Bleeding after wisdom tooth removal - causes, diagnosis, complications, professional dental care

From the moment they appear, wisdom teeth often behave unpredictably, grow slowly and crookedly, and the growth process is accompanied by pronounced symptoms. Taking into account such features, it is considered quite natural that the wound bleeds after extraction of the “eight”. In this case, intermittent hemorrhages, which last up to 2-3 days and no more, are considered the norm. They are caused by damage to the periosteum and soft tissues during tooth extraction. When blood is released longer and negative symptoms are observed, then you definitely need to see a dentist to find out the cause of the incessant bleeding.

Causes of bleeding

As a rule, hemorrhage (hemorrhage) occurs as a response to damage during soft tissue surgery or as a result of exposure to certain medications. Such problems usually go away within a few hours after the procedure.

If an ordinary tooth can be pulled out without much difficulty and a cotton swab applied to the wound, then removing third molars is much more difficult. During the manipulation process, it is often necessary to saw the crown of the tooth and pull it out in parts. With deep and curved roots, it is almost impossible to extract them without damaging bone and soft tissue.

In addition, there are also other reasons why the bleeding does not stop after a wisdom tooth has been removed:

high blood pressure;
mechanical injuries of a large vessel;
the patient is taking blood thinning medications, for example, Heparin, Aspirin and others;
low blood clotting;
the use of anesthetics, after which the blood vessels dilate. This increases bleeding and slows down the process of clot formation;
the presence of concomitant diseases can cause heavy bleeding. These include hepatitis, scarlet fever, leukemia, hemophilia and others;
Overheating of the body or high physical activity immediately after removal increases the risk of hemorrhage.

If immediately in the postoperative period the patient abuses alcoholic beverages or smoking, bleeding can occur as complications.

If wisdom tooth extraction cannot be avoided, then the patient needs to understand that bleeding after such a procedure is a natural and normal process. But even with relative safety, the release of blood requires careful monitoring by both the doctor and the patient himself.

Common reasons

The most common of them is a sharp rise in blood pressure as a result of a hypertensive crisis, excessive physical activity, and thermal procedures (bath, sauna, hot bath).

In second place are diseases that affect blood clotting: hemophilia, leukemia, hemorrhagic diseases.

Profuse bleeding occurs with unrecognized vascular tumors (hemangiomas). Therefore, it is important to conduct an X-ray examination, which shows such changes.

Taking anticoagulants can also provoke socket bleeding after removal.

Duration of bleeding, normal limits

One of the frequently asked questions by patients who are about to have a wisdom tooth removed is how long does the formed socket bleed and what to do if the bleeding does not stop.

As a rule, after 10-15 minutes after surgery, a blood clot forms in the socket; in some patients, approximately 30-40 minutes may pass before the clot appears. Under no circumstances should this clot be removed, because it protects the wound from infection.

Deviations from the norm are situations where bleeding continues after returning home. But some patients worry in vain, mistaking ichor for blood. If the bleeding in most cases stops within 30-60 minutes, then the discharge of ichor from the wound can be observed for up to 12 hours or longer.

Ichor is a yellowish or colorless liquid with a small blood capacity. Each person may have a different intensity of discharge depending on the characteristics of the body, but in any case this is not a cause for concern.

If blood is released from the wound uncontrollably for a long time, you should inform the doctor about this without waiting for complications.

How long will it take for gums to heal?

Healing times vary. They depend on two main factors:

Difficulty of intervention. If the wisdom tooth has already erupted, then recovery occurs relatively quickly. If you had to make an incision in the gum and “cut down” part of the bone, it will take more time.
Compliance with the doctor's recommendations, especially in the first 24 hours after the procedure.

In most cases, the function is restored within a week, and the person no longer experiences any discomfort. But some processes may continue to occur in the jaw for a long time. The bone is rebuilt, the shape of the face changes slightly.

The sutures usually dissolve on their own within 7–10 days. If non-absorbable suture material was used, the surgeon will invite you to remove the sutures after about a week.

Why doesn't the bleeding stop?

