Tooth Extraction Risks

There are several risks and complications of a tooth extraction that may affect some patients who need to have a tooth removed.

Post-surgical risks

Tooth extraction is associated with several general post-surgical effects such as pain, inflammation, bruising, bleeding, and infection.

Some pain, swelling, and bruising in the area can be expected for most patients, which will subside with time. Anti-inflammatory and analgesic medications can help to manage these symptoms in the meantime. Continued bleeding and infection of the area are less common and may require further management if they occur, such as treatment with antibiotics for an infection.

Boy during dental extraction. Image Credit: ARZTSAMUI / ShutterstockBoy during dental extraction. Image Credit: ARZTSAMUI / Shutterstock

Depending on the type of tooth extraction, either a local or general anesthetic is usually used to help reduce the pain associated with the procedure. The anesthetic that is used can also be associated with other risks, such as damage to the mouth, nausea, and dizziness. There is also a small risk of death with general anesthesia, which is estimated within the range of 1 in 100,000 to 200,000 cases.

Improper teeth alignment

Following the extraction of a tooth, the remaining teeth may move, leading to misalignment of the teeth and changes to the bite. This can then go on to cause damage to the other healthy teeth in the mouth, which may require further dental work.

This can usually be prevented by implementing techniques to compensate for the missing tooth. For example, the other teeth can be moved orthodontically, or the removed tooth may be replaced with a dental implant, bridge, or denture.

Bite collapse

For some patients, particularly those who have had several back teeth removed, the collapse of the bite may occur. This is also known as a loss of vertical dimension of occlusion and involves rotation of the lower jaw closer to the upper jaw. As a result, changes in the muscle contractions needed to chew can present and eventually lead to symptoms such as dry, chapped, or cracked lips.

Delayed healing

Some medications, such as bisphosphonates that are typically used in the treatment of osteoporosis or some cancers, can affect the healing process of the jaw following a tooth extraction so that the recovery takes longer than usual.

In this case, it is usually recommended to cease the medication temporarily for some time before the planned extraction procedure. This can help to reduce the risk of complications linked to impaired healing.

Osteoradionecrosis

Individuals who have a history of radiation treatment directed towards the head and neck area have an increased risk of developing a condition known as osteoradionecrosis after having a tooth extracted. This condition is characterized by the death of the bone underneath the extracted tooth due to damage to the blood vessels that serve the bone as a result of exposure to radiation.

Dry socket (Osteitis)

When a tooth is extracted, a blood clot naturally forms over the area where the tooth previously sat. In some cases, this blood clot may be dislodged prematurely, which can lead to a condition known as osteitis or dry socket.

Nerve injury

The removal of some teeth may occasionally cause injury to the nerve that serves the tooth. As a result, the area may feel numb or tingly on a permanent basis. This is a rare complication but can affect some patients.

Maxillary sinus exposure

The extraction of the upper molars is associated with a risk of a hole that opens into the maxillary sinus, which will need to be repaired. If these teeth are being removed, a dental X-ray can be utilized to estimate the risk of sinus exposure and direct the treatment decisions.

References

Further Reading

Last Updated: Apr 12, 2021

Yolanda Smith

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Yolanda Smith

Yolanda graduated with a Bachelor of Pharmacy at the University of South Australia and has experience working in both Australia and Italy. She is passionate about how medicine, diet and lifestyle affect our health and enjoys helping people understand this. In her spare time she loves to explore the world and learn about new cultures and languages.

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Comments

  1. Dawn Rawson Dawn Rawson United Kingdom says:

    Four weeks ago I had a tooth extracted, The socket healed fine,then 3 weeks later I could feel an infection developing.I took some antibiotics,then a few days later a small fragment of tooth dislodged it's self. I went to the dentists and showed him the fragment and he said it was a fissure(I think this was what he caled it, I cannot be 100% sure). His advice was to rinse with salt water and keep pressing the area around the tooth to remove the infection. He then proceeded to fit my denture implant and informed me of how to look after my denture. I am confused by the whole process and wondered if it could be explained to me?

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