quite extensive, since the eights are the largest teeth and have a complex root system. After their removal, the risk of food debris and pathogenic bacteria getting into the deep layers of tissue increases.

And although saliva in the mouth has a certain level of antibacterial protection, it still carries quite a lot of pathogens. Therefore, the risk of infection remains.

Often wisdom teeth are removed with certain difficulties. It can grow unevenly, be located completely under the gum and occupy a large space in the soft tissues. Eights have a complex branched system with three deep roots. While the doctor removes them, rupture of nerve or blood endings, ligaments and muscles may occur.

It is not surprising that such an operation is accompanied by corresponding symptoms in the patient:

  • bleeding for several hours;
  • severe pain in the place of an extracted tooth, sometimes with the spread of these sensations to neighboring nearby organs;
  • redness and swelling of soft tissues;
  • in the first days the temperature even rises;
  • difficulties appear with the normal functioning of the jaws.

If these signs become less intense over time and gradually weaken, then the healing process is proceeding correctly. In the same case, when the discomfort intensifies and the pain does not disappear, we can talk about complications or infection. Then you definitely need a consultation and examination by a specialist.

Photo

Stages of gum healing

Patients are most concerned about the question of how long it takes for the gums to heal after wisdom tooth removal and whether it is a painful process. The duration of the postoperative period is influenced by the following factors:

  • The method the doctor chose to remove the unit and the difficulties that arise due to its growth. Obviously, the more intricate the root system and the pathological location of the tooth in the gum, the more traumatic the surrounding tissues are during extraction and the longer they will heal.
  • Patient’s age – it has been established that the younger the person, the easier and faster the tissue is regenerated and the rehabilitation process goes through. In young people, the gums grow together much earlier than in older people.
  • Infections that could enter the wound both during and after surgery due to improper oral care.
  • Individual characteristics of the patient’s body, its level immune defense, presence of diseases, etc.
  • Taking medications that thin the blood or congenital problems with its coagulability. This will prevent the formation of a protective blood clot, which will block access to the wound and increase bleeding.
  • Does the person adhere to medical recommendations on oral care in the postoperative period. Often, patients themselves prevent rapid healing, do not maintain surface hygiene, forget to rinse the gums with antiseptics, or remove blood clot.
  • Was it superimposed and how well was it done? People are often afraid that it is the application of threads that prevents rapid healing. In fact, they significantly speed up this process and reduce the risks of complications, since they maximally block the access of infection to deep tissues.

Overgrowth of the gingival area

The first stage of recovery begins immediately after the removal of the wisdom tooth. A blood clot appears in the formed hole on top, which absolutely cannot be touched. Patients often think that this is bad sign and try to pull it out of the wound or wash it off with diligent frequent rinsing. This should not be done, since its function is to naturally protect the open wound from any infections.

In 2-3 weeks, the place where the figure eight root was previously filled is filled with granulation tissue, and over time, a thin layer of epithelium appears on its surface. In less than a month there will be no trace of the operated area. The injured area will not differ in any way from the surrounding mucous surface.

It is during this period that doctors allow full load to be applied evenly over the entire jaw. But this is not the end of healing. This stage usually lasts 18-25 days, but certain complications lead to an increase in this period:

  • the more roots a tooth has, and the more complex their system and depth of germination, the longer the injured surrounding tissues will heal;
  • when a wound becomes infected, the recovery period also lengthens and it depends on timely measures taken to eliminate such a problem;
  • the use of threads for suturing, for example, self-absorbable material promotes faster healing; such threads do not need to be removed additionally.

Bone tissue is formed and compacted

When the patient notices that the edges of the gums have completely tightened and the hole is overgrown, he believes that the postoperative period is over.

In fact, this is not so, and the next stage will last up to two months - filling the remaining volume after extraction of the root system with hard tissue. Then it thickens, calcifies, matures and completely replaces former root tooth This process lasts for 4 months.

Fusion of bone tissue and gums

At the very end, the new hard formations should connect with the jawbone and become one. This process can take up to six months, but much also depends on previous complications, the presence of infection, the patient’s immunity level, etc.

And although these stages are no longer noticeable to a person, we still must not forget that healing continues at a deep level.

How does the hole become overgrown?

The most important stage remains initial, when the risks of tissue infection are high. It is the care of the oral cavity and the condition of the open wound immediately after wisdom tooth extraction that will determine how long and difficult the entire healing process will be.

