New Hope for Faster Jaw Healing After Tooth Extractions: Ozone Therapy Shows Promise

Getting a tooth pulled is never fun, and for some people, it carries the risk of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ). This is when the jawbone doesn’t heal properly after an extraction. MRONJ is primarily associated with the use of bone-modifying agents with antiresorptive and/or antiangiogenic activities, which are administered to cancer and osteometabolic patients  Researchers are looking for ways to improve healing and reduce MRONJ risk. A new study published in Oral Diseases titled “Reduction of MRONJ risk after exodontia by virtue of ozone infiltration: A randomized clinical trial” written by Olga Di Fede and published on May 29, 2024, explores a promising approach: using a gaseous oxygen-ozone mixture after a tooth extraction. Study shows ozone therapy speeds up healing The study involved 117 patients (27 male and 90 female) at risk of MRONJ. Half received standard care … Read more

Hydrocortisone Shows Promise in Reducing Pain and Swelling After Wisdom Tooth Removal

An interesting article titled “Efficacy of Hydrocortisone, Povidone-Iodine, and Normal Saline as an Irrigating Solution During Surgical Removal of Impacted Mandibular Third Molars: A Randomized Controlled Trial” written by Faheem Ahmed and et. al. appears in Cureus published February 01, 2024. The study sought to compare the effects of three irrigating solutions, hydrocortisone, povidone-iodine, and normal saline, on pain, trismus, and edema following removal of impacted lower wisdom teeth. Wisdom tooth removal, also known as the surgical removal of impacted third molars, is a common dental procedure, often accompanied by pain, swelling (edema), and difficulty opening the mouth (trismus). Researchers have been looking for ways to alleviate these post-surgical concers. The study metnioned in this article compared the effectiveness of three irrigation solutions used during surgery. The study involved 105 patients between the ages of 18 and 40 who needed … Read more

Using Rifamycin for Reducing Complications After Wisdom Teeth Surgery

An interesting article titled “Evaluation of the efficacy of topical rifamycin application on postoperative complications after lower impacted wisdom teeth surgery” appears in the Journal of Stomatology, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery written by Levent Cigerim and et. al. (online 11 May 2023, 101501). The article explores the efficacy of a single-dose of topical rifamycin application to reduce complications after wisdom teeth surgery. Rifamycin has been shown to be effective in the inflammatory phase of wound healing by inhibiting prostaglandins, TNF-α and IL-8. In the study the authors included 35 patients with bilaterally impacted lower wisdom teeth that were removed for orthodontic reasons. The patients were split into two groups where the extraction sockets were irrigated with 3 ml/250 mg of rifamycin or with saline. The patients had their pain intensity measured daily for 7 days using a visual analog scale. Mouth … Read more

Exploration of Postoperative Abscess Formation after Wisdom Tooth Removal

An interesting article titled “A Retrospective Analysis of Postoperative Abscess Formation Following Wisdom Tooth Removal and Their Clinical Condition and Localization,” written by Jakob Fehlhofer and et. al. appears in the Journal of Contemporay Dental Practice (vol. 23, n. 11, pp. 1079-1084, 2022). The article conducts a study on deep tissue abscesses after wisdom teeth removal to determine potential associated factors. Specifically the authors conduct a study with 88 patients who had wisdom teeth removed that resulted in a postoperative abscess formation who were treated at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the FAU in Germany from October 2012 to February 2017. There were 44 male and 38 female patients, who were split into two groups Group A (removal of asymptomatic wisdom teeth) that had 14 male and 19 female patients and Group B (removal of symptomatic wisdom … Read more

How soon can you go swimming after wisdom teeth surgery

After having teeth extracted it may be tempting to want to head right back to the pool, especially if one is a competive swimmer. However, if you had teeth extracted, it is possible your dentist or oral surgeon cut part of the gum or even given you stitches to close the hole where your tooth was. Having a tooth extracted can potentially result in an infection. Going in a pool or a lake may cause bacteria to enter the wound. Particulary if one surbmerges their face in the water. Therefore, it’s best it is best to wait until the wound is healed to go back in the water. If you had wisdom teeth surgery, you should wait at least 2 weeks before swimming. For single-tooth non wisdom tooth extractions, 24 to 48 hours may be enough time for the wound … Read more