Acute alveolar osteitis

Revision as of 23:38, 1 March 2011 by Robot (talk | contribs)

Background

  • Osteomyelitis of the alveolar bone due to premature loss of the healing clot after tooth extraction


Diagnosis

  • 2-4 days after tooth extraction
  • Initial post-extraction pain subsides followed by sudden/severe pain at extraction site
  • Physical exam often unremarkable


Treatment

  • Analgesia
  • Often requires dental block
  • Irrigate and suction
  • Pack with gauze soaked with eugenol or local anesthetic
  • Refer to dentist or have pt return to ED in 24-36 hrs to have the gauze replaced


See Also

Dental Problems

Dental Numbers


Source

EBmedicine: Acute Dental Emergencies in Emergency Medicine

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