Introduction
When the visit to the dentist is just around the corner, many people have an unpleasant feeling in the back of their mind. If a tooth has to be extracted as well, excitement and fear are often pre-programmed. Once a tooth has survived the procedure, the risk of a subsequent painful wound healing disorder is rather low. Appropriate prevention and cooperation can also significantly reduce the risk of a wound healing disorder in the area of the mouth.
Healthy wound healing
After an operation on our dentition, such as a tooth removal, the surgical wound initially fills with blood quickly. Red and white blood cells, as well as components of the blood coagulation chain, form a “blood clot” and thus close the wound. Destroyed tissue is removed and gradually replaced by specialized cells of our body, so that the original wound is no longer visible after some time.
Impaired wound healing
In case of a wound healing disorder, a stable “blood clot” cannot form for various reasons. Remains of the surgical wound, such as destroyed gums, cannot be decomposed and form an ideal breeding ground for bacteria. If, for example, a tooth is extracted, even parts of our jawbone can be exposed and colonized by bacteria. This infection causes a painful inflammation and makes wound healing much more difficult.
Cause of a wound healing disorder on the tooth
Basically, wounds in the area of the tooth or mouth heal well, so that wound healing disorders are rarely observed. Nevertheless, various reasons seem to play a role: The larger the wound, the higher the risk of wound healing disorders. Smoking reduces the ability to regenerate and promotes inflammation, so that tissue heals less well.
Poor oral hygiene increases infections. Pre-existing dental inflammation promotes bacterial growth. Removal of teeth in the lower jaw.
Taking hormonal contraceptives (“the pill”) prevents the formation of stable blood clots in some cases.
- The larger the wound, the higher the risk of wound healing disorders.
- Smoking reduces the ability to regenerate and promotes inflammation, so that tissue heals less well.
- Poor oral hygiene increases infections.
- Existing inflammation of teeth promotes bacterial growth.
- Removal of teeth in the lower jaw.
- Taking hormonal contraceptives (“the pill”) sometimes prevents the formation of stable blood clots.
The most common wound healing disorders can be observed after operations on the tooth, such as tooth extraction. This is because when a tooth is extracted during a minor operation, a significant wound is created in our gums or jaw.
Especially with larger teeth, such as wisdom teeth, the wound area is sometimes very considerable. The larger and especially the deeper the wound, the greater the risk of impaired healing. Furthermore, the duration of the operation seems to play a role.
Because the longer the operation takes, the longer bacteria can get into the wound. After an implantation, wound healing can certainly be disturbed. This occurs when the sutured wound becomes infected with bacteria and thus becomes very inflamed.
This condition can spread out around the implant and extend deep into the bone. The inflammation of the tissue around the implant is called “peri-implantitis”. In the worst case, peri-implantitis can cause the implant to not grow firmly and the dental implant must be removed.
Other reasons for a wound healing disorder can be medication that is taken, which causes an implant wound to grow together poorly and as a result the implant does not grow in properly or is rejected by the body. These include Parkinson’s drugs and bisphosphonates, which are prescribed for osteoporosis. The systemic disease diabetes mellitus and kidney diseases can also lead to implant wounds healing more slowly. Smoking can also trigger wound healing disorders. The more cigarettes are consumed over a long period of time, the higher the risk of suffering a wound healing disorder.
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