Depending on the physiological characteristics of the body, in some patients a clot forms immediately after surgery, in others the bleeding does not stop for a long time. The reasons for this condition may be different.

High blood pressure

A patient with hypertensive pathology often experiences bleeding from the socket, so if he has such a disease, he should inform the doctor about it before the operation. This will allow you to find an individual approach to a problem patient and prevent possible complications.

Poor blood clotting

If the patient has previously been diagnosed with coagulation disorders, then he is obliged to inform the doctor about the existing problems in order to prevent negative consequences.

Inflammation of the socket

After surgery, the doctor must treat the hole with an antiseptic. But even treatment is not always a guarantee that the bleeding will stop after wisdom teeth are removed. If the socket is a source of infection, the gums usually bleed. In such cases, you should not resort to self-medication, as this can lead to dire consequences. Only a professional specialist can correctly diagnose and prescribe effective treatment.

Purulent accumulations

Before performing any manipulation, the dentist must diagnose the patient’s jaw and make sure there are no pathologies. If there are already purulent accumulations inside the gums, this can provoke heavy bleeding, which is quite difficult to stop.

Damage to the integrity of blood vessels

Due to the irregular growth and location of wisdom teeth in hard-to-reach areas of the oral cavity, the removal of such units is considered a relatively complex dental procedure. Vessels are almost always damaged by surgical instruments. Usually, after several hours, the bleeding stops, but the patient may simply not feel pain due to prolonged exposure to the anesthetic. If large vessels are damaged during surgery, bleeding may occur later and in such cases you should not hesitate to visit the dentist.

Failure to comply with medical recommendations

A rather complex procedure is the removal of a wisdom tooth; bleeding can occur in every patient, even if the operation is performed correctly. The reason for this is improper wound care, which leads to a deterioration in the condition of the hole and the development of an inflammatory process.

Types of pathology

Today, it is customary to distinguish several types of pathological bleeding: early and late, otherwise they are called primary and secondary. In the first case, we are talking about the fact that the blood does not stop for a long time immediately after the extraction of the diseased unit from the series. If the bleeding stopped quickly in the clinic, but started again at home, then secondary bleeding is occurring, and its causes should be investigated.

It is important to understand that during tooth extraction the surgeon applies quite a lot of force, which can damage blood vessels and unaffected soft tissues. This is why the appearance of blood is absolutely normal.

Only the dynamics of the development of the situation in the future and the patient’s well-being can indicate the beginning of the pathological process. To avoid complications, you should adhere to certain recommendations of a specialist, maintain oral hygiene and not injure the just operated area.

How to stop bleeding

Many patients simply do not understand the complexity of wisdom tooth extraction and when bleeding occurs after the procedure, they do not know how to stop the bleeding. If blood leaks from the gums within a few hours, you can consult a dentist or try to stop it yourself at home.

First aid with gauze swabs

Immediately after pulling out a tooth, the dentist washes the hole, treats it with an antiseptic solution and applies a gauze swab. After 15 minutes you need to spit it out. If this is not done, then after half an hour bacteria will multiply in the blood accumulated on the tampon, and this increases the risk of the inflammatory process.

If bleeding continues after spitting out the tampon, you should make a new tampon from a sterile bandage or gauze, apply it to the gums, firmly clamp your teeth and hold for about 20 minutes. If blood continues to accumulate in the oral cavity, then the procedure with a tampon can be repeated, only now it needs to be slightly moistened in a solution of Miramistin or hydrogen peroxide.

Home Remedies

the blood does not stop after the wisdom tooth is removed by the dentist , then you can use a cold compress. You need to apply a bottle of cold water or a piece of ice wrapped in a cloth to your cheek for a few minutes. Cold relieves pain well, reduces swelling and promotes the rapid formation of a blood clot.

Tea leaves have good tanning properties. To stop bleeding, you can apply a pre-wetted and cooled black tea bag to the place where the tooth was pulled out for 10 minutes. Just don’t apply a hot bag, as the clot that has already formed may melt.

