Lip Swelling following Extractions

Tooth extractions are a routine procedure at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania. We’ll make treatment as minimally invasive as possible, allowing you to recover quickly and comfortably. However, to avoid swelling, we will need our patients to try to avoid biting their lips after they’ve been numbed.

During extractions, we often numb the inferior alveolar nerve. This nerve carries sensations from the teeth of the lower jaw, and numbing it also numbs the lower lip and chin. Children are especially likely to experimentally bite down on their numbed lips, although some people suffer biting injuries in their sleep. A bite will likely cause a large amount of swelling as well as an ulcer and white lesion. A red lesion, especially if accompanied by fever, could indicate infection.

Usually, swelling is not dangerous. A patient may be advised to take an over-the-counter painkiller, but draining and antibiotics will probably not be recommended unless there is reason to suspect infection. Complete healing may take a few weeks, but is unlikely to have other complications. When patients are released immediately after an extraction, they are advised to use cold packs for the first 24 hours to restrict swelling, and then switch to hot packs to make the swelling go down faster. Remembering to do this may also make a patient less inclined to bite their lip, or limit the damage if they do.

  Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania operate in Philadelphia, Folsom, and Clifton Heights. Visit Oral Surgery PA.

 

Avoiding Dry Sockets

We’re proud to say that dry sockets are rare at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania. This complication following a tooth extraction is extremely unpleasant, but it is also avoidable in most cases if the patient follows simple instructions. Although only about 2-5% of people who get extractions suffer from dry sockets, we wanted our patients to better understand them so that if they get an extraction, they won’t be hearing their post-operative instructions for the first time.

A simple extraction is one in which the tooth is rocked until it can be lifted out with forceps. Complex extractions involve gum incisions and may require the tooth to be sectioned. A dry socket can result from either, though it is more commonly from the latter. Usually, blood clots would close off the empty socket, protecting it from irritating debris and pathogens, but sometimes the blood may fail to clot or the scab may come loose. If this happens, the socket will dry out painfully and be at risk for infection.

Three of the biggest risk factors for dry sockets are smoking, birth control pills, and the use of straws. The estrogen in pills can prevent blood from clotting, while smoking can dissolve the clot and suction can pull it loose. We also advise patients to avoid brushing near the extraction site on the first day after the procedure and to avoid solid foods. The socket may be cleaned with a salt water rinse.

Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania operate in Philadelphia, Folsom, and Clifton Heights. Visit Oral Surgery PA or call 215-463-4141.

 

Swollen Lips after Tooth Extractions

Tooth extractions are routine at the offices of the Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania, but they are most successful when patients feel they understand what to expect. The most common issue for patients to encounter following extraction is swelling.  Although there is little to fear in the long-term from this, patients can take steps to make themselves more comfortable.

It is often necessary to numb an entire jaw when extracting a tooth from it. This creates an unusual sensation which leads some people, especially children, to experimentally bite down on their numbed lips. Swelling is likelier if the extraction was complex, and it is also likelier when the patient irritates their soft tissues by biting on them. Biting repeatedly on swollen tissue creates a risk of breaking the fragile skin and incurring an infection.

If tissue does swell up within 24 hours of an extraction, patients may relieve it by pressing cold packs against the affected area. But it is important to not leave the cold pack on for longer than 15 minutes at a time, and to wait 15 minutes before reapplying it.  After the swelling peaks, warm compresses are will be effective. This treatment will probably only be necessary if swelling is still significant after two days, which is more often the case with complex extractions.

The Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania operate in Philadelphia, Folsom, and Clifton Heights. Visit Oral Surgery PA or call 215-463-4141.

Osteonecrosis of the Jaw

As providers of biopsies, we at the Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania work with patients who are battling cancer. Facing a diagnosis of cancer does not mean that a person’s oral health should be neglected, but it can create complications in the form of osteonecrosis of the jaw. We want our patients to be able to understand why cooperation between oral surgeons and oncologists is so important.

Osteonecrosis of the jaw is when exposed jaw bone tissue dies. It can happen as a result of herpes or severe periodontal disease, but is usually a side effect of undergoing dental extractions while on bisphosphonate medication. These treatments are used to slow bone disintegration in people with osteoporosis or who are undergoing cancer treatments such as radiation and steroid use. Some symptoms of osteonecrosis include pain, swelling, and the failure of gums to heal after extractions.

While osteonecrosis may sound terrifying, it is often responsive to conservative treatments such as antibiotic rinses. It is also a very rare problem and not particularly associated with implant placement. But because there is no good way to predict whether someone will suffer osteonecrosis, it is important for patients to share with their oncologists whether they expect to need significant dental work and to have tooth extractions done early in their cancer treatment.

The Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania operate in Philadelphia, Folsom, and Clifton Heights. Visit Oral Surgery PA or call 215-463-4141.

 

Reducing Children's Anxiety

Children are commonly anxious around strangers, and at the Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania, we’re aware that particular care needs to be taken psychologically while preparing them for tooth extractions. There are things parents can do to help calm their child, but we first want to establish that we are happy to answer all their questions about what exactly will happen during the surgery and recovery.

Children usually take their cues from their parents, so we hope that if the parents feel they have a good understanding of the procedure, they will demonstrate calm and optimism. We don’t do extractions lightly and want to ensure that each child understands why they are necessary. Although we are skilled in safely applying IV sedation, it is often the case that only local anesthetic is necessary for simple extractions. Knowing that they will be free of pain, but not completely out of control is a great comfort.  Another thing parents can do to keep their child in a positive mindset is focus on planning for post-operation care. This includes things like preparing soft meals and coming up with things to do if the child misses a day of school.

Our doctors at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania at 2546 S. Broad Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19145 will be happy to treat your child.  To schedule an appointment, call 215-463-4141 or visit OralSurgeryPA.com and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Post-Operative Lip Swelling

As specialists in tooth extractions, we at the Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania regularly give patients local anesthetic. This has the advantage of having the fewest side effects, but there is one common complication, which is the swelling that occurs if the patient bites their lip shortly after the surgery.

Because of how the nerves of the mouth are structured, numbing the extraction site requires numbing most of the mouth. Regardless of what kind of anesthetic is used, the effect may last for several hours. Because of this, it is easy for patients, especially children, to bite down on their numbed soft tissue. When this happens, the tissue commonly swells up to several times its normal size and turns white.

While the swelling is unpleasant to look at and may be uncomfortable, it is usually something that goes away after a few weeks without causing any lasting harm. Over-the-counter painkillers are usually all that are necessary or appropriate. However, if the patient continues to chew on the ulcerated tissue, it could develop an infection, which would result in a fever. This is why it is important for the caregivers of children undergoing wisdom tooth or other extractions to do their best to make sure their child knows not to chew their numb lip.

Drs. Bahram, Richman and Dieu operate at the Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania at 2546 S. Broad Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19145. To schedule an appointment, call 215-463-4141 or visit OralSurgeryPA.com and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Avoiding Dry Sockets

Extractions are one of our specialties at the Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania. We are well-versed in providing our patients with the information they need to avoid post-operation complications, most notably, dry sockets. But dry sockets are more likely following extractions which required incisions, so patients should know how to recognize them and when to ask for help.

Following an extraction, the patient is expected to experience some bleeding. This is a good thing. The clot is necessary for sealing off the socket and preventing it from drying out. If it does dry, the patient will experience great pain and be at risk of infection. For that reason, we need to know about all the medications a patient is on so we can plan what to do if any of them prevent clotting. Patients will also need to schedule appointments if their bleeding does not stop within twenty-four hours.

Patients should also not sip through straws or vigorously brush near the socket for seventy-two hours, as this may dislodge the clot. Empty sockets naturally close quickly, and the risk of dryness is greatest within forty-eight hours of the extraction. Patients who experience severe pain during that time or can actually see that the clot is not in place should also schedule emergency appointments so we may apply medicated wound dressing in the clot’s place.

Dr. Ramin Bahram operates the Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania at 2546 S. Broad Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19145. To schedule an appointment, call 215-463-4141 or visit OralSurgeryPA.com and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Pain Management

One of the biggest concerns when our patients find out they need oral surgery is dealing with the pain. For proper management of pre and post-operative pain, we use anesthesia for the procedure and provide pain medications and a list of after-care instructions.

 

To help manage pain after the procedure, we provide the following recommendations to follow immediately after surgery:

• Rest after surgery and only resume daily activities when you feel comfortable to do so.
• Use ice packs on your face where the surgery was performed to reduce swelling and pain.
• Keep the gauze on the surgical site for 30 minutes at least, then remove and place a new one.
• Avoid touching the area or rinsing your mouth too much.
• Take your pain medication at the first sign of discomfort.
• Never use a straw after surgery, or the blood clot may become dislodged.

Here at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania, we want our patients to be as comfortable as possible during and after the surgery. Because the pain can start once anesthesia wears off, we recommend taking the first dose of pain medication just before the anesthesia has worn off completely. Call us today  at 215-463-4141 to discuss the management of pre and post-operative pain further