Wound Healing

Question 1

How does a tooth socket heal?

Answer 1

Via Secondary Intention

Immediate post op:

• Socket fills with blood
• Blood coagulates–>clot protects socket

1 week:
-Inflammatory stage
Clean up and nutrients
-WBC’s enter socket (remove microbes, necrotic soft tissue, bone)
-Beginning of fibroblastic stage: Ingrowth of fibroblasts and capillaries to form granulation tissue
Preparation for repair
-Epithelium from socket rim migrate down walls and between clot and granulation tissue
-Osteoclasts congregate along crestal bone and begin resorption

2 weeks:

• Granulation tissue proliferates and overfills socket (can appear cancerous, if pt says something growing wait a week and it should shrink)
• Osteoid deposition by osteoblasts along alveolar bone lining socket
• Primary closure of smaller sockets

3-4 weeks

• Primary closure of most sockets
• Continuation of resorption of corticol bone from crest & walls of socket
• Formation of new trabecular bone across socket

4-6 months

• Complete resorption of lamina dura
• New bone continues to fill socket up to level of epithelium

12 months

• Rim of scar tissue atop ridge
• Radiographic evidence of complete socket filling

Question 2

What are the post op instructions for extractions?

Answer 2

mking sure it stops bleeding, no rinsing, rinse with salt water, no smoking and alcohol and pain relief with panadol