Why does a wound hurt after tooth extraction? What is alveolitis?

In the previous text, we mentioned what can cause pain after tooth extraction. However, even if the extraction went smoothly and there are no other complications, intense pain can still occur around the second or third day after the extraction. This is when we talk about alveolitis, which is a disturbance in wound healing. After a tooth is extracted, a blood clot is formed in the wound. It protects the wound and serves as a base for further healing, the formation of soft connective tissue, and several months later, bone tissue. When the formation of an adequate clot is absent after tooth extraction (causing its breakdown), a very strong, constant, often pulsating pain can occur, which can spread throughout the entire jaw. Patients then constantly take painkillers. Although you are not sure if something serious has occurred after tooth extraction, there is usually nothing more serious that happens besides pain. Of course, it is necessary to visit a dentist in order to receive first aid and eliminate the pain. The dentist will determine if the pain after tooth extraction is caused by alveolitis or another complication that may require urgent treatment. The therapy for alveolitis involves curettage of the broken clot under local anesthesia and the application of certain medications in the wound. In most cases, this one-time help is enough and the pain subsides. If not, the medication in the wound is changed the next day and in the following days, as long as the pain persists, without further curettage of the wound. The pain caused by alveolitis lasts for up to 7 days after tooth extraction.