What does an infected wisdom tooth extraction look like

The 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.

Table of Contents Show

The Signs of an Infection after a Tooth Extraction
Granulation Tissue
What is a Dry Socket?
What Are the Signs of a Tooth Infection?
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What does an infection look like after wisdom teeth removal?
How do I know if my tooth extraction is infected?
What does an infection from wisdom teeth look like?

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!

It can be challenging to know if your tooth extraction site is properly healing. You can anticipate mild bleeding, swelling, pain, sore jaw and throat, as well as, slight discolouration and bruising as the anesthesia wears off during the initial recovery period. All of these side effects are common and shouldn’t be a cause for concern.

At all stages of the recovery process, you should monitor the extraction site to ensure it is improving every day. We recommend looking at images of tooth extraction healing so you know what your mouth should look like. In this blog, we will describe what a tooth extraction should and should not look like when it’s healing. If you suspect your tooth extraction site isn’t healing properly or have questions related to the cost of tooth extraction, don’t hesitate to contact our dental clinic in Mississauga.

A healthy tooth extraction site should look deep red with white gelatinous tissues forming over time.

Granulation Tissue

A membrane called “granulation tissue” will form in the extraction site after about a week following the tooth extraction procedure. Within the first day following your tooth removal, a blood clot forms to stop the bleeding. Granulation tissue helps to protect the clot until the formation of the new bone. This bone formation will take approximately eight weeks. The tissue is a creamy white colour and is made up of collagen, blood vessels and white blood cells. The formation of this tissue is a great sign! It means your socket is healing properly.

Once a blood clot has formed, and granulation tissue has appeared in your extraction site, you’re well on your way to the road to recovery! To ensure you’re protecting the clot while it heals, take the following precautions for up to ten days following your tooth removal:

Gently rinse your mouth out with a small spoonful of salt dissolved in a glass of warm water to kill any bacteria. Don’t forcefully spit out this solution as this can dislodge the clot and cause complications.
Continue to brush and floss your teeth but avoid the teeth adjacent to the extraction site.
Eat only soft, nutritious foods for won’t require you to chew. For more information about what to eat and what not to eat after tooth extraction, read our other blogs

After two weeks, we recommend visiting your dentist or oral surgeon for a check-up so you can get a professional opinion on how your tooth extraction site is healing.

If you experience any of the following worsening symptoms during the healing process, you should contact our emergency dental clinic in Mississauga and seek treatment promptly:

High fever, nausea or vomiting
A foul taste or smell from the extraction site
Dry socket

What is a Dry Socket?

Dry socket is a fairly common complication that follows a tooth extraction. According to Healthline, 1 to 5% of patients who have teeth removed get dry socket. It occurs when the blood clot that forms in the extraction site doesn’t properly develop. Dry socket is problematic as it may cause bone and nerve exposure.

You may have dry socket if:

You can see a visible bone in the socket, or your socket appears grey in appearance or empty-looking.
You’re in severe pain following your tooth extraction. This pain will radiate from the extraction site to your ears, eyes or temples.
You’ve lost your blood clot.
You have consistent bad breath or an unpleasant taste in your mouth despite brushing your teeth and practicing good oral hygiene.

If you’ve been monitoring your extraction site and you suspect you have dry socket, contact your trusted dentist or oral surgeon right away.

What Are the Signs of a Tooth Infection?

If you see white or yellow pus in your socket after the extraction, you should call your dentist as this is a sign of infection.

You should also look for out these signs of infection:

Worsening bleeding, pain and swelling for two to three days following your procedure
Fever
A bad taste in your mouth

While monitoring your socket, you may also notice food debris or leftover gauze in your extraction site. Unless these particles are causing pain, you can rinse your mouth with the saltwater mixture mentioned above to dislodge any food particles and prevent infection.

You also may also feel tiny pieces of tooth fragment emerging from the socket. This fragmentation is also not a cause for concern as any remaining pieces should come out on their own.

If you require wisdom teeth removal or tooth extraction in Mississauga, look no further than Rockwest Dental. Our experienced team of oral surgeons and dentists knows exactly what to look for when it comes to tooth extraction recovery. If you have any questions or concerns about an upcoming procedure, feel free to contact us!

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What does an infection look like after wisdom teeth removal?

Infections are marked by fever, pain, swelling, and redness. They generally occur a few days after a procedure, requiring time to evolve. However, there are also late infections that occur 3-4 weeks after an extraction. In the healthy patient who had an extraction, infection is rare.

How do I know if my tooth extraction is infected?

Signs of infection after extraction Instead of the pain getting better from the extraction, it gets worse. The bleeding continues for more than 24 hours. Experiencing an unpleasant or foul smell coming from the mouth. Seeing discharge in or around the area.

What does an infection from wisdom teeth look like?

An infected gum will likely be swollen, red, and very painful if you press on it or touch it with your finger or a toothbrush. ¹⁰ It may also be swollen because there is an abscess filled with pus but that is for a dentist to determine.

infected wisdom tooth extraction