  1. As mentioned above, a blood clot forms on the first day. It blocks access to the deep layers of affected tissue and prevents infection and food debris from getting inside. It looks like a dark red ball and occupies almost the entire volume of the hole. Doctors strongly recommend not to touch it or remove it. The speed of healing largely depends on the presence of this clot.
  2. Already on the third or fourth day wound surface covered with a thin transparent whitish film, which indicates the formation of epithelial cells. If it is not white, but, for example, green, yellow or grayish, then you should consult a doctor. A change in the color of the epithelium indicates the presence of infection and the sooner the pathological process is eliminated, the fewer complications will arise in the future.
  3. After about a week, the epithelium becomes completely white, and granulation tissue forms underneath.
  4. The upper part of the gum heals in 14-23 days, the wound heals and the visible healing process ends.

What complications can there be?

The patient must pay close attention to the symptoms that appear after surgery, and carefully follow all the doctor’s recommendations. So, if the temperature, pain, bleeding and swelling did not stop after a few days, but began to intensify, this indicates a pathological process.

Experts identify such typical complications after wisdom tooth removal:

  1. Dry socket – that is, the absence of a blood clot in the wound. Most often, patients themselves contribute to this, for example, by excessive rinsing, cleaning the operated area with a toothbrush, etc. This problem can be treated at the dentist's office to prevent prolonged healing.
  2. – inflammation of the alveolar process in which the unit was located before its removal. This happens from improper care of the oral cavity and wound at home. Lack of prescribed antiseptic treatment, failure to comply with hygiene standards, removal of a clot, infection during or after surgery - all this leads to the development of inflammation of the alveoli.
  3. – feels like paralyzed gum tissue. This happens as a result of damage nerve endings, but healing occurs on its own, it just takes longer than usual.
  4. Changing the position of teeth in a row - this happens if a strong inflammatory process affected surrounding units, which leads to various pathologies and their displacement.
  5. Fracture of the root or the entire jaw as a result of extraction is extremely rare. To prevent such a complication, you need to carefully choose a specialist who knows his business and will remove the figure eight correctly and accurately.

Video: a week after wisdom tooth removal (personal experience).

How long does it take for gums to heal after the removal of a wisdom tooth or a regular molar? Almost every person has to think about this sooner or later. Hard connective dental tissues do not have the ability to regenerate, and they are damaged throughout life.

When the damage becomes very deep, pain begins and pathological processes in the pulp, the gum itself. To prevent further human suffering and possible complications, this unpleasant but necessary mini-operation is performed. After the intervention, complete healing should occur.

The essence of the tooth extraction procedure

To remove (extract) a tooth, soft tissue must also be injured. During the procedure, severe pain occurs, so in most cases an anesthetic injection is performed.

When the anesthesia has taken effect, the dentist slightly turns back the gum and covers the dental neck and top part root with forceps, then the extraction itself occurs.

The consequences of this manipulation are:

  • The blood vessels that previously entered the pulp and nourished the dental tissues rupture, causing bleeding.
  • The nerve endings of the pulp and gums become irritated and damaged, causing pain. The patient does not feel it until the anesthesia wears off.
  • The ligaments that fixed the root in the jaw alveolus are torn.
  • After the anesthesia wears off, a feeling of discomfort appears when chewing or talking.
  • All of these phenomena are perceived by the body, and large quantity blood, an inflammatory process develops. This is necessary to improve local immunity: white blood cells leak through the walls of the capillaries to fight infection that may have penetrated there and remove destroyed own cells body.

Healing time for gums (sockets) after tooth extraction

The question of how long it takes for gums to heal after tooth extraction includes two nuances. Soft tissues heal first which, in the absence of complications, are completely restored within 7–14 days.

Photo: healing of the hole after tooth extraction

Restoration of the internal hard components of the jaw and the stages of bone tissue formation take much longer and are completed in the eighth month. The empty alveolus becomes overgrown, its cavity is filled with connective granulation tissue, overgrown with epithelium on top.

The rate of healing directly depends on how large the wound is. The socket after the removal of a wisdom tooth with its curved roots heals more slowly than as a result of pulling out a single-rooted incisor - the first and second teeth, or a canine - the third.

The molar (fourth and seventh) has more roots, so the site of its removal takes longer to heal. In the photo you can see how the hole heals after the removal of the fourth tooth.

If the regeneration process proceeds normally, the bleeding stops within the first two hours, as the resulting holes in the vascular system alveoli.

