During late teens to young adult age, you may face new health issues. Wisdom tooth may add this list. Brushing the last tooth in our mouth is difficult and we ignore the consequences. Wisdom tooth becomes seat of infection resulting in pain, swelling, bad odour. Obviously, We visit Dentist to get an appointment to remove this issue. Finally, we get the wisdom tooth extracted on the appointment day and we relax. But, we start noticing white bone like fragments over the gums. Is the appearance of bone spicule undesirable. How to manage this condition.
Bone spur after wisdom tooth extraction
Bony spicules are tiny fragments of bone that are felt across the ridges of jaw bone on the gums. They are like bone spurs on other areas of body. They are sharp and look like a gum swelling. Though not uncommon, bony spicules can be seen after wisdom tooth extraction at the extraction site or after some oral surgeries.
Wisdom tooth removal may have some complications. We are told to follow Post-op wisdom tooth removal instructions to minimise complications.
Bone spicule after wisdom tooth extraction may be formed after a week of wisdom tooth extraction or some oral surgical procedure.
How to identify bony spicules
1. Bony spicules are seen at the extraction site after extraction is done.
2. They may appear as white (exposed bone like).
3. They may also beneath the gum tissues appearing as a small swelling of gums.
What can we do
If the bone spicules are painful, you can have pain relievers or apply oral gel which minimise the pain.
Salt water gargles also help in dislodging the loose spicules from mouth.
Treatment of bony spicules
Generally, Bony spicules don’t need any treatments. They, usually, resolve by themselves as body discards them. It may take few weeks to remove them. In some instances, the bony spicules persist and seem to bother you. In such conditions, it is recommended to consult a Dentist.
Self removal :
Self removal of bony spicules is not advised. Self removal with fingers or in home tweezers is not suggested. It may result in infection or disturb a blood clot resulting in dry socket.
Bone spicule removal: Dentist may treat the bony spicules before placement of implants or if the bony spicules are bothersome for the patient.
They will assess the spicule clinically and radiographically. Clinically, they will check whether the spicule is already dislodged. While radiographically, they will assess the extent of spicule.
They will remove the spicule and may advise pain relievers.
So, bony spicules, usually, are harmless. They may appear after tooth extraction. Nevertheless, if you are in need of any follow-up treatments at that site, then the dentist will decide whether to leave it or remove it.
Srinivas, Baratam et al. “Wound Healing and Bone Regeneration in Postextraction Sockets with and without Platelet-rich Fibrin.” Annals of maxillofacial surgery vol. 8,1 (2018): 28-34. doi:10.4103/ams.ams_153_17
[…] If the appearance of the site is bone like white in color, then it might be spicule. […]