Medications

When the gums bleed after tooth extraction, it is worth purchasing hemostatic drugs at the pharmacy, for example, Dicynon or Etamzilat. The tablets begin to act within 20 minutes after taking them, but the full effect is observed after several hours.

If you experience severe pain, you can take a painkiller. If, after visiting a doctor, an inflammatory process is diagnosed, then a course of antibiotics cannot be avoided; only a specialist must prescribe a specific drug.

In order not to irritate the gums even more, special hemostatic sponges can be applied to the wound. They perfectly normalize coagulation, have an antimicrobial effect and stop bleeding.

What to do

If a problem arises, a person can help himself at home. It is important not to spit out the tampon applied to the tooth extraction site for 20 minutes. This time is enough for the formation of a thrombus - a blood clot that prevents further loss.

If the problem remains unresolved, then a hemostatic sponge can be applied to the place of the removed wisdom tooth. If there is no improvement, you should see a doctor who will stitch the wound.

Blood can be established at home using the following steps:

applying a clean cotton or bandage swab to the affected area;
stabilization of morale and adoption of a sitting or lying position;
taking a special medication if a person suffers from high blood pressure;
application of dry cold to the cheek from the side of the pulled out tooth.

Is it painful to have wisdom teeth removed?

A person has 32 teeth, four of them are called wisdom teeth.

If there is a blood clot, an ice compress will help to have several effects on the affected area of the gum:

reduce bleeding at the site of the extracted wisdom tooth;
allow the clot to cover the entire surface of the wound;
protect the cavity from the introduction of pathogenic flora;
reduce swelling of the cheek and soft tissues;
dull pain after anesthesia.

If after 30-40 minutes it was not possible to stop the bleeding, then a new tampon soaked in a solution of hydrogen peroxide (3%) is applied to the hole.

If weakness, dizziness and other signs occur, you must urgently call an ambulance. Before doctors arrive, the patient is recommended to spit the resulting blood into a container so that specialists can assess the intensity of the problem.

At the clinic, the doctor will take professional steps to stop the bleeding. The method of treatment will depend on the cause of the pathological condition. For patients with hypertension, tampons moistened with hemostatic drugs - Kollapan, Iodoform, Dimexide - are applied to the damaged area.

Actions after surgery

To prevent hemorrhage and other negative consequences after the removal of a wisdom tooth, the following manipulations are performed directly in the dentist’s office:

the alveolar socket is cleaned;
the doctor examines the wound for any remaining tooth fragments;
damaged tissues are treated with antiseptic agents;
a tampon is applied.

If bleeding continues after 15-20 minutes, the doctor can inject hemostatic solutions, if large vessels are damaged, bandage them, apply hemostatic agents (fibrin film, sponge, aminocaproic acid, etc.), apply sutures or perform electrocoagulation (cauterization of blood vessels) .

How to eliminate cheek swelling

It is impossible to completely remove the tumor until the inflammatory process stops, but you can reduce it and minimize discomfort and pain. This can be done with ice and cold compresses. You need to apply a compress every half hour, but no longer than 10-15 minutes, otherwise it can cause hypothermia and tissue necrosis.

In addition, you can drink painkillers, analgesics, take baths and rinses with an antiseptic solution. Take antibiotics if prescribed by your doctor. This will eliminate the infection and speed up tissue healing.

In general, swelling of the cheek is a normal phenomenon if it occurs a couple of hours after tooth extraction and goes away no later than the seventh day after it. In all other cases, immediate specialist consultation, diagnosis and treatment are required.

Complications after wisdom tooth removal

Manipulations for the extraction of wisdom teeth should not be underestimated, since even if such procedures are carried out correctly, the patient may experience complications.

Edema

One of the most common consequences that occurs after tooth extraction is swelling. The reason for this may be partial damage to the tissues around the tooth. Usually the swelling goes away within 1-2 days. To speed up the elimination of swelling, this can be done by applying cold compresses to the cheek.

Fever

After a tooth is removed, the body’s natural reaction is to increase body temperature. This condition can last for 2-3 days. To improve your health, you need to take antipyretic drugs, but if the condition does not improve, you should immediately visit a doctor.

