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Understanding Bone Sequestra: Causes and Symptoms

Your mouth is a very sensitive part of your body. Even the slightest diversion from normal can be alarming. Say you have a bump in your gum that is whitish and quite sharp. The first question is, what is it?

The answer might be bone sequestration if it is indeed a bone fragment.

A bone poking out from gum?

It threatens many patients we have seen at Peace of Mind Dental Studio.

However, you need not worry.

You need to understand the problem correctly, its causes and symptoms, and then book an appointment with us so we can treat you.

What is Bone Sequestra?

A bone sequestra is a shard or small fragment of bone which pokes out of your gum.

 The human body is remarkably adept at identifying and dealing with foreign objects, striving to manage and eliminate them effectively.A piece of bone astray in gum is unnatural, and thus, your gum would try to push it out. It will appear on the gum, and if it is uncomfortable and causes pain, then it is advised to book an appointment with us immediately.

Bone sequestra and tooth extraction are often used together because extraction surgery is probably the reason behind sequestration.

If you had an extraction and have the symptoms discussed below, consult the dentist immediately to ascertain if it is bone sequestra.

Causes of Bone Sequestra

There are many reasons behind bone sequestra, which are discussed here:

Tooth Extraction

Bone sequestration is often diagnosed after a recent tooth extraction, especially when the tooth is extracted through surgery. It is uncommon in most patients, and only a very small percentage of patients encounter this problem, especially those with an underlying health problem.

It is advised that you choose a reputed and expert dentist for tooth extraction.

People needing surgical tooth extraction have a higher chance of developing sequestration. When a tooth is fractured inside the gum, surgical removal is necessary. In such cases, some small shards of bone might be left behind.

Osteomyelitis

It is a bone infection. It can be fungal or bacterial, and it often happens after surgery, illness, or any injury. This infection prevents blood from reaching the bone tissue, and eventually, the bone dies. The dead bone tissues separate themselves, and the small fragments wander around, trying to find their way out of the body.

Trauma

Fractures that do not heal properly can also lead to bone sequestration. As the blood doesn’t flow properly, the bone tissues die, resulting in sequestration.

Symptoms of Bone Sequestra

The symptoms of bone sequestration are pretty obvious, but you need a dental examination to confirm if it is indeed sequestration.

The common symptoms are:

  • Something sharp protruding from the gum.
  • Redness and swelling
  • A whitish bump in your gum, which is harder than a pus pocket.
  • Tenderness in gum

What to do in Case of Bone Sequestra?

If you have bone sequestration after tooth extraction, the best advice is to consult Dr Jeremy Silverman at Peace of Mind Dental Studio. Dr. Silverman is the best dentist in Chandler, and you will be in safe hands.

How Does Peace of Mind Dental Studio Help?

Once you book an appointment, we will do the preliminary examination.

To determine if you have sequestration , we require X-rays and CT scans to check if you have more fragments inside the gum.

Also, we advice that you state your past medical conditions and complications honestly, so we can treat you correctly.

Once the diagnosis is complete, two ways exist to treat bone sequestration.

The first one is antibiotics. You can take the prescribed medications to ease the pain and discomfort while the bone makes its way out of your gum. It is the best and most natural way to get rid of it.

The second option is through surgical intervention. When the bone shards are sharp and tearing the gum, causing pain, bleeding, and swelling, then surgical intervention is best. It is advised that you don’t run your tongue over it, as you may injure yourself more.

We will make a small incision and retrieve the bone, offering immediate relief.

Final Words

As we mentioned earlier, your mouth is quite sensitive, and you must entrust its health to only the most trusted and reliable dentist. Choosing a good dentist for tooth extraction ensures you don’t face complications such as bone sequestration later.

At Peace of Mind Dental Studio, we offer bone sequestration treatment to end your pain and discomfort.

Consult us today!

Written by Dr. Silverman

Dr. Silverman is the co-founder of Peace of Mind Dental, a Chandler Arizona, general dentistry practice.

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