The pain may subside when the gum restoration is completed, vascular network and nerve endings: approximately within a week. During this period, swelling of the cheeks and gums and redness of the mucous membrane go away. If the hole is completely tightened and there is no discomfort, then the operation was successful.

Rules of conduct during the rehabilitation period

In order for granulation and regeneration of the epithelium to proceed safely, the patient must adhere to several rules, which the dentist usually talks about. General recommendations For normal process healing of the hole after tooth extraction are as follows:

  • A tampon containing a disinfecting solution and left by the doctor in the hole can be removed no earlier than half an hour after the procedure.
  • The resulting wound after tooth extraction should not be touched with fingers, tongue, foreign objects, try to remove or rinse out the blood clot, remove the sutures made by the dentist.
  • Situations that can increase the intensity of blood circulation and cause bleeding should be avoided: do not visit the bathhouse, overload the body with hard work and sports, sunbathe, apply warming compresses to the cheek, or eat hot food.
  • You cannot chew food on the same side of the mouth where the intervention took place. It can get into the wound and rot there. In the first 2–3 hours, you should not eat at all..
  • Drinking alcohol and smoking irritate the lining of the mouth, so healing of the gums after tooth extraction in people with bad habits happens more slowly.
  • The hole after tooth extraction looks unpleasant; many people are afraid to brush their teeth in the postoperative period. But we should not forget about hygiene - already 8 hours after the operation you can begin cleaning, which must be done twice a day.

Taking medications after surgery

In dentistry, after the procedure, the doctor prescribes the necessary medications:

Select independently medications for pain relief, acceleration of healing, and even more so treatment of infections is strictly prohibited.

Complications during removal

It is not always possible to carry out surgical intervention without negative consequences. Sudden complications may occur during the procedure itself., which further affect the healing of the gums after tooth extraction:

  • The crown, neck or roots crumble, and the lower parts get stuck in the gum.
  • The second, adjacent tooth dislocates.
  • A fracture of the lower jaw occurs.
  • A hole is formed in the upper jaw, through which the entrance to the maxillary sinus opens.
  • Bleeding begins.
  • A dry socket forms. When a formed blood clot falls out immediately after extraction.
  • The nerve is damaged.

Such deviations are visible immediately during the procedure. The doctor must take everything necessary measures to eliminate them. Additional manipulations may be necessary: ​​the wound is too large when heavy bleeding sutured, if any particles of the tooth remain in the alveolus, they are removed with surgical instruments.

If there is numbness in the face due to a nerve disorder, physiotherapeutic procedures are prescribed. Their number depends on the degree of damage and the speed of development of sensitivity.

A dry socket after tooth extraction is a cause for concern. The loss of a clot opens the way for infections to enter the internal environment body. This is why patients with dry socket are prescribed antibiotics.

Complications during the rehabilitation period

If a tooth is pulled out incorrectly, a complex extraction is performed, an infection develops in the mouth, part of the root remains in the alveolus, the patient has weak immunity or violates the rules of conduct during the rehabilitation period, other complications may develop:

  • Alveolitis, or inflammation of the jaw alveoli.
  • Infectious and inflammatory diseases of the jaw membranes: periostitis, osteomyelitis.
  • Infectious and inflammatory pathologies of soft tissues of the neck and face: phlegmon, abscess.
  • Recovery may be delayed due to cyst complications.

You should consult a doctor if pain and swelling intensify, the wound surface does not heal well or is inflamed, fever appears with an increase in temperature, or the feeling of the facial skin is lost. Such signs may be a manifestation of complex pathology. The reason for the violation and accurate diagnosis established by the dentist who prescribes medications and healing procedures allowing the wound to heal.

If the operation went well, the redness and swelling gradually decrease and there are no spots or growths.

You can ask the dentist to show what the tooth looks like after removal, for example, the photo below shows the normal version, when the structure of the crown and roots is preserved and no fragments are formed.

When the wound surface is not the same as in the photographs, black, with whitish or reddened swollen edges, you should not do any procedures yourself, try to remove part of the root that is rotting there. Inflamed gum or its excessive dryness in the first time after surgery are unfavorable symptoms in which you should quickly consult a doctor.

Thus, unpleasant symptoms after extraction disappear much faster than the regeneration stages. In order for the resulting hole to heal safely, you need to eat right: the supply of sufficient vitamins and microelements to the cells accelerates the process of formation of new tissues. Timely cleaning oral cavity prevents the proliferation of pathogens, and then the wound becomes inflamed much less frequently.

