The main effect of tooth fragments left in place is dental infections. Bacteria can cause abscesses and swellings in and around the fragments, leading to systemic problems such as Ludwig's angina.
Yes, bone fragments do come out on their own after six to eight weeks or more. But the natural process is extremely slow and can cause pain and discomfort till they are stuck in the gums. If they cause too much discomfort, it's prudent to see a dentist.
After a tooth extraction or other dental procedure, this bone fragment may feel like a sharp bone sticking out of your gums or an uncomfortable object creating pressure. The piece of bone protruding out is part of your body's natural process of removing stray bone from the affected site.
Infection: A root tip that is left behind after root canal may not be clear from the infection that prompted the root canal in the first place. A retained root tip may continue to generate infection that can lead to more serious oral health issues.
Usually, when a tooth is removed by a dentist, the roots are taken out with it. However, if the tooth is lost through accident or decay, the root or roots may be retained within the jawbone and gums, causing problems such as mouth infections and pain. If this is the case, the roots need to be surgically removed.
Infections often occur within 1-2 days after the extraction, but in some cases, it sets in much later. You may not experience signs of infection until 3-4 weeks after the procedure. Following your tooth extraction, stay on the lookout for the following signs that can indicate you have an infection.
What happens if a tooth root is left in the gum? If a root remains in the gum, it may become infected. Over time, this may develop into an abscess. This is a potentially life-threatening complication with the potential to damage your jawbone, making it difficult to get a tooth implant later.
Retained dental roots arise most commonly due to prior dental extraction procedures, during which they are intentionally or unintentionally left behind. They can also arise from facial trauma that results in dental fractures.
Roots of teeth buried deeper in the bone will have to surgically removed. This involves pealing back the gum and removing some bone to allow access to the root. Some pain and swelling should be expected and you will require painkillers for several days. You may also need anantibiotics and these will be prescribed.
Osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) is a condition in which one or more parts of the jawbones become dead (necrotic) and exposed in the mouth. These fragments of bone poke through the gums and may easily be mistaken for broken teeth. Both the upper (maxilla) and lower (mandible) jaw can be affected.
Bone fragments are little slivers of bone that can get left behind in the socket after a surgical tooth extraction. Ideally, the bone fragment works its way out as the area heals. But sometimes the bone gets caught in the gum tissue and the oral surgeon will need to remove it for you.
You may be able to remove very small tooth and bone splinters that have worked their way to the surface of your gums (are poking through) on your own. These bits can usually be flicked out using your fingernail, pulled out with tweezers, or pushed out by your tongue.
Will They Go Away on Their Own? Bone spicules are completely normal, and your child shouldn't be alarmed if he or she notices them. In many cases, they will work out of the gum tissue on their own, or the body will break them down. This natural process may a couple weeks or about a month for the spicules to resolve.
Tooth extraction complications and problems
Your teeth not aligning properly after the extraction. An infected or 'Dry' socket, where the blood clot that forms over the extraction site is dislodged. Bite collapse, where the extraction causes bite problems due to the structural changes in the remaining teeth.
Often root tips, bone chips and fragments will work their way out on their own, but may also need some help from the dentist to remove them completely. An infected root tip stuck in the jaw bone will require surgical removal.
A bone infection after tooth extraction is a dangerous ailment. If not treated, a patient can go into sepsis. Sepsis is an infection caused by anything (virus, bacterial, fungal) that enters the bloodstream and can impair flow to the vital organs in your system.
Dental sepsis occurs when the pulp chamber of the tooth is exposed to the oral cavity or external environment, allowing bacterial localization with resulting infection.
Dry socket is the most common complication following tooth extractions, such as the removal of third molars (wisdom teeth). Over-the-counter medications alone won't be enough to treat dry socket pain. Your dentist or oral surgeon can offer treatments to relieve your pain.
Once a tooth is damaged or decaying, it's only a matter of time before it dies. Depending on how heavy the damage, the tooth could die within a matter of days or even a couple of months.
The tooth root sits below the gumline and helps anchor the tooth in the jawbone. An exposed root can indicate damage to the gums or teeth. When a tooth root is no longer concealed by the gums, this can trigger sensitivity and pain. Without treatment, it may lead to infection and other complications.
Infections typically occur after fractures because bacteria enter the body during the traumatic event. Although uncommon, bacteria can also enter the body during surgery to set the broken bones or later, after the injury has healed.
A small part of a tooth may break and be left in the gum during an extraction procedure. This bone or tooth fragment in the gum may irritate the tongue and might cause infection in the gum.
As long as the bone fragments receive an adequate supply of blood and nutrients, the new tissue fuses the fragments together into a single bone. In a nonhealing fracture, bones don't produce new tissue. A fracture in which the bone does produce new tissue but does so very slowly—over months—is called a delayed union.