Soreness

Pain after extraction of the “eight” occurs due to damage to the periodontal tissues and nerves. If the pain cannot be tolerated, then for relief you need to take analgesics. When painkillers do not help, you should go to the dentist.

Suppuration of the socket

If the wound becomes infected, suppuration may occur. The reasons for the formation of pus may be non-compliance with medical recommendations and improper care of the oral cavity, as well as dental fragments remaining in the tissues after surgery. Self-medication in such cases is inappropriate; only a qualified doctor can prescribe adequate treatment and eliminate the cause of suppuration.

Dry socket

The blood clot must remain in the wound. It protects nerve endings and bone from microbial penetration. Therefore, on the first day after the manipulation, you should not rinse your mouth, and also do not eat hot food.

If a dry socket forms, this leads to increased pain, inflammation and alveolitis. In such cases, the doctor places a tampon with anti-inflammatory gel on the sore spot. Treatment continues until complete healing.

What could be the consequences?

If the bleeding does not stop flowing for too long, it is necessary to seek help as soon as possible from the medical staff of the clinic where the operation took place. Don’t be needlessly nervous and stress yourself out; perhaps this phenomenon has a completely logical explanation.

Prolonged bleeding can lead to the following unpleasant consequences: severe weakness and exhaustion of the body, poor health, drowsiness, drop in blood pressure and headaches. Also, such patients have pale skin and may lose consciousness. However, we are only talking about a large loss of blood.

Also among the complications is the so-called “dry” socket. In the absence of a clot covering the entrance to the tooth bed, it becomes very vulnerable. Food particles, dangerous microbes and bacteria can get into it, which over time will lead to the beginning of the rotting process.

Against the background of incessant bleeding, a serious inflammatory process can develop: alveolitis, phlegmon, osteomyelitis, etc. If the patient notices a strong increase in body temperature, increased pain, and the appearance of purulent discharge, this with a 99% probability indicates an infection in the wound.

How to choose toothpaste?

Precautionary measures

A wisdom tooth has been removed and the wound is bleeding – what to do in such situations? Hemorrhagic syndrome can be prevented with the help of hemostatic drugs, provided there are no contraindications.

In the first days after the manipulation, you need to brush your teeth with extreme caution and do not eat hot or hard foods. You should not stick your tongue into the hole, as such actions can damage the clot.

You should also avoid physical activity, visit the sauna, and take hot baths.

Before the procedure, you need to accurately and truthfully answer all questions asked by the doctor, especially about taking anticoagulants, aspirin and the presence of pathogenic diseases. Women do not need to hide the presence of menstruation and the use of contraceptives.

If you have high blood pressure or problems with blood clotting, you must notify your dentist.

Prevent bleeding

Tooth extraction is considered a complex procedure, despite the minor amount of damage. Therefore, the patient should follow some of the doctor's instructions to prevent uncontrolled bleeding and minimize the risk of soft tissue inflammation:

Do not touch or remove the formed blood clot from the wound. In the first 24 hours after surgery, it is not recommended to rinse the mouth.
Do not touch the injury site with your hands or tongue. This can help break up the blood clot, even if the instruments are sterile.
During the day after the procedure, you should avoid drinking drinks through a straw, as the vacuum provokes the removal of the blood clot from the socket. If the rule is ignored, the patient experiences increased pain after surgery and the gums swell even more.
Do not engage in active sports and avoid excessive physical activity for 2 days after removing the wisdom tooth from the socket. Simple housework is acceptable - washing floors, dusting.
For 24 hours after surgery, avoid going to the sauna or bathhouse, and do not take a hot bath or shower.
Do not apply warm compresses to the sore area in order to minimize pain or swelling of the cheek. This provokes the spread of the inflammatory process into the deep tissues of the gums.
For 2 days after the intervention, do not eat too cold or hot food. Otherwise, the pain symptoms intensify.
You should stop taking spicy foods and carbonated drinks for a while. Dishes with a sour or strong taste provoke a recurrence of the problem.
Do not chew food on the affected side for 3-7 days.
If food debris gets into the wound, wash it off with water. Do not use toothpicks or fingers.
In the first three days after surgery, stop drinking alcohol and smoking. Nicotine and alcohol dry out the mucous membranes of the mouth, thereby increasing pain and increasing the risk of infection of damaged tissues.