And you should not delay your visit to the dentist if there are indications for such an operation. The tooth can deteriorate due to bacteria, cause gum inflammation and eventually fall out, making oral health much more difficult to treat.

Removing a tooth is not the end of the suffering that is associated with it. The patient leaves the dentist's office with a wound in the mouth, which periodically makes itself felt, causing painful sensations and bleeding. Your doctor may recommend mouth rinsing. This is the most effective method speed up wound healing and protect it from various microbes. There are many rinses, but which ones are best to use? fast healing gums?

What are rinses for?

A day after tooth extraction, there is no need to rinse, since it will not only not help, but will also complicate the healing process. If you cannot understand why it is not recommended to rinse your mouth on the first day, try to remember what exactly the dentist did after removing the disturbing tooth. Initially, using a curettage spoon, he examined the location of the tooth root (alveolus). This procedure is necessary so that the doctor can make sure that there are no root remains. When deleting upper tooth The dentist also checks the bone for integrity - examines the socket for perforation of the maxillary sinus.

After connecting the edges of the gums at the site of the wound with a gauze tampon, the doctor advises to clamp it with your teeth and hold it for 15-20 minutes. This manipulation promotes the formation of a blood clot, the main task of which is to protect the resulting wound from infection. If the patient disobeys the dentist and rinses his mouth, he will wash away this clot.

And this is how a blood clot may look in real life - it is very important not to wash it out when rinsing your mouth

On a note! Vigorous rinsing will damage the blood barrier that protects open wound. As a result, an inflammatory process will begin in the formed hole (alveolitis). This disease often provokes unpleasant odor from the mouth, and the healing process itself becomes more complicated.

In the photo - alveolitis

The main benefits of mouth rinse are that it:

  • accelerates healing processes, as a result of which the wound heals much faster in the presence of purulent discharge;
  • destroys germs that accumulate in the mouth;
  • eliminates pain.

The need to rinse your mouth after such an unpleasant dental procedure there is no doubt. This can and should be done only with the use of high-quality products.

What is better to use for rinsing

Can be used to speed up wound healing and protect the body from infection. various solutions, which have disinfectant and anti-inflammatory properties. Most commonly used drugs traditional medicine, although people often resort to folk remedies. Let's consider the most popular traditional/alternative medicine separately.

Medicines

For mouth rinsing, products that have antiseptic properties and do not contain alcohol are suitable. This is due to the fact that alcohol, burning the soft tissue of the gums, does not heal, but injures the affected areas. Below are effective means, used after tooth extraction.

Table. Effective drugs for rinsing the mouth.

Drug nameDescription

Very popular pharmaceutical drug, having a bitter taste and weak aroma. Optimal dosage for use – 0.05%. It has antiseptic properties and affects many microorganisms, except viruses and fungi. It is not recommended for use by pregnant women and young children due to the possibility of ingestion of the drug. Directions for use: dial a small amount of solution and rinse your mouth for 20 seconds. Repeat the procedure 2-3 times.

Doctors recommend this remedy for the treatment of purulent processes resulting from tooth extraction. It is available in the form of tablets or solution, but it is better to use a ready-made solution. This is due to possible non-compliance dosage for dilution. Directions for use: take a 0.02% solution into your mouth and spit it out after 1.5-2 minutes. Repeat the procedure at least 3 times a day. If you purchased tablets, then dilute 10 tablets in 1 liter warm water to prepare the solution.

In its properties, this drug is similar to Chlorhexidine, but is also able to resist viruses and fungi. Has antiseptic and restorative properties. Often used to treat purulent formations in the oral cavity. Directions for use: Keep the 0.01% solution in your mouth for several minutes. Repeat the procedure three times a day.

People know this remedy under another name - potassium permanganate. Incorrect dosage may cause burns to the mucous membrane, so use this remedy as recommended. Directions for use: take a 0.01% solution of potassium permanganate into your mouth and hold for 1-2 minutes. The product is very effective, but due to high risk injuries, doctors categorically do not recommend using it.

This is a powerful antiseptic used by doctors to rinse the socket immediately after tooth extraction. For this, a 3% solution is used. But despite high efficiency, using hydrogen peroxide at home, like potassium permanganate, is highly discouraged. This is due to strong foaming, as a result of which the blood clot, which serves as a natural barrier to infection, is damaged. In addition, the mucous membrane may be damaged.

