This Publication Is Searchable The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy Section 9. Dental And Oral Disorders Chapter 107. Jaw And Contiguous Structures Dislocated Mandible Postextraction Problems Swelling is normal after surgical procedures and is somewhat proportional to the degree of manipulation and trauma. Typically, the pain begins on the 2nd or 3rd postoperative day, is referred to the ear, and lasts from a few days to many weeks. Healing is delayed because of lysis of the clot and inadequate granulation tissue formation.
Infection is uncommon.
Rarely, osteomyelitis is confused with alveolitis, but osteomyelitis can be differentiated by fever, local tenderness and swelling, and often a purulent discharge and later by x-ray changes. If osteomyelitis is suspected, an antibiotic, such as a cephalosporin, should be started, and the patient referred for definitive care. Postextraction bleeding is usually oozing from small vessels. The procedure may have to be repeated two or three times. They also should be warned that a few drops of blood diluted in a mouth full of saliva appear to be more blood than is actually present.