24 hours after the intervention, the damaged area of the gum is regularly treated with antiseptic compounds or salt water. After wisdom tooth removal, it is not recommended to carry out hygiene procedures for 8 hours. After this, the teeth are brushed 2 times a day, but all movements are performed with extreme caution so as not to damage the blood clot.

A cold compress is applied to the cheek only in extreme cases, for example, when it is not possible to stop the bleeding for a long time. On the one hand, this procedure helps relieve swelling and reduce pain, but on the other hand, it negatively affects the state of local immunity.

All measures to stop bleeding after wisdom tooth removal are performed within a limited period of time from 7 to 14 days from the date of surgery.

After regeneration of damaged tissues, a person can lead a normal life, since further healing of the hole will occur independently without taking preventive measures. Following the specialist’s recommendations helps to minimize the clinical picture of the problem and accelerate wound healing.

In what cases should you seek medical help?

You should seek dental help after removing a figure eight in the following cases:

with constant bleeding, the abundance of which does not decrease;
with dizziness, severe headache and weakness;
with sharp and severe pain in the gum area;
with bloody discharge mixed with pus;
when the elevated temperature persists for several days.

Swelling and swelling after the procedure are not a cause for concern. But when such swelling does not go away, then for your own safety it is better to visit the clinic as soon as possible.

Professional assistance at the Berezka clinic

A dentist in a clinical setting stops bleeding in several ways, depending on the severity of the condition and the individual characteristics of the patient. It should be noted that each of the methods will be effective only if you seek medical help in a timely manner.

Stitching

The damaged vessel is ligated over the hole or soft tissue is sutured. The boas of the method stop bleeding with equal effectiveness.

Electrocoagulation

The manipulation is performed under local anesthesia. They resort to this procedure if several capillaries are damaged. The tissues are dissected using a special tool, after which they are soldered, facilitating rapid healing of the wound.

Application of fibrin film

A fibrin film is applied to the place where the tooth was removed. In addition to the hemostatic effect, the film also has an anti-inflammatory, disinfecting and healing effect.

Tamponation

In this case, the dentist uses iodoform turunda. It is inserted into the hole in the same way as a gauze swab, but to a greater depth.

Hemostatic tube

The method is relevant for patients suffering from high blood pressure. The tube is carefully inserted into the hole and held until the AT is brought back to normal.

You can also use gelatin and collagen sponges to stop bleeding.

The dentist makes a decision on the need for additional treatment procedures based on the results of examining the condition of the wound after extraction.

Local reasons

Vascular rupture during traumatic surgery;
breaking off the root septum or alveoli (socket);
inflammation in the area of the tooth that was removed;
the effect of adrenaline (after the narrowing of blood vessels, the second phase begins - their expansion);
melting of blood clots clogging blood vessels under the influence of purulent secretions;
local hyperemia (overflow of blood vessels). Occurs from hot food, drinks, rinses or compresses.

Under no circumstances should you apply heat to the wound after extraction!

Thus, the occurrence of bleeding can be provoked not only by a doctor’s error, but also by the patient’s actions.

Benefits of wisdom teeth removal at Beryozka

If you need to extract a wisdom tooth in Balashikha, we invite you to carry out such a procedure at the Beryozka clinic. Advantages of our dentists' services:

absolute painlessness and speed of manipulation are ensured by the professionalism and experience of dental surgeons;
During surgical interventions, the clinic’s specialists use modern anesthetics;
minimal trauma is achieved through the use of advanced technologies during operations, which prevents bleeding and promotes rapid healing of the wound surface.

Our clinic offers an objectively affordable cost for figure eight removal and each patient receives effective dental care.