Folk remedies

To relieve inflammatory processes resulting from tooth extraction, folk remedies are often used. To eliminate alveolitis, you need to rinse your mouth with a special decoction of calendula flowers. To prepare the decoction, pour 200 ml of boiling water into 2 tbsp. l. crushed flowers. Infuse the product in a closed container for 40-60 minutes. Rinse your mouth after every meal and after brushing your teeth.

You can also rinse your mouth with sage decoction to heal gums. Pour 200 ml of boiling water over 1 tbsp. l. dry herbs and simmer over low heat for 10-15 minutes. St. John's wort and chamomile also help to relieve inflammation. Several teaspoons of St. John's wort or 1 spoon of chamomile are poured with boiling water and infused for 1.5 hours in a sealed container. After infusion, the broth is filtered through several layers of gauze, then used to rinse the mouth.

No less effective folk remedy is herbal composition, prepared from pine needles and St. John's wort herbs. Take these ingredients in equal proportions and pour 4 tbsp. l. herbal collection boiling water Now cook the product over low heat for 2-3 minutes. Leave for 1.5 hours, then boil again. You need to boil until the amount of liquid is reduced by half. Treat the damaged hole with a gauze swab soaked in the prepared solution. Repeat this procedure several times a day, and soon discomfort will pass.

Dentists do not recommend rinsing your mouth immediately after you leave the doctor's office. As noted earlier, in the formed hole there is a blood clot, which can come off with intensive rinsing. This will cause bleeding. It doesn’t take much effort to break the blood vessels in the gums, so if bleeding occurs, you often have to go to the hospital for help.

Immediately after tooth extraction, the dentist applies a tampon to the wound, which must be removed no later than after 2.5-3 hours. For several days the patient should avoid severe physical work, hot bath. It is also not recommended to drink alcoholic beverages.

Touch the hole different objects, including language, is not recommended. The same applies to lotions and ointments that cannot be applied to the hole. At correct observance above recommendations, mouth rinse various drugs- this is the most effective method speed up the healing process.

On a note! You should not brush your teeth before rinsing your mouth because active ingredients, contained in toothpaste, reduce the activity of antiseptics in the solution. For 60 minutes after rinsing warm solution(approximately +30 degrees) eating is not recommended.

Signs of good wound healing

During the treatment process, it is useful for the patient to know whether gum healing is successful and whether it is happening at all. Once you become familiar with the signs of normal healing of the socket, you can easily determine the effectiveness of treatment.


IN in rare cases When a tooth is removed, a blood clot does not form on the socket. This leads to gums healing much more slowly, and bone will grow from bone walls, and not on a blood clot, as is usually the case. This phenomenon will greatly delay the wound healing process. A little later, the formation of bone tissue will begin, and then the process will not differ from the healing of the gums with the formation of a blood clot.

Video - Treatment after tooth extraction

Removal of a wisdom tooth is a full-fledged surgical intervention in which soft and bone tissues are injured, blood vessels. At the end of the procedure, the doctor sutures the fresh wound and explains to the patient how. At the mere thought of the upcoming manipulations, many people experience real fear and only thanks to anesthetic drugs they decide to have it removed, having first asked the doctor how long the gums will heal after.

But in the postoperative period, another stage begins - healing and recovery. And during this period, a person understands that not all troubles are over yet. Very often there is a fresh socket, pain is felt, it is difficult to eat normally, and some even develop suppuration and only one question arises in the head: how many more days will the gums heal after the removal of the figure eight?

It is impossible to say unequivocally how long the gums will heal, since for each person the duration of this period can vary within a different range. Reply to this exciting question depends on many factors that need to be learned in order to promote rapid healing of the gums.

What factors influence how long gums take to heal:

  • extraction method: with simple removal, the gum heals much faster. But when difficult removal this gap increases significantly, since the tissues were subject to greater trauma;
  • age category - it has long been established that in at a young age The gum restoration process takes less time, and rehabilitation is much easier. The gum healing process takes the longest in older people, for physiological reasons;
  • the presence of infections, inflammatory complications during removal and in the postoperative period greatly influence the duration of recovery;
  • individual characteristics of the body, condition immune system also matter;
  • How correctly the patient follows the surgeon’s recommendations. Very often, people themselves delay recovery because they make important mistakes during the rehabilitation period.

