In medieval times, the only solution to a toothache, as radical as it may sound, was an extraction. In current times, surgical extraction of diseased teeth is one of the many options available for treatment. Sometimes, in the case of impacted wisdom teeth, a tooth that is not causing any symptoms may be removed preemptively for fear of future complications. As with any other medical procedure, complications can arise from dental extractions.
Infection of Heart Valves
Bacterial endocarditis, or infection of the heart valves, may follow dental extraction procedures in susceptible patients, reports Merck.com. Patients with heart valve replacement, those with congenital heart defects and patients with diseases of the heart valves are at risk and must receive preventive antibiotics. The bacteria that normally inhabit the mouth gain access to the bloodstream through the extraction site. This can cause damage to weak, abnormal or mechanical heart valves.
Dry Socket
Dry socket is a problematic complication of dental extraction, since it delays healing and causes pain and discomfort for the patient. Dry socket, or alveolar osteitis, is the exposed jaw bone that occurs after partial healing and dislodgement of the clotted blood that filled the socket. The American Dental Association states that dry socket is aggravated by tobacco and cigarette smoking. Dentists treat dry socket by repeatedly cleaning the affected socket and applying a dressing. This continues until the pain subsides and the socket heals.
Injury to Nerves and Teeth
During the process of dental extraction, some structures maybe damaged. Injury to local nerves may result in numbness and altered sensitivity in the tongue or lower lip and even cheek. Some other structures that could be damaged by dental extraction, especially of the upper wisdom teeth, are the air sinuses in the cheek bone.
Infection
Infection at the site of dental extraction is a complication that warrants an immediate visit to the dentist. The National Institutes of Health Clinical Center helps patients identify the signs of infection: fever, the presence of oozing yellowish fluid at the site of the dental extraction or a bad taste in the mouth. Also, although some swelling is to be normally expected, swelling that keeps increasing after the first 48 hours might a sign of infection.
Rare Complications
The National Institutes of Health Clinical Center mentions the possibility of other serious but rare complications, namely, temporary facial paralysis, bruising, allergic reactions to anesthesia and anesthetic injection into a vein. Other less-serious complications are swelling and some bleeding at the site of the dental extraction. The National Institutes of Health Clinical Center suggests the application of ice packs at regular intervals during the first day after dental extraction.
Member Comments