Osteomylitis

[Teresa]

Hello

I had a tooth extracted last week and the plan my dentist had was to place a dental implant about 2 months after the tooth removal. Unfortunately for the past 3 days my jaw has been aching and I have been having severe pain from the jaw in the region of where the tooth was removed.

I been on the internet and one site says that its possible that I may have osteomylitis developing and says that the treatment for it is very strong antibiotics and surgery and oxygen.

I am really scared that I may have developed osteomylitis but my dentist says that this is very unlikely and he put some stuff in the extraction area yesterday and says that it will get better. The pain is a little better today but not gone yet. Do you think that I might have osteomylitis and if so, does that mean that I cant have a implant?

[Dr Vahid Motahar]

Hi,

Thank you for your question.

It is not common to develop osteomylitis after extraction of a tooth. There can be some complications and delayed healing that can take place after extraction of a tooth. They do not usually need any complicated treatment such as surgery or treatment by oxygen and they are mostly treated by means of application of local antiseptics as your dentist has done so. You can be assured that the pain and discomfort will go,although it will take time, and once the socket has fully recovered then you can have your implant placed without any complication.

The most commonest post extraction complication is the necrosis of the exposed bone in the socket and is referred by dentist to as dry socket. It usually starts couple of days after extraction and antibiotics do not have nay effect. The only way to treat this condition is by means of local measures as your dentist has done so and once fully healed, there is no problem with having implants there.