Despite these factors, there is an approximate time period during which the gums go through several physiological stages of healing. Therefore, the terms given below can be taken as a basis for understanding all biological processes.

Gum overgrowth

The gum healing mechanism begins immediately after the wisdom tooth is removed, and a protective blood clot forms in the wound. The hole heals completely in 2–3 weeks. During this period, the wound is filled with granulation tissue and epithelium forms on its surface. Thus, the injured gum will not differ in any way from the surrounding soft tissue. When the hole is tightened (after 2-3 weeks), then it is allowed to distribute the load while eating on the operated area.

How the timing of the first stage may change under different circumstances:

  • The healing time may be reduced by several days if a single-rooted tooth was removed - but this feature is not typical for eights, since they generally have several curved roots. Under such circumstances, tissues are less injured and, accordingly, recovery is slightly reduced (about 18 days). When extracting teeth with several roots, the gums can heal for about 25 days.
  • The indicated time frame must be added another 1.5 weeks if infection occurs in the operated wound.
  • The size of the wound in it affects how long the gum heals. For example, it is always large if the wisdom tooth being removed had an abnormal root system or was lying horizontally. To tighten the edges of the wound and ensure accelerated repair, the surgeon sutures the cut area with self-absorbable or other threads. When using regular threads, the doctor prescribes a day for their removal. This can happen 5–7 days after surgery. This manipulation does not need to be done if the wound was stitched with self-absorbing threads - they dissolve on their own.

Many people associate suturing with prolongation of healing time. In fact, an open, large wound on the gum would take much longer to heal. Sutures speed up healing after tooth extraction by preventing the penetration of bacteria.

Simple wisdom tooth removal.

At the stage of overgrowing of the hole, the restoration process is not yet considered completely completed. Now only the soft tissues have healed. Next comes the stage of bone tissue formation in the place where the figure eight root was and other stages of reparation.

Bone formation

After the gums have healed (after 2–3 weeks), the second stage of healing occurs. This stage may take 1.5–2 months. During this interval, new tissue will form. It takes at least 7 weeks to fill the entire volume with bone elements, since bone tissue grows very slowly.

Bone compaction

Now the young bone will compact and later form into mature, strong bone tissue. This is necessary to replace the missing tooth root of the figure eight. The duration of the stage is about 4 months - this is how long mature bone is formed.

Fusion of gum and bone tissue

The new gum bone formed fuses with the existing jaw bone. After the removal procedure, it takes at least six months (minimum 4 months) to complete this process, provided there are no complications. The duration of the fourth stage increases if the postoperative period occurred against the background of infection or other complications - complete healing will take from 6 to 10 months.

This is what the complete gum healing process looks like: neglected by the body after wisdom tooth removal.

Anna Losyakova

Dentist-orthodontist

The patient's task is to pay Special attention the first stage, it is largely decisive and determines the further course of events. The subsequent stages pass almost unnoticed by a person, but they still should not be forgotten.

More information about overgrowing a hole

Wisdom is accompanied by processes that are useful to know about:

This is what the socket model looks like after wisdom tooth removal.

  1. Within 24 hours after the removal operation, a blood clot begins to form in the wound (socket), it should occupy most of the formed cavity in the gum. A clot is a dark red or burgundy formation located in the hole. It is of great value - it stops bleeding, protects against infection, affects the speed of healing, so the clot must be preserved, but removal is strictly prohibited.
  2. 3–4 postoperative days - the hole is covered with white thin films. This is a good sign, indicating the formation of young epithelium - which means that gum healing is proceeding successfully. Under no circumstances should the film be disposed of. After a few more days, the entire hole will turn white, as it should be. It is also worth focusing on the color of the young epithelium - normally it should be white. A grayish, yellowish, greenish tint is a deviation that indicates infection. You should immediately visit a doctor who will take measures to eliminate the infectious and inflammatory complication.
  3. After a week, a transparent epithelium appears on the socket, through which granulation white tissue can be seen.
  4. In the period from 14 to 23 days, the wound on the gum is completely healed, now it is covered by the mucous membrane and the process of bone tissue formation begins;
  5. 30 postoperative days - the entire hole under the epithelial layer is filled with young bone tissue.
  6. At 4–6 months, the socket is completely filled with bone and merges with the bone tissue of the jaw.

At the last stage, the gum has already completely healed, but at the site of removal it is slightly smaller compared to the rest of the teeth.

Complications due to infection

Infection of the wound when a wisdom tooth was removed or during the rehabilitation stage, as well as mechanical injuries mucous membrane significantly prevent speedy healing gums.

In the first 7 days after the procedure, the patient may experience pain, slight fever, swelling of the cheek, and bleeding of the wound. These symptoms are considered normal; you just need to wait them out, following the surgeon’s recommendations. To alleviate the condition, the doctor prescribes painkillers and antiseptic drugs for treating the mouth. Swelling is eliminated with ice compresses.

Anna Losyakova

Dentist-orthodontist

Every day the unpleasant sensations should subside. If this tendency is absent or the intensity of pain increases, this is a sign of infection.

The most typical complications that a patient may encounter during the gum healing stage:

  • dry socket - this means that there is no valuable blood clot in the wound. Most often, a person removes it himself either intentionally or carelessly. This situation must be corrected in a doctor’s office, otherwise gum healing will be very long and painful;
  • ignored dry socket syndrome leads to alveolitis. The alveolus, the location of the removed wisdom tooth roots, becomes inflamed. The complication develops mainly due to improper care of the socket in the postoperative period. For example, a person did not carry out the prescribed antiseptic treatment, maintained poor hygiene, damaged a wound with a toothbrush, or removed a clot. Sometimes such an infection could occur due to the fault of the surgeon during the intervention. In any case, alveolitis must be treated.

After the removal of a wisdom tooth, the development of periostitis, osteomyelitis, and abscess is possible. But all these processes are very serious consequences. They do not occur for no reason or suddenly; they are always preceded by an obvious inflammatory process, which turns into complex shape in the absence of treatment. Therefore, the patient’s task is to prevent any complications, then the healing of the gums will be as comfortable as possible.

Toothache not only deprives you of the joys of life, but is also dangerous to your health. That is why dentists do not advise ignoring it, muffling it with painkillers and postponing treatment until tomorrow. If possible modern dentistry tooth extraction - last resort. However, in advanced cases this procedure cannot be avoided.

Tooth extraction means implantation or prosthetics in the future, for which it is important to be financially prepared. However, first there will be an operation in the office of a dental surgeon. Manipulations take place under local anesthesia, sometimes bring significant relief. For this, you will have to be patient and carefully care for your oral cavity after removal. Wound healing has its own nuances, and serious complications can occur if hygiene rules are not followed.

How long should a hole heal?

After tooth extraction, a hole remains, which is the source increased attention. During the operation, the surgeon violates the integrity of blood vessels and nerves and damages adjacent soft tissues. As a result, the injury site may become inflamed and bleed. Its healing is usually accompanied by the following symptoms:

  • pain in the area extracted tooth;
  • pain can radiate to the ear, eye, neighboring tissues;
  • rise in body temperature;
  • difficulty swallowing, swelling, other dysfunctions of the jaw.

All these consequences are considered normal, but they should gradually fade away and not progress. Successful gum healing is influenced by many factors, the main ones being: proper care for the oral cavity, the state of the body, the rate of blood clotting. Until a blood clot appears and closes the wound (this takes up to three hours), there is a risk of infection entering it.

Stages of healing with photos

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For full recovery It will take much longer, since healing after removal occurs both in the tooth socket and in the gum. They behave differently:

When a wisdom tooth is removed, the formation of new tissue will end by the end of the first month (we recommend reading:). When searching for a photo of a tooth socket in different terms This point should be taken into account so as not to be upset that the process is going wrong. Excessive stress will not benefit your health and will prolong the healing period.


3 days after removal

Normally, the wound does not bleed on day 3. The clot, which was burgundy on the first day, becomes lighter and acquires yellowish tint. Its color is determined by natural physiological processes. Hemoglobin (the red component) is gradually washed out by saliva, but the fibrin framework is preserved. It forms the basis of a blood clot that prevents bleeding from the wound.

No need to go into problem area hands, injure with toothpicks and a brush. The wound heals according to the principle of secondary intention, from the edges to the center. If these conditions are not met and there is a lack of hygiene, suppuration at the removal site is possible after 1-3 days. This is alveolitis - dangerous complication with a complex unpleasant symptoms. The gum becomes inflamed, the pain intensifies, the socket is filled with food or saliva, or is empty, the blood clot is injured or missing. If treatment is not started in time, the disease can lead to phlegmon, abscess, and sepsis.

5 day

By 4-5 days, the color of the tooth socket normally becomes even lighter, the wound heals, as can be seen in the photo. The extraction site may still ache and bother you. If the pain is not severe, there is no bad breath, inflammation or swelling of the gums, the process is going as it should. At this time, it is important to maintain oral hygiene, try to speak less and not chew on the problematic side of the jaw.

Day 7

On the 7-8th day, the painful sensations subside. Granulations gradually replace the blood clot; only traces of it can be seen in the center of the tooth socket. The outside of the wound is covered with a layer of epithelium, while bone tissue is actively forming inside. If discomfort, gum swelling, painful sensations, you should see a dentist. It may be necessary to re-process the hole and add medication. In practice, if the patient followed the instructions after tooth extraction, complications rarely occur.

Factors influencing the rate of gum healing

How long does it take for tissue to heal after extirpation? Each patient has their own regeneration time. The process is influenced by the following factors:


Causes of inflammation of the socket

Inflammation of the tooth socket, surrounding soft tissues or periosteum cannot be missed (we recommend reading:). The process is accompanied by pain, swelling in the problem area, and general malaise. Body temperature often rises, it becomes painful to speak and swallow. Inflammation of the socket is caused by the following factors:

  • infection with ARVI, infections after removal (it is important to be healthy at the time of surgery);
  • weakened immunity due to diet or any disease;
  • Availability carious teeth, from where pathogenic bacteria move to other parts of the oral cavity;
  • incorrectly selected anesthesia;
  • poor handling of instruments, non-compliance with sanitary conditions during manipulations, as a result of which infection penetrates into the wound;
  • serious damage to the gums during extirpation;
  • the cyst from the extracted tooth remained in the socket.

In any situation that interferes with the healing process of the hole after tooth extraction, you should consult a dental surgeon. An x-ray may be indicated general analysis blood, opening and re-cleaning. Additionally, the doctor will prescribe physical therapy and supportive medications to improve your well-being. After cleaning, the doctor puts Neomycin powder (an antibiotic) into the hole and covers it with a tampon. Symptoms of inflammation then disappear within 1-2 days.

What should I do if my gums still hurt after a week?

Normally, pain in soft tissues subsides gradually, and already on the 7th day the patient does not feel severe discomfort. However, with complex removal, the gums take a long time to heal and hurt at night. In this case, you should contact the doctor who removed the tooth. At home, suffering will be alleviated by painkillers (Tempalgin, Nalgesin, Nurofen, Solpadein) and rinses:

  • weak soda solution;
  • furatsilin solution (1-2 tablets per glass of water);
  • decoction of calendula, sage or oak bark;
  • antibacterial drug Miramistin.

How to properly care for your gums after tooth extraction?

You must agree to tooth extraction as a last resort, When modern methods dentistry is unable to restore it. If extirpation cannot be avoided, it should be entrusted to an experienced surgeon with a good reputation.

The procedure will take place under local anesthesia, the doctor will not let you go home until he is sure that the bleeding from the hole has stopped. Self-absorbing cones with iodine and other antiseptic and hemostatic drugs are placed in it.

Additionally, the doctor advises on wound care in the first days. The rules after tooth extraction are as follows:

  • you should slowly get up from your chair and go out into the corridor;
  • sit for about 20 minutes ( sudden movements and fussing may cause unwanted bleeding);
  • do not eat or drink for 3 hours after manipulation;
  • do not rinse your mouth for the first 2 days;
  • do not touch or remove the turunda in the hole if the doctor left it;
  • If white clot, the tampon with the medicine, which was placed during the intervention, fell out, it is necessary;
  • when food gets into the wound after tooth extraction, do not pick with a toothpick, but rinse gently;
  • make “baths” for the hole with an antiseptic, as the doctor advises;
  • when chewing, try not to touch the affected area;
  • do not touch during cleaning problem area so as not to break the clot;
  • from the third day, rinse your mouth with herbal decoctions or antiseptic solutions;
  • use medications as recommended by the dentist local action(Solcoseryl gel, Metrogil denta);
  • for pain and inflammation, apply cold compresses to the cheek for 15 minutes;
  • you cannot heat the problem area, take a bath, or steam in a sauna;
  • avoid alcohol, smoking, physical activity(we recommend reading: );
  • Consult a doctor if the hole with the clot turns black.

What does a normal healing socket look like after time? Neat, not inflamed, without pain and discomfort. When this is not the case, a dentist should be consulted. He will take measures that will prevent infection or relieve inflammation.